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Starting Saturday, Germany will make it more difficult for Swiss citizens from ten cantons to enter the country, but only for three weeks. Then there is again the green light for short visits.
In the next three weeks, people in the ten risky Swiss cantons will only be able to shop in Germany with a negative Corona test. As of November 8, this should be possible again without restrictions.
Photo: Gian Ehrenzeller (Keystone)
After Geneva and Vaud, Germany had eight more Swiss cantons on Thursday night. put on the risk list: Zurich, Zug, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Uri, Freiburg, Jura, Neuchâtel. For people from these cantons, entry into Germany from Saturday is hampered by a quarantine obligation, but there are also exceptions for cross-border travelers, family visits and business trips. The risk rating for Vacation travelers from both countries and for Swiss shopping tourists.
At least this is so for the next three weeks. Because on Friday morning the Swiss ambassador in Berlin gave a partial go-ahead. Paul Seger said in front of Radio SRFthat shopping tourism be facilitated as of November 8. Then one happens new sample of quarantine regulation current, with which Germany wants to standardize the rules in all federal states. “As soon as this regulatory model comes into effect, it will be possible to continue shopping tourism without the restrictions of the coronavirus,” Paul Seger said on Friday.
Chart for the German government quarantine regulation model. The first point describes the exception that should also apply to shopping tourists.
Graphic: Bundesregierung.de
In the detailed model ordinance, this is addressed in the paragraph “Exceptions”: “Persons who have remained in a risk zone for less than 24 hours or who enter federal territory for up to 24 hours as part of border traffic with neighboring countries” . So if you only go shopping in Waldshut, Singen or Konstanz for a few hours, you should be able to do it again from November 8 with no restrictions. Individual federal states could issue regulations that differ from the model quarantine ordinance, but this would hardly be on their mind, especially in the case of shopping tourism.
The affected Swiss cantons will have to adapt to changing rules when traveling to Germany and dealing with German tourists in the coming weeks. This applies as of Saturday or with the new regulation model as of November 8:
General rules
Starting Saturday, October 17: After crossing the border, travelers who have been in a risk area in the last 14 days must be directly quarantined for 14 days. Quarantine can be waived in most federal states by submitting a negative PCR test on entry that was performed no more than 48 hours in advance. The Swiss tests are recognized in Germany. If only one test is performed after entry, this may shorten the quarantine. Depending on the state, the tests must be repeated after 5 or 7 days.
Germany warns of “unnecessary tourist trips” to the affected Swiss cantons. The main winter sports destinations of Graubünden, Valais and Bern are not currently considered risk areas.
As of November 8: The quarantine then only lasts 10 days. But it can only be shortened after 5 days by a negative test. The German government decided on this change on Wednesday. How individual federal states will implement them in detail is still open.
Shopping tourists
From Saturday: Because the borders are open, shopping tourists can enter Germany. Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria waive the quarantine requirement for shopping tourists if they have a current PCR test (no more than 48 hours). In practice, when it comes to the costs of a corona test, shopping tourism from the cantons will likely collapse on the list of risks.
As of November 8: The new model ordinance provides exceptions for people who “enter federal territory for up to 24 hours.” In accordance with the will of the German federal government, shopping tourism is allowed again. However, the federal states retain sovereignty and could also impose stricter rules. Also, the date of November 8 is not set in stone, the exemptions only go into effect if the federal states adjust their ordinances to this date.
Border workers
From Saturday: According to the German government: anyone who crosses the border to work has free rides. Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the two federal states that are most closely linked to Switzerland, also state this in their ordinances on quarantine rules. The exceptions also apply to schoolchildren, students, and service providers.
For certain groups of people, not only daily commutes are allowed, but also a stay of up to 72 hours: for employees of the health system (with certificate), people than for cross-border people related to work, goods or goods by road, rail , ship or air transport, or of high positions of the diplomatic and consular services, of popular assemblies and governments.
But Germany also has stricter regulations: for example, the Bavarian district of Cham introduced mandatory tests for cross-border travelers from the Czech Republic over the weekend. The Czech Republic has been severely affected by Corona for a few weeks.
Visiting family members
From Saturday: In Bavaria, there are several quarantine exemptions for people entering from risk areas, for example for urgent medical treatment, caring for animals or visiting relatives or partners.
In principle, Baden-Württemberg knows the same exceptions. In the explanations of its ordinance, the state explicitly states that the simple act of visiting relatives does not constitute an exception to the quarantine obligation. There must be valid reasons for this, such as joint custody of the children or visiting with a partner.
As of November 8: The new sample quarantine ordinance stipulates that first-degree relatives can always be visited without the obligation to quarantine themselves. It is also not necessary to submit a negative test.
Transit
The fastest possible transit is still allowed, the new regulation does not change anything. Thus, tourists can continue to travel to the mountains through “risk cantons” without being forced to self-quarantine.
