Germany will enforce a “strengthened quarantine regime” from September and axe free Covid tests for travellers arriving from ‘high risk’ countries including Spain.
Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed a series of tougher measures with German state leaders after returning holidaymakers and local celebrations were blamed for a surge in cases of Covid-19.
Germany will now impose 14-day self-isolation restrictions on travellers returning from high-risk areas, although it will allow the isolation period to be reduced if the traveller pays for a test and tests negative after several days.
Merkel said: “The federal and state governments urge all returning travellers to comply with the quarantine obligations.”
The German foreign ministry also extended its warning against travel to more than 160 countries until September 14 and issued more regional travel warnings within Europe, for parts of Croatia, France, Belgium, Andorra and Gibraltar.
The warning had been due to expire at the end of August.
A government spokeswoman warned: “The situation will not relax sufficiently by mid-September to be able to lift the worldwide travel warning.”
Health minister Jens Spahn gave notice of the changes earlier this week after data suggested more than 40% of new infections in Germany were contracted overseas.
Spahn said a “strengthened quarantine regime” was “important to prevent the virus from spreading within the country through returning travellers”.
He promised an intensification of checks on travellers to ensure compliance with quarantine rules.
German authorities said the tests on travellers had led to pressure on testing facilities, with capacity pushed to the limit. The tests have been conducted for free at airports, rail stations and doctor’s surgeries.
A health ministry spokesperson said: “It’s clear that if we operate at full throttle like this for weeks, we will have personnel and supply problems.”
From next week, those returning from high-risk areas will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Travellers will have the option to take a test from the fifth day on, with a negative result reducing the quarantine period. But the test may no longer be free unless ordered by a doctor.
Germany introduced free tests for travellers returning from high-risk areas in July and made the tests mandatory on August 8.
The German testing regime had been hailed by the UK aviation and travel sectors as an example the UK government should follow.
Health insurance companies have covered the costs of the tests but are due to be reimbursed by the state.
The government made the tests free, arguing people would avoid them if they had to pay. However, leading opposition politicians have argued holidaymakers should pay for the tests themselves.