The EU is apparently preparing for the end of the pandemic and will change travel rules from February 1st. Here you can find out what you need to watch out for in the future.
Chaos about the deadlines: After the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) surprisingly reduced the validity of the convalescent status to three months, a new recommendation from the EU Commission follows, which provides for six months.
The authority wants more unity within the Union and recommends that the recovered status be valid in all EU countries for six months from the positive test result. This should benefit cross-border commuters and travelers. However, it is up to the member states to implement the recommendation.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health explained that the EU agreement is a regulation for travel within the international community. “However, if you are in the country (…), the regulations of the respective member country apply”. The federal states could make their own regulations here.
The EU recommendation could apply as a possible benchmark in the spring – also for Germany. In the previous year, the European Union had already drawn up a recommendation for action regarding travel regulations, which was then gradually adopted by the member states.
Germany would then have to extend the recovered status to six months. Today, three months is the upper limit.
EU issues a recommendation
There is disagreement within the European Union. On the one hand, many EU countries are tightening entry regulations or imposing tougher measures. The omicron virus variant, which leads to high infection rates, is to blame. As soon as the wave has broken, the recommendation could be gradually implemented by the member states – including Germany.
At the same time there is disagreement about the vaccines.
The EU is now making it clear: Vaccines approved by the European health authorities will then apply throughout Europe. It is therefore possible that the Chinese vaccines Sinovac (Coronavac) and Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) will soon also be approved within the EU.
These travel rules should apply in the EU
The EU provides for an emergency brake. If the number of infections increases or the epidemiological situation deteriorates – for example because of a virus variant – the member states should continue to be able to set entry rules independently. There will then be important changes to the applicable vaccination and recovery certificates.
recovered: Anyone who has been shown to have contracted Corona in the past six months is considered to have recovered within this time and in the European Union. If the deadline is exceeded by one day, the person is considered unvaccinated. However, there is one exception: Anyone who has been boosted and is ill will then retain their booster status. Those who have recovered should no longer need a test when traveling within the EU.
Unvaccinated: Restrictions remain in place for this group of people. Upon entry, a negative rapid antigen test (not older than 24 hours) or a negative PCR test (maximum 72 hours before departure) should apply. As a rule, unvaccinated people cannot enter Bulgaria, Finland or Malta at all. In Estonia, Italy, Austria and Norway there is a quarantine obligation for unvaccinated people.
Fully vaccinated: Anyone who has been boosted should be able to move within the EU without an additional test. So far, some EU countries have required an additional test from vaccinated and recovered people. This is the case (as of January 26) in Greece, Portugal and Cyprus. This test obligation is to be abolished. The CovPass app and the Corona warning app should play the most important role when entering and leaving the country. A printout of the digital vaccination certificate should also be sufficient.
Basic immunized: The same rule then applies to them as to unvaccinated people. You need a negative rapid antigen test or a negative PCR test when entering and leaving the EU.
Basic immunization is defined as those people who
- received two doses of vaccine
- have received a vaccination and have been proven to have corona or
- have once fallen ill with Corona and then received a recovery vaccination.
Digital vaccination certificates will expire on February 1st
All EU member states agreed on December 21 that the basic immunization expires on February 1 and after 270 days (nine months) within the EU. Anyone who received the second vaccination after May 7, 2021 must now quickly apply for the third vaccination.
In addition, all Germans with a booster vaccination should check whether their data has been recorded correctly. If there is an error, the status could expire. We explain here how those affected can check exactly whether their data is correct.
EU citizens need a booster shot to maintain immunization status. Unlike the most recent recommendation, Germany has approved the decision of the EU Commission.
Booster doses are then marked in the vaccination certificate as follows:
- 3/3 for a booster dose after a first series of two single doses or
- 2/1 for a booster dose following vaccination with a single dose or administration of a dose of a two-dose vaccine to a recovered individual.
This article also appeared on FOCUS Online