Debate about travelers: compulsory testing apparently from August 1st

According to a draft by the Ministry of Health, the mandatory test for returnees should apply from August 1st – regardless of how and from where you enter. In addition, the classification of risk areas is to be simplified.

The planned general test obligation when entering Germany is apparently supposed to come into effect on August 1st. This emerges from a draft ordinance by the Federal Ministry of Health.

It is necessary “to curb the entry of additional infections and to keep the number of infections low in order to be able to further increase the vaccination rates during this time,” says the paper.

Fourth wave is to be delayed

“The next wave of high numbers of infections to be expected according to current forecasts should be delayed as far back as possible,” it continues.

In principle, according to the draft, in the future all immigrants from the age of six should have a negative test certificate, proof of recovery or proof of a complete vaccination – regardless of where and how they come to Germany.

When entering from an area with worrying virus variants, proof of test should always be required – proof of vaccination or recovery should not be sufficient.

Special regulations for cross-border commuters

In general, the evidence should be carried with you on entry and presented in the event of “random” checks by the authorities – regardless of whether you arrive by plane, train or car. How exactly and to what extent these controls are carried out is still unclear.

The draft provides for special regulations for cross-border commuters and shorter journeys in cross-border traffic, among other things. The compulsory test should only apply to them when entering from risk areas with high numbers of infections. For those who have not been vaccinated and those who have not recovered, a test certificate should only be required twice a week and not with every entry.

According to the draft, changes are also planned in the classification of regions with higher risk. In future there will only be two categories instead of three: high-risk areas and virus variant areas. The previous level of a “simple” risk area is to be dropped.

Lauterbach for controls at train stations

“The testing should take place regardless of which country people are coming from,” said SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach in the newspapers of the Funke media group. Vaccinated persons should simply prove their status via the vaccination certificate.

“At the train stations, the vaccination certificate can be checked by people entering the train station.” For long-distance travel by car, the concept of a more intensive veil search with appropriate controls is “the right way”.

The virologist Schmidt-Chanasit showed up in the Bavarian Broadcasting on the other hand, skeptical about the quality of the tests in the holiday countries. One cannot be sure whether the tests will be carried out there in the same way as in Germany.

“We know all the disadvantages of even the quick tests and they cost a lot,” he said. “In this respect, pool testing using a PCR method would certainly be worth considering.”

The current draft, as of Wednesday evening, was agreed in advance with other departments and will now be discussed further.