Germany bans travel from the UK after outbreaks of Indian COVID variant

As of Sunday, May 23, travellers from the UK are barred from entering Germany, except for residents and those with German citizenship. Concerns about the spread of a variant of coronavirus first detected in India caused the Robert Koch Institute to classify the UK as an area of variant concern on Friday. 

Germany’s temporary UK travel ban comes into effect

The temporary ban, which came into effect on Sunday, May 23, stipulates that people may not travel to Germany from Great Britain or Northern Ireland via plane, bus or train, unless they are a German citizen or resident. Spouses and children under the age of 18 may also enter, as long as they are travelling together with a German citizen or resident. 

The change in designation also means that all passengers will now have to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival, even if they are fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19. It is not possible to shorten this quarantine period with a negative test, as outlined in Germany’s new quarantine rules. 

People are still permitted to transfer from one flight to another, but they must remain within the transit area at the airport. 

Cases of Indian coronavirus variant on the rise in the UK

A week ago, the Robert Koch Institute designated the UK a “risk country” once again, citing new outbreaks in several areas linked to a variant of coronavirus first detected in India, which is regarded as especially contagious and one of the driving factors behind the exponential increase in coronavirus infections in India in recent months. 

But with the number of “Indian variant” COVID cases in the UK rising by more than 160 percent within a week, the RKI announced on Friday that it was adjusting the UK’s risk status. “There are local outbreaks occurring again, including cases of more infectious variants such as the Indian variant at present,” the German Embassy in the UK wrote. 

“Therefore, to prevent the further spread of the virus, the United Kingdom has been classified as an area of variant concern with effect from 23 May 2021. A ban on transportation and entry into Germany therefore applies from 23 May.” 

11 other countries are included on Germany’s list of high-risk areas of variants of concern, including Brazil, India, Nepal, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.