There are new travel rules in Germany effective today, May 14. This will standardize entry and quarantine rules across the country; no longer will one state have different rules than another.
The rules differ by the risk category of all areas the traveler has been to in the 10 days before entering Germany. These are either 1) risk area, 2) high risk area or 3) virus variant area. These are determined by the RKI and regularly updated. You can check for updates at: https://www.rki.de/EN/Content/infections/epidemiology/outbreaks/COVID-19/COVID19.html
There are three categories. They are 1) those who are vaccinated, 2) those who are recovered, and 30 those who are tested.
- Vaccinated: proof of a complete vaccine series using Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Janssen (J&J) vaccines at least 14 days prior.
- Recovered: proof of a PCR test diagnosis of COVID-19 at least 28 days prior but no longer than six months ago.
- Tested: proof of a negative rapid antigen test no more than 48 hours prior or a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours prior, either as a test result or a doctor's statement.
Einreise Anmeldung (Travel Entry Registration):
A travel entry registration must still be completed prior to entry into Germany. Proof of one of the three categories listed above must be uploaded. If technical errors prevent it from being filled out, the traveler is required to fill out and send in a form as soon as possible. For more information on the travel entry registration requirement, go to: https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/?fbclid=IwAR0vtBYGo1Y2LafycvN_tIEXxDL8XnLLw3AXeMi-2zAR4a_5sywSWvI6mC0#/
Travel by plane:
Negative tests are still required for everyone age 6 and up who is entering Germany by air, unless they are fully vaccinated or recovered and traveling from a non-risk, risk or high risk area. Absolutely everyone must have a negative test if coming from a virus variant area.
However, travel to Germany remains severely restricted, except for Germans and citizens of European Union countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and residents of a handful of countries with few or no cases of the virus, including South Korea. Americans living in the U.S. are not allowed to enter Germany for leisure travel, the German Interior Ministry said on its website, which was last updated May 12. But “the list of non-EU countries is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary,” it said.
Exception for local border traffic:
Those who enter a risk area (not a high risk or virus variant area) as part of local border traffic for less than 24 hours are exempt.
Travel from a risk area:
- No quarantine for those who are vaccinated, recovered or tested.
- Children under 6 exempt and don't need to quarantine.
- Everyone 6 and up still are required to test within 48 hours after arriving in Germany if they did not test beforehand, unless they are vaccinated or recovered.
Travel from a high risk area:
- No quarantine for vaccinated or recovered individuals
- 10 day quarantine for everyone else. This can be ended early with a negative test on Day 5.
- Those not vaccinated or recovered, ages 6 and above, need to test prior to entry to Germany
Travel from a virus variant area:
- Everyone needs to test before arrival in Germany, even those vaccinated or recovered, regardless of mode of entry.
-14 day quarantine for everyone, no way to shorten it; no exceptions.
Please check with your chain of command and/or your local garrison for any additional information or guidance specific to your unit and your location. Another good source for more information on COVID-19 in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa area of operation is the USAREUR-AF official website. Go to https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/coronavirus/ to learn more.
(Information from this article was retrieved from the German Federal Ministry of Health's website at https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/gesetze-und-verordnungen/guv-19-lp/coronaeinreisev/coronaeinreisev-en.html and translated and summarized by Katharina Horton.)
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