Corona pandemic: Germany prepares border controls

The most contagious mutations of the coronavirus are spreading in the Czech Republic and parts of Austria. Therefore, the federal government is preparing new entry restrictions and border controls. These must be applied from Sunday.

After the mutated coronavirus spread in the Czech Republic and parts of Austria, the federal government decided on new entry restrictions and border controls. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Czech Republic and Tyrol were classified as so-called virus mutation areas.

Federal Interior Minister Seehofer decided to introduce temporary border controls at the borders with the Czech Republic in addition to existing internal border controls with Austria from Sunday, a spokesman said.

So far, no neighboring country has been classified as an area of ​​mutation.

Currently, the federal government is coordinating with all the partners involved, “particularly on possible exceptions and will provide information on this as soon as possible.” The reintroduction of controls at internal borders is necessary to prevent the virus from entering Germany as much as possible.

In the afternoon, a staff met with representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the possible classification of other countries as so-called virus mutation areas. So far, there is no neighboring country among the countries that have been classified in this way for which a transport ban to Germany applies.

Almost only Germans and foreigners residing in Germany can currently enter from the already defined mutation areas abroad. There are also special rules for medical personnel, passengers in transit and the movement of goods.

Restriction of passenger traffic is required

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder spoke in favor of border controls in view of the situation in the Czech Republic and Tyrol. Bavaria and Saxony had asked the federal government to declare some Czech regions and also Tyrol as areas of mutation, Söder said.

As soon as it happened, entry was only possible with a negative test. “And when that happens, we ask the federal government to establish stationary border controls,” Söder said.

Saxony wants mandatory tests

Saxony Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer also called for certain critical points to be closed. Therefore, the CDU politician wants to significantly restrict passenger traffic to the neighboring country of the Czech Republic. There should be exceptions to stopping passengers in the area of ​​hospitals and nursing homes, as well as in agriculture, and especially in the care of animals.

“We won’t be able to make any exceptions,” Kretschmer said. Daily tests should be mandatory. A kind of passenger quarantine is also being considered: those affected must be at home after returning from work. The possibilities of controlling this are limited, he said.

British mutation spreads in the Czech Republic

The mutation of the British crown is spreading rapidly in the Czech Republic. According to research, the proportion of the British variant in some districts is as high as 60 percent. The seven-day incidence in the Czech Republic is now 483.

The border areas between Germany and the Czech Republic are particularly affected. There are three to four times more new infections per 100,000 inhabitants than in other parts of the country. According to the Czech government, three districts are to be cordoned off, two of them on the border with Germany.

South African mutation detected in Tirol

Residents can no longer leave the area and strangers are not allowed in. However, there should be exceptions that travelers could benefit from. However, the Czech government did not provide further details.

The South African mutation was detected in Austrian Tyrol. However, the number of infections in the Austrian state is currently decreasing.