Strict travel rules because of Delta: Portugal and Russia now virus variant areas

Friday June 25th 2021

Strict travel rules because of Delta
Portugal and Russia now virus variant areas

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Travelers from Portugal and Russia have to be in quarantine for 14 days from Tuesday without being able to test themselves. The RKI classifies the two countries as virus variant areas. There are easements for trips to Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Because of the widespread use of the delta variant of the corona virus, the federal government is massively restricting entry from Portugal and Russia. The Robert Koch Institute announced that the two countries will be classified as virus variant areas on Tuesday, which will result in a far-reaching ban on transport and strict quarantine rules for travelers. At the same time, Germany’s last three neighboring countries, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg, will be removed from the list of risk areas on Sunday. Anyone entering from there by land will no longer have to observe any restrictions in the future. Only airline passengers still have to show a negative test.

Shortly before the new classifications, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of a fourth corona wave in Germany as well. At the EU summit in Brussels, she advocated a joint approach by the European Union on travel restrictions. Germany has so far classified 14 countries as virus variant areas, including Great Britain, a country in Europe. Portugal and Russia are now number 15 and 16.

The classification as a virus variant area entails an extensive transport ban for airlines, bus and train companies. You are only allowed to bring German citizens and foreigners residing in Germany across the border. For those who are allowed to enter, there is a strict 14-day quarantine obligation, which cannot be shortened by a test and also applies to those who have been completely vaccinated and recovered.

Incidence in Portugal is increasing

With Portugal, for the first time in weeks, an EU country has been classified in the highest risk category. The decision should also be made by numerous German tourists who are either already on vacation in Portugal or have planned a trip there. The particularly popular coastal region of the Algarve is currently not even classified in the lowest risk category. With 1604 new corona infections within 24 hours, the highest value since February was registered in Portugal today, Friday, according to the Ministry of Health.

The number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days (14-day incidence) rose to 137.5, as the newspaper “Público” reported. The day before it was 128.6. According to the EU authority ECDC, this is the highest value of all 30 countries recorded. For comparison: In Germany the value is 25. The relaxation of the corona restrictions planned for Monday has been suspended for large parts of the country. In Lisbon, the delta variant already accounts for more than 70 percent of all cases.

In Russia, too, the corona situation has worsened dramatically in the past few weeks. Europe’s largest metropolis, Moscow, with an estimated twelve million inhabitants, is particularly affected. On Friday, the authorities there reported 7,900 new cases within 24 hours. There were therefore 20,300 new infections nationwide. 601 people died from the virus within one day – more than since the end of last year. In many regions, therefore, new restrictions apply in order to get the situation under control.

Only individual EU regions are still risk areas

According to Mayor Sergej Sobyanin, almost 90 percent of the infections in the capital Moscow were due to the Delta variant a week ago. There is no official information for all of Russia. However, some scientists assume that the value should be similarly high. In 18 out of 85 regions, the authorities made vaccination compulsory for employees of numerous companies. For many other European countries, travel restrictions will be further relaxed.

In addition to the neighboring countries of the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg, Latvia and Slovenia as well as individual regions in Sweden and Croatia are no longer risk areas from Sunday. Apart from Portugal, there will no longer be a country in the EU that is completely classified in a risk category. Otherwise only individual regions in Ireland, Croatia, Sweden and Spain are on the list of risk areas. There are also individual overseas territories in France. The autonomous Caribbean islands of Aruba and Sint Marteen, which belong to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are also classified in this category.

The federal government declares countries and regions in which the seven-day incidence exceeds 50 to be risk areas. From Sunday this will also include Rwanda in central Africa and the South Sea state of Fiji. As of Sunday, there will still be around 80 countries worldwide that fall into this category. Outside of Europe there are also 24 high-incidence areas with an incidence value of over 200. For these countries, a ten-day quarantine requirement applies when entering the country, but this can be shortened after five days with a negative test. It does not apply to those who have recovered or who have been completely vaccinated.

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