After weeks of stagnation, the number of infections rises sharply in many places. Vacation spots are particularly affected. FOCUS Online shows where the new Corona fires are – and what that means for your vacation planning.
First it was Ischgl, now Austria is announcing the next potential corona super spreader with St. Wolfgang near Salzburg: at least 53 people have been infected with the corona virus in the popular holiday resort in recent days. The results of several hundred smears are still pending. But the number of cases is also increasing elsewhere. Where the hotspots are in the individual countries. An overview.
Where are the pandemic hotspots in the holiday countries?
Austria
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 20,472. of which currently still infected: 1551, Recovered: 18.209, Deaths: 712 (status of all mentioned numbers: 07/27/20).
The number of infections in Austria has been rising again since the beginning of July: While the country still counted around 50 new infections every day in June, it is now usually more than twice as many per day. The capital Vienna reports the most acute infections at 484. They are similarly high at 480 in the state of Upper Austria, which also includes St. Wolfgang.
In the federal states of Carinthia and Tyrol, however, the corona situation is much more relaxed: At 14 and 48, they currently report very few infected people.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the number of new infections across Austria per 100,000 inhabitants has been 18.5 over the past 14 days. For comparison: According to the Robert Koch Institute, a country counts as an official corona risk area from 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants. Austria is far from that.
So that the numbers do not continue to rise, however, Austria has recently also responded to technical measures – and reintroduced the mask requirement in shops in the country. There are no restrictions on entry and exit or mandatory corona tests before or after for German vacationers.
Italy
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 246.118, of which currently still infected: 12,565. Recovered: 198,446. Deaths: 35.107.
In the former Corona hotspot Italy, the situation has improved enormously since the pandemic began. Since June, the number of newly infected people has fluctuated between 200 and 300 per day, and there are rarely any outlier days with significantly more new cases. The authorities recently reported minor local outbreaks in Calabria, for example. Overall, however, the situation in Italy appears to have stabilized.
The regions with the most infections continue to be Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Piedmont. Superspreading events in holiday resorts are not yet known. The number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the past 14 days is 5.1, as the ECDC writes.
There are no restrictions for German tourists regarding entry and exit. As in this country, masks must be worn in shops and public transport.
Spain
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 272,421. of which currently still infected: 93.613, Recovered: 150,376. Deaths: 28,432.
After the end of the national Corona emergency at the end of June, the number of infected people in Spain increased again – especially in the Catalonia region with the metropolis of Barcelona and in neighboring Aragon in the interior and in the Navarre region. The Spanish authorities speak of around 280 local outbreaks, but they are under control, as the Foreign Minister emphasizes.
With 35.1 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, Spain reports a particularly large number of new infections over the 14-day period in an EU comparison.
The capital region around Madrid and the Balearic and Canary Islands, which are particularly frequented by tourists, make very little contribution to this. According to the Spanish Ministry of Health, the corresponding figure for the Canaries is 5.8 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and 8.0 for the Balearic Islands.
Spain has also lifted entry restrictions for German tourists. However, vacationers must also adhere to the sometimes very strict rules on site, such as the obligation to wear a mask. It applies not only in closed rooms, but also in many places outdoors. The only exceptions are on the beach, at the pool, while eating and drinking and during sports.
In Barcelona, the authorities are calling on people to leave the house only for urgent tasks, such as shopping or doctor visits. Tourist trips to the otherwise popular Mediterranean metropolis are therefore not advisable at the moment.
Portugal
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 50,164. of which currently still infected: 13,230. Recovered: 35,217. Deaths: 1717.
Portugal was long regarded as one of the countries in Europe that had come through the crisis comparatively well and with low contagion and casualty numbers. For some weeks now, however, there has been a worrying increase in new infections, especially in the greater Lisbon area. In several suburbs of the capital – less visited by tourists – there was a lockdown since the end of June to Sunday, July 26th.
However, on Friday, the Mayor of Lisbon Fernando Medina, according to the Portuguese news agency Lusa, said the numbers have improved to such an extent that he believes the lockdown for most affected communities can be lifted in the coming week.
The ECDC indicates that the number of new infections per 100,000 nationwide for the past 14 days is still high at 35.5.
There are no entry restrictions for Germans in Portugal. However, visitors must provide information, among other things, on the destination and accessibility during their stay in the country. The body temperature is also measured.
France
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 217,801 of which currently still infected: 106,661. Recovered: 80,945. Deaths: 30,195.
The infection with Sars-CoV-2 has recently increased again in France. On Thursday and Friday of last week, the authorities reported more than 1000 new infections for the first time since May for two consecutive days.
The departments Seine-Saint-Denis near Paris and Mayenne in the northwest of the country have a particularly high number of infections. There, with 50.1 corona cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the benchmark of more than 50 infections was exceeded last week for the first time since the strict lockdown ended. Nationwide, the rate of new infections for the past 14 days is 14.6.
German tourists can enter France without any problems, no special documents are required. There is also no quarantine requirement. Masks are required in public transport and in closed public spaces such as shops and market halls.
Greece
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 4193, of which currently still infected: 2617, Recovered: 1374, Deaths: 202.
The numbers in Greece have risen steadily since May – albeit at a significantly lower level than in most other European countries. Across the country, less than 4,200 people have been shown to be infected with the corona virus; Fewer than in any other EU country.
Most infections are found in the greater Athens area and in the Xanthi region in the northeast of the country. Greece reports an average of only 3.6 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past two weeks.
Due to the rather small number of cases in Greece, there are no entry restrictions or quarantine obligations for Germans. However, travelers must register electronically at least 24 hours before arrival, indicating where they were before and where they will be in Greece. An algorithm then calculates whether and which travelers have to take a corona test after their arrival. Those who fail to do so face a fine of up to 500 euros.
A mask is only required in public transport as well as in museums and archaeological sites. If there is a minimum distance of one and a half meters in bars and restaurants, there is no mask requirement.
Turkey
- Total number of infections reported, according to Johns Hopkins University: 226.100, of which currently still infected: 11,000. Recovered: 209.487, Deaths: 5613.
Turkey is one of the few countries in Europe on the list of official corona risk areas of the Robert Koch Institute. Accordingly, the Federal Foreign Office is currently warning of "unnecessary tourist trips" to Turkey. The infection numbers in the country are still high.
With up to 60 percent of confirmed cases, the capital Istanbul is the Turkish corona hotspot par excellence.
Since Turkey is considered a risk area, holidaymakers must also expect a 14-day quarantine when they re-enter Germany. Holidaymakers can be exempted from this if they have a negative corona test that is not older than 48 hours when entering Germany.
After entering Germany from Turkey there is no longer a quarantine requirement. However, the temperature is measured at the airport. If symptoms occur, a corona test can then be carried out.
There is a safety margin on the beaches, there are only pre-packed towels at the pool, and thermal cameras are used in airports and hotels.