The borders in Europe are still tight – travel abroad for tourist purposes is therefore not yet possible. But many cry out for opening soon. Scientific studies also indicate that border closures are only effective at the beginning of a pandemic.
Finally travel again as it was possible before Corona – many people long for that. But as long as there is no vaccination and no effective medication for the virus, it just seems to be a wish. Nevertheless, the call to finally open the borders again, from the tourism industry and also from politicians.
SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans warned that the current easing should not stop at the hard closings and called for the borders to be opened to other European neighbors. French MPs also called for an immediate opening of the border between Germany and France, as the restrictions could no longer be justified with health protection due to falling infection rates.
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Opening the borders could lead to a renewed increase in infections
Federal Interior Minister Seehofer has so far maintained that there will be no easing in this regard before May 15. The Federal Foreign Office has also issued a worldwide travel warning until June 14.
Even if border opening for tourist purposes could take even longer, the Federal Government's Tourism Commissioner, Thomas Bareiß, is currently exploring options with some EU countries. In Brussels, plans are also being made as to how European vacations can succeed despite Corona. The EU Commission wants to make recommendations on Wednesday.
But how risky is it to reopen the borders within Europe and to non-European travel destinations? After all, the danger of a new shutdown hangs over us like a sword of Damocles with increasing numbers of infections. That is why China has kept its borders closed to foreign travelers despite a significant drop in infections since March 28.
Travel restrictions only apply at the beginning of an outbreak
Before Sars-CoV-2, it was examined how travel restrictions affect the spread of diseases. For example, Imperial College London researchers conducted a study in 2006 to see how different measures could best curb the spread of a new influenza virus in the UK and US.
Model calculations showed that travel and border restrictions only really work if they ensure that no infected person has left the country. If this is not the case, the measure will probably delay a breakout beyond the borders by a maximum of two to three weeks.
From this it can be concluded that a travel and border restriction only has the greatest effect at the beginning of a viral outbreak if the entry to other countries has not yet taken place. The shutdown in Wuhan on January 23 could no longer prevent global expansion.
Wuhan quarantine only slowed the spread in China
Scientists around Matteo Chinazzi from Northeastern University in Boston came to a similar conclusion. Her study, published in Science in April, shows that shutting off Wuhan only delayed the progression of the epidemic in China by three to five days. International travel restrictions did help slow global expansion until mid-February. But the study results indicated that early detection and strict hygiene measures in the country are more effective in containing the pandemic than travel restrictions, the researchers said.
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Travel restrictions only apply in the early phase of the virus outbreak
A recent study published in Science by scientists led by Moritz UE Kraemer from Oxford University in early May came to similar results: The analysis of the mobility data from China showed that the travel behavior of the population within China initially promoted the spread of the virus in the country Has. After stringent government measures and the closure of Wuhan and other locations, the spread in the country decreased.
After that, however, the infection rates rose locally. The scientists therefore conclude that travel restrictions are particularly effective in the early phase of an outbreak when infections are still restricted to a certain area. As soon as the infections become more widespread, travel restrictions are less effective.
This is indicated by another study. Scientists from the University of Southampton in England calculated that without the stringent measures taken by the Chinese government, the infection rate in China would have been 67 times higher. However, the researchers assume that early detection and isolation of cases prevents more infections than travel and contact reductions. After the easing of travel in China in February, no increase in infection rates in the country was found.
Border openings possible in countries with similar numbers of infections
All of these studies therefore suggest that travel restrictions no longer play a major role in the spread of the virus as a protective measure at the present time of the pandemic.
However, this only applies to countries where the virus has already spread. Countries that still have very low infection numbers could prevent the spread of the pathogen in the country and thus an increase in the infection numbers through travel restrictions and border closures.
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For this reason, Denmark, for example, wants to keep the borders with Germany closed until at least May 31. Because in the Scandinavian country there are currently only around 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The EU Commission is also advocating a cautious and gradual approach to border openings and plans to present a concept on Wednesday. "As the health situation gradually improves, the consideration should change towards unrestricted freedom of movement for people," says the draft, from which the "Handelsblatt" quotes.
However, controls should initially only be relaxed in regions where the infection numbers on both sides of the border are comparable. It is important that they are replaced by targeted measures such as sufficient test and hospital capacities and effective tracking of possible infection chains.
EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson had already stressed last week that this can only happen as soon as the health situation allows it.
Whether against corona or influenza: this is how you protect yourself against viruses
If you want to protect yourself against the corona virus, but also other respiratory infections, you should comply with general hygiene rules. These are the same for all respiratory infections.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Antimicrobial additives are usually not necessary. The temperature of the water doesn't matter either.
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Dry your hands thoroughly after washing.
- Keep your distance from peoplewho sneeze or cough and use disposable handkerchiefs themselves. After coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, you should also wash your hands as soon as possible.
Temperature check at the border only helps to a limited extent to find infected people
Should there be an early border opening between countries with similar infection events, it must nevertheless be prevented that infections come into the country again and spread there. A body temperature check upon entry is not sufficient to identify Sars-CoV-2 infected people.
A study from England, published in early February, shows that only 54 out of 100 infected people can be identified using a temperature check. One reason for this is the incubation period after infection with the coronavirus, which is between five and six days. This means that travelers who are infected and infectious but show no symptoms do not necessarily attract attention.
Another problem is asymptomatic infections. According to the recently published results of the so-called Heinsberg study by Bonn's virologist Hendrik Streeck, 22 percent of all infected people show no symptoms.
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