The sun has been laughing from an almost cloudless sky for days, the temperatures are pleasantly warm – and yet the German Alpine Club warns against going into the mountains in the coming days.
A message from the Alpine Club on Thursday said: "The German Alpine Club would like to thank everyone who did not leave for the mountains last weekend and on the last sunny days, but is waiting for the mountains."
And also for the Easter holidays the mountain sports association appeals not to go on trips to the Alps despite the nice weather. Mountaineers, climbers and hikers should not go to the Bavarian Alps or the low mountain ranges for activities. "It is of course important to keep moving, but you should stick to the contact restrictions and stay in the immediate vicinity of the place of residence," said the Alpine Club.
Alpine club warns of the risk of contagion for mountain rescue workers
Josef Klenner, President of the German Alpine Association, explains the problem: If rescue operations were necessary here, rescue workers and hospitals would be unnecessarily burdened.
On beautiful weekends in spring, 40 missions and more are not uncommon for the mountain rescue service in the Bavarian Alps, according to the Alpine Club. Such numbers of operations are normally manageable, but hardly in times of Corona. The Alpine rescue system was "under considerable pressure" in Corona times after only a few missions, according to the Alpine Club. A single injured person with Covid-19 could infect an entire rescue team. "In the current situation, please don't go to the mountains," warns President Klenner.
Exit restrictions in Bavaria – that is allowed
Excursions into the wider area are not strictly forbidden, nor is there a district in Bavaria with a basic ban on visiting. However, Oliver Platzer, spokesman for the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, warns: "Mere trips to a second home without a valid reason should not take place."
Because of the current exit restrictions, people in Bavaria can only leave the house if there is a "valid reason" – for example a doctor's visit, exercise and sports in the fresh air or shopping for daily needs. According to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, larger trips to lakes or to the mountains are not part of such occasions: "It is strongly advised not to take trips to the mountains on weekends. Please also consider protecting our emergency services, eg the police "Rescue workers, mountain rescue, water rescue", says the website of the ministry.
It is not forbidden, but citizens should definitely not take longer trips to more distant destinations, so the motto.