border controls
Can I still travel from Tyrol and the Czech Republic?
The police introduced temporary border controls to Tyrol and the Czech Republic.
© imago images / Bernd March
Are the borders with Tyrol and the Czech Republic really tight? Markus Söder now explained the tightened border controls.
"Germany closes the borders." This headline made the rounds in numerous media on Thursday after both the Czech Republic and the Austrian state of Tyrol were declared so-called mutation areas. But what does that even mean? Is entry now no longer possible at all? The interior minister responsible for this, Horst Seehofer (71, CSU), initially stated in a statement in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that temporary border controls would be introduced without being more precise.
This decision was made at the request of the Free States of Bavaria and Saxony in order to prevent the introduction of virus mutations that are rampant in Tyrol and the Czech Republic as far as possible. But what does this mean in concrete terms for cross-border commuters or travelers who want to or may even have to go to these areas. "The borders will not be closed", the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (54, CSU) contradicted the media reports now energetically in the ZDF talk show "Markus Lanz" on Thursday evening and specified the measures.
Entry only with a negative test result
"Everyone who enters must submit a negative test." There are no exceptions to this rule. When moderator Markus Lanz (51) asked whether this applies to everyone or only to commuters, Söder made his point again: "Everyone has to submit a negative test." Otherwise you will be turned back at the border with Germany.
Incidentally, in the first lockdown this was handled much more strictly and was part of the success in spring, according to Söder. At that time the borders were really completely closed, except for the movement of goods.