Germany Decides to Impose Covid-19 Tests to Travelers from ‘Risk Countries’

Photo source: Düsseldorf Airport

Travelers returning to Germany from 130 “risk countries” will have to undergo a coronavirus (Covid-19) test or be quarantined for 14 days.

The measure was announced on Monday by German Health Minister Jens Spahn.

“We must prevent returning travelers from infecting others unnoticed and thus triggering new chains of infection. I will therefore order compulsory testing for travelers from risk areas,” Spahn said on Twitter.

The coronavirus tests will be offered for free. Travelers that refuse to get tested or those who test positive will be obliged to mandatory quarantine for two weeks.

The German government recently released of list identifying 130 nations as “risk countries”. Excluded from the list are European Union countries (except Luxembourg), Schengen area neighbours (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) and the United Kingdom, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and the Vatican.

Photo source: Munich Airport

The list of risk countries, compiled by the ministries of health, interior and foreign affairs, is based on the situation of each nation regarding coronavirus cases and includes Turkey, the United States, Russia, Albania, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo.

Germany recommends for citizens to avoid “unnecessary” travel to the 130 countries on the list.

According to reports, airports in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn and Munich are already screening travelers. Test facilities are expected to be installed at all airports in Germany to help persons returning from high-risk countries to be tested immediately on arrival.