Due to concerns about the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus, Germany has joined the list of European countries that have lately increased travel restrictions for arrivals from the United Kingdom.
German authorities have now prohibited most arrivals from the United Kingdom, requiring them to submit a negative COVID-19 test and adhere to 14-day mandatory quarantine restrictions, regardless of vaccination status.
The UK is now categorised as a variant area of concern, according to data provided by the German disease prevention and control organisation Robert-Koch Institute, indicating that the country is heavily affected by the COVID-19, particularly the Omicron variant.
Denmark, Andorra, Norway, Lebanon, and France are among the nations on Germany’s list of countries considered highly affected by the virus, and travel from these countries is likewise prohibited.
As a result of this decision, all persons from the aforementioned countries who have not completed their immunisation process, as well as unrecovered passengers from these territories, will be subject to stricter entry requirements, including a mandatory negative COVID-19 test result taken prior to departure or a self-isolation requirement upon arrival.
On December 17, the UK Health Security Agency reported 24,968 infection cases linked to COVID-19′ Omicron variants in the UK.
Furthermore, the UK reported seven deaths due by the Omicron strain on December 16.
As a result of these findings, German authorities have implemented more stringent precautionary measures in order to prevent an increase in the number of infections linked to the Omicron variant.
According to the BBC, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach stated that the COVID-19’s new form is expected to unleash a “massive fifth wave” of the pandemic.
During a news conference, the Minister also stated that Germany must prepare for a new challenge “that we have never seen in this form before,” emphasising that “the more we can push back… the better. “Lauterbach anticipates a “massive fifth wave” a s a result of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Even though this variant may be milder than others, the Minister pointed out that “this might keep deaths low for two to three weeks before the growth of the virus would eat up this advantage.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Germany has documented about 6,721,300 cases of COVID-19 infection and 107,639 deaths attributable to the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.
According to the same source, 297,855 people in Germany have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, while 2,643 people have died during that time.
– India’s new age travel digital media
