Germany to force all Britons entering the country into TWO-WEEK quarantine – even if they are fully-vaccinated
- Britain has tonight been added to Germany’s list of Covid-19 ‘high risk countries’
- From 11pm on Sunday, Britons entering Germany must quarantine for two weeks
- Quarantine will be mandatory for all Brit tourists, including those who are jabbed
Germany tonight said it would force all Britons entering the country to quarantine for two weeks, even if they are fully vaccinated, in a bit to kerb the spread of the Omicron variant.
The state’s health authority, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), announced late today that Britain had been added to its list of Covid high-risk countries as a ‘virus variant area’.
From midnight on Sunday – or 11pm UK time – carriers such as airlines are banned from transporting British tourists to Germany
Only German citizens and residents, their partners and children, and transit passengers will be allowed to travel to the country from the UK.
Anyone entering Germany from Britain will need a negative PCR test and is required to quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.
France has imposed similar restrictions, which came into force at 11pm on Friday.
The state’s health authority (pictured, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach) announced late today that Britain had been added to its list of Covid high-risk countries as a ‘virus variant area’
The RKI announced the new rules as it classified the UK as a virus variant area of concern, the highest Covid risk level, and said the restrictions could last until at least January 3.
It comes amid mounting concerns over the soaring rates of Covid-19 driven by the spread of Omicron variant in the UK.
Germany has reimposed its own health restrictions following high case numbers due to Omicron, barring unvaccinated individuals from restaurants and non-essential commerce.
A rush of passengers travelling to France to beat the country’s ban on UK tourists led to a knock-on effect on freight traffic, resulting in long queues of lorries.
There were lengthy tailbacks on the M20 motorway in Kent heading to Dover and at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel on Saturday.
It followed queues at the Port of Dover a day earlier after many people brought their Christmas travel plans forward to avoid the new rules.
A spokeswoman for Eurotunnel said: ‘Congestion in Dover overnight and on the A20 into Dover this morning has led to a transfer of freight traffic to Eurotunnel.’
All lanes of approach towards the port of Dover were packed with vehicles last night as hopeful travellers made last ditch attempts to head to France before the midnight ban on tourists was enforced
Passengers packed into Euston Station yesterday in a mass exodus in a bid to escape the capital before Christmas – with RAC warning 27million journeys will be made on Britain’s road over the weekend
Passengers queue to board Eurostar trains at St. Pancras International station, London, on Friday, ahead of increased restrictions for travellers to France from Britain
‘There is currently slow-moving traffic on the approach to J11A (Eurotunnel exit) on M20, but freight is flowing through the tunnel at normal rates and so this will disappear in the coming hours.’
She said all passengers who wanted to get to France through the Channel Tunnel before the deadline had been able to do so.
Under the new rules brought in due to the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, UK citizens now need a ‘compelling reason’ to enter France, with trips for tourism or business banned.
Hauliers, transport workers and French nationals are exempt from the new rules.
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