What are Germany’s new quarantine rules after travel?

What are current quarantine rules?

In Germany, individual states are responsible for quarantine regulations. Although the rules are largely the same, there can be some small differences between states.

At the moment, upon entry to Germany from a risk area, whatever the mode of transport, the general rules are:

• You must go directly to your destination following entry into Germany (this can be done after a test – see below)
• You have to self-isolate at home until a negative test result is available
• Provide proof of the negative test result to the authorities (the health office or Gesundheitsamt).
• Notify the health office by email or phone in your place of residence/accommodation.

You do not have to self-isolate at home if you are travelling through Germany. However, that means you do of course have to leave the country immediately (to get to your destination).

A stay in a risk area means that you stayed in the area concerned at any point within the 14 days prior to entry to Germany.

If you can prove that you are not infected with Covid‑19, no quarantine is necessary in most states, However, some states require you to take another test after a few days.

This proof must take the form of a medical certificate. The test must have been carried out more than 48 hours prior to entry, and carried out in an EU member state or a state with comparable quality standards.

Test on arrival

The Covid-19 test can also be taken on arrival into Germany.

So you can do it at the airport, for example, or in the area you are staying.

The test is free for travellers from risk areas up to 72 hours after entry

What’s new then?

The states now have to issue new quarantine regulations which must be in force by November 8th. Some states have already introduced this regulation. Initially it was to be a nationwide rule in October but the date was pushed back.

So from November 8th these are the new general rules:

• A stay in a ‘risk zone ‘means you stayed in the area concerned at any point within 10 days prior to entry to Germany
• After arriving at your destination in Germany, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days (this is mandatory)
• If no other grounds for exception apply (such as if you are an essential worker) you may only be released from the obligation to quarantine at home – no earlier than five days after entering Germany– if you provide proof of a negative test result. So a test can be taken five days into the quarantine at the earliest.

The regulations will be implemented by the states so you should check with the area you’re going to before travelling.

For example, in Berlin there is a requirement to quarantine for 14 days when entering – not 10 days.

Other factors are taken into account such as which measures are being taken to halt the spread of Covid-19, if it’s a local or widespread outbreak plus testing strategies and rules in place such as hygiene or contact tracing.