BERLIN: Germany will classify France as a high-risk zone for COVID-19, Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned, in a move that could see Berlin tighten border controls and require mandatory quarantine to enter the nation.
The decision will come into force on Friday and be announced by the national health institute, the Robert Koch Institute, according to the newspaper FAZ.
COVID-19 incidence rates, which measure the number of infections in every 100,000 individuals over the earlier seven days, have crossed the threshold of 200 in numerous French departments.
In Ile-de-France, the region which encompasses the capital of Paris, it has passed 600.
“Whereas we see such a high incidence, it’s simply a necessity … a practically automatic process,” Chancellor Merkel informed a press conference in Berlin on Thursday as part of an EU summit focused on the fight against COVID-19.
“It isn’t related here to a political decision, but when we see the evolution of the incidence rate – as is the case here – exceed the threshold of 200 for a long time, that requires a classification as a zone of high risk,” she added.
Up till now, only France’s border area of Moselle had been categorized by Germany as a high-risk zone.
The classification imposes several travel restrictions, including a requirement to obtain a negative test result before entering German territory, 10 days’ quarantine, as well as the imposition of strict border controls.
Berlin has also placed Austria’s Tyrol state and the Czech Republic in the same category.
However, Merkel hinted on Thursday that France could enjoy special treatment and avoid strict border controls, despite being classified as a high-risk area.
“There is a whole specific test procedure … that is in discussion with France,” she mentioned.
