Germany adds Central Bohemia to list of COVID-19 risk regions, restricting travel

Central Bohemia is the region around Prague. Prague was put on the list a week ago.

The border between Germany and the Czech Republic remains open. A negative COVID-19 test not older than 48 hours is required from those arriving in Germany from Prague or Central Bohemia. Those who do not produce a test have to go in quarantine and have themselves tested in Germany.

The restrictions should not affect those commuting to work to Germany provided that they have no symptoms of COVID-19.

Apart from Central Bohemia, Germany added Vienna, Budapest and several regions in France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland to the list.

Shortly after Germany declared that it considers Central Bohemia a risk area, the German Foreign Ministry warned against tourist and non-urgent visits to this region and Prague because of a higher number of infection cases. The ministry also said the epidemiological situation in several regions has been markedly worsening in recent days, including those bordering on Germany.

The key criterion for Germany to put an area on the risk list is if the number of the local new infections has exceeded 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days. Another criterion is the epidemiological situation in the given country, where the above limit has not been reached but the number of COVID-19 cases has been rising steeply.

Being listed among risk areas does not mean that Germans are not allowed to go to a location, but the federal government as well as the individual states recommend that people avoid these regions if possible. People from risk areas can also travel to Germany, but they must expect limitations.