Traveling in the Virus Crisis: Limits, Visa Free! what you need to know

Overview of international risk areas according to the RKI:

Italy, Iran, China (Hubei Province incl.Wuhan City), South Korea (Gyeongsangbuk-do Province), France (Grand Est region – this region includes Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne), Austria (State of Tyrol), Spain (Madrid) and UNITED STATES (States of California, Washington and New York)

Further restrictions on travel traffic:

Germany closes borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark

The most important information for German travelers. From Monday, March 16, there will be increased controls at the German borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark. Germans can enter Germany at any time. Foreign citizens can only leave or enter the country with a "valid reason for travel". These include commuting and goods traffic.

The measures would be taken indefinitely. Commuters could, for example, cross the borders with a pass issued by the country and the employer. Holidaymakers, on the other hand, will no longer be able to leave Germany on these rural routes. There is still no information on flights and trains to the countries concerned.

USA: Three states are considered risk areas

On Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute declared three U.S. states as risk areas: California, Washington and New York.

US President Donald Trump had previously put in place a 30-day entry ban from Europe. This also applies to Germans. Trump initially exempted Ireland and the UK from this ban, but revised this on Saturday. Trump also said at a press conference that he strongly advised against traveling abroad that is not absolutely necessary.

Schleswig-Holstein is locking Islands for tourists

At the same time, since 6 a.m. on Monday all Schleswig-Holstein North and Baltic islands and the Halligen in the North Sea closed to tourists. This was confirmed by the responsible police control centers. Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) had asked holidaymakers to go home when the decision was announced after a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

The North Sea islands affected by the tourist stop include Sylt, Amrum and Föhr, the North Beach peninsula and the Halligen Hooge and Langeneß. The popular holiday island is in the Baltic Sea Fehmarn closed to tourists until further notice.

Also read: Rail restricts regional and S-Bahn traffic: Commuters need to know that

Denmark: border with Germany close

Denmark closed all country borders on Saturday at noon – including those to Germany. Only Danish citizens are allowed to enter the country. Tourists are stopped at the border.

Czech Republic: tight border with Germany

The Czech Republic closes its borders for all Germanswho have no permanent residence in the EU Member State. The measure also applies to foreigners from Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark and France, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said. He classified these states as risk areas for infection with the novel corona virus.

Poland: borders closed to foreigners

Poland introduces controls at the borders to countries in the Schengen area at midnight on Sunday. Foreigners are not allowed to enter the country for the next ten days.

Poles can return to their homeland, but must be in quarantine for 14 days. This does not apply to people residing in Poland, commuters, spouses of Polish citizens, diplomats and truck drivers who transport goods into the country. International train and air traffic is even suspended for two weeks.

• From March 15, air, rail and shipping traffic will also be interrupted in the country.
• Border controls will be introduced by March 24 and some crossings from Germany to Poland will be completely closed.

Croatia: Quarantine for Germans

Travelers from risk areas such as the district of Heinsberg in NRW must be particularly careful here, because when entering Croatia they have to go to a 14-day hospital quarantine. Travelers from the other regions of Germany have to go into domestic quarantine for 14 days.

• Note: All currently amended entry requirements for German citizens can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
• Here German travelers can find all information about current travel advice for Italy.
• Since the situation around the corona virus is changing rapidly, the Federal Foreign Office advises travelers from Germany to find out about possible entry restrictions at the embassy or consulate in their country of destination before starting their trip.

Slovakia: No more foreigners in the country

The Slovakia Apart from Poland, no longer wants to let foreigners into the country. The government said it would stop international bus and train traffic to the country. The spokesman for the Slovak Ministry of the Interior, Peter Lazarov, also announced the closure of all international airports in Bratislava.

Latvia: national borders closed

In the fight against further spread of the corona virus Latvia its borders tight for travelers. Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins announced on Saturday in Riga the suspension of international passenger traffic. The measure will apply from March 17 and will include air, rail, sea and road transport. Until then, all Latvians should return to their homeland. The borders remained open for the goods traffic, said Karins.

Estonia: border tight for almost all foreigners

The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is also moving Estonia Consequences. Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas announced on Saturday that the border would be closed to almost all foreigners from Tuesday and temporary border controls would be reintroduced. Only Estonians and foreigners with a residence permit or relatives in Estonia are allowed to enter. However, you must be in quarantine for two weeks.

The government in Tallinn had previously closed all schools, museums, cinemas, leisure and sports centers by May 1st and prohibited public events.

Lithuania: national borders closed

Lithuania also announced on Saturday evening that it would close its borders to foreigners. This applies from midnight from Sunday to Monday. Only people with a residence permit, diplomats and NATO soldiers can then still enter. "Our goal is to delay the spread of the virus in the country as long as possible and to minimize the negative effects," said Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.

Kindergartens, schools and universities have also been closed in Lithuania since Friday. Large events are prohibited. From Monday, most shops, restaurants and pubs are also to remain closed. Only grocery stores and pharmacies are allowed to open further.

Norway: International air traffic stopped

Norway has stopped international air traffic for the time being.

Austria refuses entry from Italy – with exceptions

Austria refuses entry to travelers from Italy. Exceptions just be With medical certificate possible, it said. The passage of tourists towards Germany should remain possible if it is guaranteed that they will cross the Alpine Republic without a stop, the authorities said. For example, the fuel gauge can be checked by travelers.

Tyrol and Salzburg Due to the Corona epidemic, all ski areas are also closed and the winter season ends prematurely. The state governments of the two federal states announced this. The reason is the attempts of the Alpine country to slow the spread of the corona virus. The cable cars are only open until Sunday inclusive, the hotels and other accommodation facilities up to and including Monday. Monday was chosen so that an "orderly return trip of the guests" from the ski areas could take place, it said.

Portugal: Restrictions on travel to Madeira

Since March 13th, no aircraft from Germany have been allowed on the Madeira Island land. Flights from the mainland will continue. A 14-day mandatory quarantine applies to all arriving passengers. Education and cultural institutions as well as theaters, cinemas and museums throughout Portugal will remain closed until April 9th.

Netherlands: No trips abroad

The Netherlands has still opened its borders. However, the government has now made recommendations for its own citizens not to travel abroad.

Sweden: No trips abroad

The same applies to Sweden as to the Netherlands. Entry is still possible, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Swedish citizens against traveling to other countries.

Malta: 14 days quarantine for Germans

A 14-day quarantine applies to all entries from Germany. In addition, numerous flights to and from Germany will be discontinued.

Cyprus: 14 days quarantine for Germans

Who from Germany to Cyprus travels, can expect to be in quarantine for 14 days because of the corona virus. A 14-day quarantine under medical supervision has even been ordered for travelers from Italy, South Korea and Iran, the Cypriot radio reported.

Russia: 14 days quarantine for Germans

Anyone from Germany to Russia travels, must independently perform a two-week quarantine. Upon arrival in the Russian capital, travelers should contact a hotline. So far, the provisions only apply to Moscow.

Israel: Quarantine here too

From Thursday evening (March 12th) no more tourists are allowed to come Israel enter – unless you can prove that you can quarantine for 14 days. The procedure, which already applies to Germans and some other foreigners, now affects all travelers. Tourists should be able to leave within a few days.

Slovenia

Slovenia: Increased entry controls and health checks at Ljubljana Airport. Germans without a residence in Slovenia must show a SARS-CoV-2 negative certificate in Slovenian, Italian or English, which must not be older than three days.

Spain imposes 15-day alarm condition

Spain has put the alarm on for 15 days. This limits freedom of movement across the country. Italian cruise ships and ferries are no longer allowed to call at Spanish ports.

China

According to the Federal Foreign Office, Germans currently have to expect to be required to undergo a two-week quarantine when entering or after traveling within China. In particular, this happens when entering Shanghai. As of March 11, 2020, Beijing is subject to a quarantine requirement for travelers from all countries. From March 14, Hong Kong will impose a 14-day forced quarantine on anyone who has been in North Rhine-Westphalia in the 14 days prior to arrival.

South Africa no longer allows foreigners from risk areas to enter the country

In view of the spread of the new corona virus, South Africa no longer allows foreigners from risk areas to enter the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that from March 18 travelers from high-risk areas such as Germany, Spain, China, the United States, Italy or Iran would no longer be admitted. Visas already issued would be revoked.

Latin American countries close borders

In Latin America, some countries have taken drastic measures in the coronavirus crisis. The presidents of Argentina, Peru, Panamas and Honduras each announced their borders to be closed on Sunday evening (local time) to their nations. Several states have now declared an emergency. Puerto Rico's Spanish-speaking suburb of Puerto Rico, Wanda Vázquez, imposed an island-wide curfew every night until March 30. According to President Lenín Moreno, people in Ecuador are only allowed to leave their homes for certain purposes on Monday.

Colombia closed its border with Venezuela on Saturday. The local ruler Nicolás Maduro ordered a quarantine on Sunday in seven states of Venezuela, including the capital Caracas. Central America's El Salvador was the first country in the region to close its borders on Thursday. Several countries in the region had banned entry from the particularly affected Europe and some countries in Asia.

Vietnam temporarily abolishes visa-free travel for German citizens

Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Chad and Uganda: Travelers from Germany have to go into self-quarantine for two weeks. Anyone who does not abide by this can face criminal consequences.

Nepal from Tuesday no longer issues visas for Germans directly on arrival.

In Vietnam Visa-free travel is temporarily suspended for travelers from Germany.

The pandemic with the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen hits the tourism industry hard and unsettles many travelers who are asking themselves: Where can I go on vacation this year if the new corona virus spreads everywhere, for example in Italy and now also? in Germany?

"There will be a wait-and-see attitude in the next few weeks, and I think that's very reasonable," says tourism researcher Prof. Martin Lohmann. "In all likelihood, we will have a normal summer in which you can travel beautifully." "Many have already booked their vacation and will not undo it for the time being," says the expert from the NIT Institute for Tourism and Spa Research in Northern Europe in Kiel.

But what if I haven't booked a vacation yet? In principle, travelers have three options. First, you stay at home. Second, you plan your vacation in a country from which no infections have been reported – and hope that it stays that way. Thirdly, you are traveling to a region or country with Corona people and there you minimize the personal risk of infection.

Variant 1: vacation on balconies?

"From a purely medical point of view, there is absolutely no reason not to travel," says Prof. Tomas Jelinek from the Center for Travel Medicine (CRM) in Berlin. The number of cases is still very low in relation to the total population. The risk of being infected with the corona virus is also low in northern Italy.

Prof. Lohmann sees it similarly: "It doesn't really make much difference whether I drive a city bus in Hamburg or Turin." So it doesn't make sense to avoid a country or region because there are Covid 19 sufferers there? "You would have to stay at home, but there can be cases as well."

Variant 2: vacation in a country without corona virus?

The new corona virus has been found in more than 60 countries. In addition to China, the country of origin, South Korea is currently worst affected worldwide. There are also many cases in Iran. Italy is currently the most affected country in Europe.

This in turn means that there are still many countries without reported cases – at least still. "We just don't know where cases will be reported in two weeks. That cannot be predicted," said Jelinek. And that is exactly what may unsettle many vacationers.

The big tour operators have reacted to this – and are accommodating. Anyone who rebooks a vacation in the coming weeks can change or cancel free of charge up to 14 days before departure. This regulation applies, for example, to Tui, DER Touristik and Alltours. If Corona appears in a country for the first time in the coming weeks, the affected holidaymakers can therefore withdraw for a short time.

"The organizers are now offering this to give customers more security and to take away the fear," explains Torsten Schäfer from the German Travel Association (DRV). The industry representative sees an advantage of the package tour here: "These customers are much better secured and have a contact person at all times."

Those who do not book through a tour operator can usually book accommodations with a short-term cancellation option on hotel portals on the Internet. So the stay can be canceled at short notice at no cost. The room then usually costs a little more, but when in doubt, holidaymakers don't stay on their money.

Variant 3: No matter where – the main thing is to be careful?

There are Very few countries currently to be avoided – especially China. The Federal Foreign Office (AA) still advises against unnecessary trips to the country with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau. There are even warnings about trips to Hubei Province.

In Italy, the AA only strongly advises against unnecessary trips to the province of Lodi in Lombardy and to Vò Euganeo in the province of Padua in Veneto. There are currently no talk of restrictions, for example in Rome, Tuscany or Sardinia.

"I would not call not to go to Venice now," says travel doctor Jelinek. "But if you want to be very careful, you might go somewhere in northern Italy." The decision of where to go is a weighing of probabilities: "If you are in places where people from many countries come together, the risk increases."

Health risks and practical problems

According to the expert, vacationers should distinguish between two risks. On the one hand, there is the risk of catching the corona virus – this is usually low. "You have to get the virus first," says Jelinek. And then it would only be dangerous if the disease took a severe course.

To classify: The Sars-CoV-2 virus can cause the disease Covid-19. Most infected people have mild cold symptoms with chills and sore throats, or no symptoms at all. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), however, about 15 out of 100 infected people become seriously ill. You get breathing problems or pneumonia. Older people or those with previous illnesses are particularly affected. There are occasional deaths.

The second risk for travelers is more practical: there may be restrictions on the travel destination. If, like in Paris, the Louvre is closed, it may still be painful. But in the worst case, there is a risk of quarantine like in a hotel in Tenerife, where German vacationers have also been arrested. "If you have an authority that blocks everything in the short term, there is nothing you can do," says Jelinek.

A residual risk remains almost everywhere

Would you rather go to a holiday home in nowhere than to a mass hotel with 500 rooms and an international crowd? This does not protect safely, because holidaymakers still have to deal with the journey – and this often leads to train stations and airports.

Travel medicine specialist Jelinek says: "We have to learn to accept that this virus exists, that it spreads and that people die from it." This also applies to people with previous illnesses. You should have all common vaccinations against flu, for example. But: "If you are old and sick, you always have a higher risk when traveling, that applies regardless of Corona and is part of existence," says Jelinek.

By Philipp Laage, dpa