When traveling on holiday within Germany, citizens from places with very high numbers of corona infections must expect significant restrictions in autumn. The majority of the countries decided on Wednesday (October 7th) that such travelers may only be accommodated if they have a negative corona test that is no more than 48 hours old.
This should take effect for travelers from areas with more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days. Family visits and commuting for professional purposes are expressly excluded from the regulation.
Which federal states have issued an accommodation ban for holidaymakers?
Proponents of the ban include:
- Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Bavaria
- Brandenburg
- Hamburg
- Hesse
- Lower Saxony
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Saarland
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Schleswig-Holstein
The majority of these federal states decided that for Travelers from inner-German corona hotspots are prohibited from staying in hotels, youth accommodation and pensions (see below for specific rules).
When can I still enter from a risk area?
That is basically possible. Who at the beginning of his journey a can show a negative corona test no longer than 48 hours old, is also allowed to vacation as a guest from a Corona hotspot in the said federal states. "If you arrive with a negative test, you can enjoy a vacation," said Bavaria's Prime Minister Söder. There is also no quarantine obligation.
Which federal states are not participating?
Bremen, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Thuringia submitted minutes of the resolution (for specific rules in the individual federal states, see below). Also in North Rhine-Westphalia For the time being, no accommodation bans for vacationers from inner-German Corona hotspots are in force. The state's Corona Protection Ordinance has basically provided this option since mid-July – but not as an automatic mechanism from a certain threshold.
NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) expressed himself critically on Sunday in Düsseldorf: "If a lot of places in Germany are risk areas, the question of who is allowed to travel from where to where is actually of secondary importance."
In many German holiday areas, travelers who come from a region with more than 50 new corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days must present a negative corona test that is no more than 48 hours old. As a result, there is a rush to the test centers at the beginning of the autumn break. "Anyone who can then still be tested uses test capacities that we actually need for other areas," said Laschet. "Hence our appeal to generally refrain from traveling during the autumn holidays and to stay at home as far as possible within Germany."
Also read: Stricter sanctions, curfew, alcohol ban – straight into the second wave: These scenarios await us in the Corona autumn
Ban on accommodation: What the states have decided
The joint decision paper – on which the five countries mentioned had made different declarations – states, among other things:
- It is stated that the increase in numbers "must be countered consistently", above all in order to keep the economy, schools and daycare centers running.
- Previous resolutions by the federal and state governments from May, June and July and the corresponding "hotspot strategy", which states that restrictions will be issued if the number of new corona infections in a district exceeds the limit of 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, are confirmed past seven days.
- Citizens are urged to avoid unnecessary travel to and from particularly affected areas.
- The majority of countries are willing to stipulate that tourists from such areas may only be accommodated in a hotel if they can present a negative test that is no more than two days old. Such "free testing" for travel should only be possible if there are enough test possibilities. Tests to maintain the education system, for example, have priority.
Citizens from places with very high numbers of corona infections have to be prepared for considerable difficulties when traveling on vacation within Germany. But traveling abroad is anything but easy. After updating the list of corona risk areas, the bottom line is that there are only a few countries left for which travel is neither warned nor advised against. These include the popular holiday countries Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
criticism of Ban on accommodationen is increasing – will the ban be overturned?
The criticism of the ban on accommodation is getting louder. Numerous politicians are calling for the regulation that was only approved last week to be withdrawn. Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) and North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) announced that they will also talk about this on Wednesday at the Prime Minister's Conference.
The President of the German Association of Cities, Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung, called for a withdrawal. The regulation was "not well thought out, you will have to take it again," said the SPD politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday).
Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller announced that the bans on accommodation will be discussed again at the Prime Minister's Conference on Wednesday. Bans on accommodation, for example between Berlin and Brandenburg, make no sense in view of the hundreds of thousands of commuters, said the SPD politician on Sunday evening in the ZDF program "Berlin direkt".
NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) said that his country had anchored a corresponding regulation, but not put it into force. Criticism also came from the opposition. "I find the blanket restriction on freedom of movement within Germany disproportionate," said FDP party and parliamentary group leader Christian Lindner of "Welt" (Monday).
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) expects legal action against the ban on accommodation this week. "I assume that legal proceedings will be brought here in the next few days," said managing director Ingrid Hartges on Sunday evening in the "Bild" conversation format "The right questions".
Chancellery Minister Helge Braun (CDU) defended the ban on accommodation in the ARD program "Report from Berlin" as a "real emergency measure". Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) spoke out in favor of more uniformity with regard to the Corona travel rules: "There must be a uniform and clear regulation so that every citizen knows where he is." The 16 federal states have a responsibility to come to an agreement, said Altmaier in the "Bild" conversation format "The right questions".
Chaos in the case of accommodation bans: what is now applicable in which state
to bathe–Württemberg
In Baden-Württemberg there are no entry bans or quarantine requirements for travelers from inner-German risk areas. But the ban on accommodation applies: Travelers from places with very high numbers of corona infections may only be accommodated in pensions and hotels if they have a negative corona test that is no more than 48 hours old. This applies to travelers from areas with more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days.
Bavaria
There is no entry ban in Bavaria. But the Bavarian Ministry of Health regularly publishes a list of the cities and districts whose residents are not allowed to stay, unless a negative corona test is submitted that is not older than 48 hours. Violations are fined 5000 euros for the hoteliers.
Berlin
There are no restrictions on entry and the Senate has not yet passed an accommodation ban.
Brandenburg
If you plan to drive to Brandenburg from Corona hotspots, you can go on excursions or go shopping. The prohibition of accommodation applies: Anyone who comes to Brandenburg from a district or an independent city with more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days is not allowed to stay in hotels, guest houses, holiday apartments or campsites. Exception: a negative corona test, which must have been a maximum of 48 hours old before departure.
Bremen
In Bremen there is no entry ban and no quarantine requirement for travelers from inner-German risk areas. There is no ban on accommodation.
Hamburg
There is no entry ban for people from domestic risk areas. Overnight guests must confirm in writing that they have not stayed in a domestic risk area in the previous 14 days. Guests from such areas can stay overnight if they present a negative test result, which must not be older than 48 hours. In the event of violations, the owners of accommodation establishments face a fine of 500 to 1000 euros.
Hesse
There is no entry ban. However, there is a ban on accommodation for travelers from areas where the incidence was higher than 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days. The ban on accommodation does not apply to people who can present a medical certificate stating that there are no indications of a corona infection.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
In addition to a current negative Corona test, the Corona state ordinance still stipulates a 14-day quarantine immediately after entry. The waiting time can be shortened by the responsible health department if a second, self-paid test also turns out negative after five to seven days. People from a risk area are theoretically allowed to come to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for vacation. However, you must bring a current negative corona test with you. In addition, the Corona state ordinance stipulates a 14-day quarantine immediately after entry. This can be shortened with a second negative test.
Lower Saxony
Entry within Germany is not restricted. Day tourism, for example, is also possible from German risk areas. There are also no quarantine requirements for German risk areas. There is a ban on accommodation, but not automatically for travelers from all risk areas. If, for example, the focus of infection is clearly defined, exceptions are possible. Vacationers from the affected areas listed on the Internet can then vacation in Lower Saxony if they present a negative corona test that is no more than two days old.
North Rhine-Westphalia
In NRW there are no entry restrictions and, for the time being, no accommodation bans for holidaymakers from inner-German corona hotspots.
Rhineland-Palatinate
People who come to Rhineland-Palatinate from a risk region in Germany or abroad must go into a 14-day quarantine after entry. From this Tuesday on, there is a ban on accommodation for travelers from hotspots, unless they have a negative Corona test that is not older than 24 hours. Which regions are affected is announced on the website of the state government.
Saarland
In Saarland, there has been an accommodation ban for travelers from Corona risk areas since the end of June. The ban does not apply to guests who can present a medically certified, negative corona test that is not older than two days.
Saxony
Entry is permitted. But: Anyone who comes from a risk area must be tested. Until a negative result is obtained, there is an obligation to quarantine at home.
Saxony-Anhalt
Entry is permitted. However, the accommodation of people from risk areas for tourist purposes is prohibited, unless the guest can present a certificate that there is no evidence of Covid 19 disease.
Schleswig-Holstein
There are no restrictions in Schleswig-Holstein. There is a ban on accommodation for commercial establishments. However, there is the option of submitting a negative corona test that is no more than 48 hours old.
Thuringia
There are no entry restrictions or other restrictions for people from German risk areas or hotspots. There is no ban on accommodation.