The Federal Ministry of Health of Germany has updated the country’s list of high risk areas based on the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 around the world. It also added a new area of variants of concern.
These are the specific modifications to the lists.
The UK, an area of variant of concern
Until now, the UK was a high risk area. However, due to the spread of the Omicron variant in British territory, the German authorities have added the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (including the Isle of Man as well as all Channel Islands and all British overseas territories) to the list of countries with variants of concern.
Although many countries in the world have detected the Omicron variant among their population, the United Kingdom currently registers more than 45,000 cases. The Spanish government has already responded to the first Omicron-related death in the UK with special measures for British nationals and residents traveling to Spain. Now it was the turn of the German government to react to the UK’s alarming epidemiological situation.
So the Federal Ministry of Health decided that from 20 December 2021 at 00.00 am, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will enter the list of areas of variants of concern, joining southern African countries Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and of course, South Africa (where the Omicron variant was first detected around one month ago).
This means that from now on, people coming to Germany from the UK will have an obligation to isolate themselves for 14 days. Unlike people coming from high risk areas, anyone who has spent time in the UK before traveling to Germany will not be given the chance of shortening the travel quarantine period.
They still must take a COVID-19 diagnostic test upon arrival in Germany, though —even if they’re fully vaccinated.
New high risk areas
The Ministry of Health of Germany has also identified new high risk areas this week. Due to their elevated COVID-19 infection rates, Andorra, Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Lebanon, Norway, and France will be considered high risk areas from December 20th, 2021.
The French overseas department of Réunion was one of the first territories that detected Omicron cases three weeks ago (along with South Africa, Hong Kong, and Botswana), so it is also included in the list.
People coming from countries on the list of high risk areas must register before entry and provide proof of vaccination or recovery upon arrival in Germany.
On the other hand, there are territories that are no longer considered high risk areas by Germany’s Ministry of Health. These territories are Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, North Macedonia, and the Republic of Moldova.
So the new list of high risk areas is:
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria (except for the municipality of Mittelberg and Jungholz and Rißtal in the municipal area of Vomp and Eben am Achensee)
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Congo
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands)
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- France (including Réunion)
- Georgia
- Greece
- Haiti
- Hungary
- Iran
- Ireland
- Jordan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Netherlands (including Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba)
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Sudan
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Guidance on Required Docs