From Saturday, August 8 onward, all travellers returning to Germany from designated risk areas will be required to take a test for coronavirus - or produce a very recent negative COVID-19 test result. 

Arrivals to Germany from risk areas must get corona test or pay a fine

Germany will “play it safe” with arrivals from risk countries, said Federal Minister of Health, Jens Spahn. From Saturday onwards, anybody who has been in a risk area in the two weeks before entering Germany will have to undergo a coronavirus test, unless they have German or English language documentation of a negative test taken in the last 48 hours. Anyone who refuses to take a test could face a fine of up to 25.000 euros, depending on the federal state in which they live. 

The tests will be offered free of charge at all German airports and carried out by the German Red Cross behind the passport and customs areas. There are also plans to set up testing booths at the German border by motorways and train stations. If for any reason an immediate test is not possible - for instance, if the test centres are closed - travellers must get tested within 14 days and remain in quarantine until they have done so. 

130 countries and regions currently considered “risk areas”

The list of “high-risk” regions, compiled by Germany’s centre for disease control, the Robert Koch Insititute, is continually updated. It currently includes some 130 countries and regions around the world, including, for example, parts of northern Spain and the Antwerp region of Belgium. The travel warning for the four Turkish provinces of Antalya, Izmir, Aydin and Mugla was lifted on August 4. 

The main criterion for designating an area high risk is if it has seen more than 50 new infections per 100.000 residents over the past seven days.