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Germany to lift Covid travel warning for most countries from July

Germany will lift its pandemic travel warning for most countries from July 1st, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Friday, bringing back more normalcy as residents are increasingly vaccinated against Covid-19.

Germany to lift Covid travel warning for most countries from July
A plane flying near Frankfurt in March. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Countries recording infection rates of 50-200 cases per 100,000 people in seven days would no longer be deemed a “risk-zone”.

The German government will also no longer generally advise against tourist travel abroad as of July 1st.

Restrictions however remain in place for countries with higher levels of infections, or where virus variants are circulating, such as Britain or India.

“With the summer, hope and confidence are returning to Germany. In many places, the number of infections is falling and more and more citizens are vaccinated,” said Maas.

“After long months of lockdowns, we can look forward to more normalcy, and that also applies to travelling.”

At the same time, the minister stressed that the lifting of the warning should not be seen as an “invitation to carelessness”.

Maas said “travel with reason and a sense of proportion” would be the motto of the summer.

With an eye on variants, he warned that “the danger from the virus and its mutants is far from over”.

He added: “That’s why we will continue to warn against travel where it makes sense: in high-incidence and virus-variant areas.”

READ ALSO: Germany is in ‘race to vaccinate’ against Covid Delta variant, says Merkel

It came as several countries – including the US, Canada, Austria, Ukraine, Cyprus, Lebanon and some regions in Portugal, Norway, Croatia, Switzerland and Greece, were removed from the current ‘risk’ list. The changes come into effect from June 13th.

The RKI updates the list on the classification of risk countries regularly.

Tough travel restrictions throughout pandemic

Germany began implementing tough travel restrictions at the start of the first Covid wave in March 2020. In summer last year, the ban on travel was lifted but a general tourist travel warning was put in place for most countries around the world.

The travel warnings have generally stayed in place throughout the second and third wave – and the government has also been urging people in Germany not to travel for non-essential purposes. 

However, with an incidence rate of just 19 per 100,000 people on Friday, Germany has seen a massive drop in Covid rates. Plus almost one in four people is fully vaccinated. Nearly half of the population has received at least one vaccine dose. 

Domestic tourism, as well as restaurants, leisure and cultural facilities have been opening up around the country in the last few weeks as Covid cases have dropped. Overnight accommodation in the capital Berlin opened on Friday June 11th for the first time in around eight months. 

Germany is also starting to roll out a digital vaccine and health pass – known as CovPass – as part of the EU’s plan to facilitate smoother travel among bloc countries.

That is due to come into play fully from July 1st. The aim is that people in the EU will be able to scan their digital vaccine certificate or Covid test results/proof of recovery onto an app(s) at borders. 

It is hoped the digital pass can be widened out to non-EU countries in future. 

READ ALSO: A million Europeans obtain Covid health pass ahead of vote

What are the current travel restrictions?

Germany has a tiered warning system in place for countries and regions across the world, ranging from a basic ‘risk’ zone, a ‘high incidence’ area or ‘virus variant area of concern’.

Different rules are required for arrivals from countries around the world depending on their risk status, although quarantine restrictions were eased recently – particularly for fully vaccinated people.

READ ALSO: Germany’s relaxed quarantine and testing rules for travel

The highest risk areas are ‘virus variant of concern’ spots, which currently include India, Brazil, South Africa and the UK. 

There is a general ban on arrival into Germany from these countries although there are exceptions for German residents and citizens.

Anyone who does come from these countries, though, has to do a 14-day quarantine even if they are vaccinated, and there is no option to shorten it. 

READ ALSO: What are the Covid-19 test requirements for entering Germany

Despite easing Covid curbs in recent weeks, there are still lots of restrictions in place in Germany.

Rules on mask-wearing in shops and public transport, regular tests for schoolchildren and employees working from home remain in place, for example.

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TRAVEL

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Catch the very tail-end of the wine season and autumn foliage in one of the lesser-explored corners of the Austrian capital: Mauer.

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts
Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.


The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.


The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns. 

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.


Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

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