The Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases (RKI) announced on Friday that Germany no longer classifies certain regions, including the United States, Canada and Austria, as areas at risk for the coronavirus.

The RKI Index lists 19 countries and territories that are “no longer considered at-risk areas” due to low coronavirus infection rates

What does the verdict mean for passengers?

Countries removed from the travel risk list include Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cyprus, Kosovo, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and the United States.

Some areas of Portugal, Norway, Croatia, Greece and Switzerland are no longer considered at-risk areas by Germany.

Passengers arriving in Germany by plane must provide a negative test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery before their departure, regardless of whether or not they are in a hazardous area.

This decision will be effective from June 13.

When will other countries be removed from Germany’s travel risk list?

Later on Friday, Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced that most of the remaining countries would be removed from the German travel risk list by July 1.

“With summer, hope and faith will return to Germany. In many places, the number of infections is falling and more and more citizens are being vaccinated,” Maas said. “After so many months of lockdown, we can hope for more normalcy, and the same goes for travel.”

However, Maas was quick to point out that the lifting of restrictions was not an “invitation to ignore” and said the new variables should not come as a surprise to anyone who is on vacation this summer.

JS, FA/AW (AFP, Reuters)