No corona test for 2G
EU countries want to relax rules for entry
01/25/2022, 06:27 p.m
The omicron variant dominates all of Europe. Therefore, from the point of view of the member states, a mandatory test for vaccinated people and genesis when traveling through the EU no longer makes sense. In a statement, they point out that “Europe as a whole should remain mobile without borders”.
The member states want to make it easier for citizens with a valid corona certificate to travel within the EU. They advocated that vaccinated or recovered people do not need an additional corona test to enter another EU country. Italy, for example, is currently requiring an additional negative corona test for the entry of fully vaccinated or recovered people.
“Travellers who are in possession of a valid digital corona certificate from the EU should not be subject to additional restrictions on their freedom to travel,” said a statement from the 27 member states. However, this is only equivalent to a recommendation, since the individual EU countries largely have the say in health policy themselves.
It is important that “we in Europe as a whole remain unlimitedly mobile,” said the German State Secretary for Europe, Anna Lührmann, on the fringes of the Council of Ministers in Brussels. The EU Commission called on the member states to implement the decision, since the omicron variant is now dominant throughout Europe. Therefore, additional requirements are no longer justified because they “complicate travel throughout the EU,” said the Commission.
From February 1st, EU citizens will only be considered fully vaccinated if their last dose was no more than 270 days ago – i.e. around nine months. Otherwise, a booster vaccination is required for a valid Corona certificate. This rule also comes into force in Germany at the turn of the month. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), on average almost 70 percent of Europeans are now fully vaccinated.