Germany Extends Border Control With Czech Republic

Germany has extended border control with the Czech Republic and Austria’s Tyrol region, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Wednesday, citing the current number of new coronavirus infections and more virus variant cases.

“We decided today to extend border controls in mutation areas in the Czech Republic and Austria,” Seehofer said.

The control was reinstated on February 14, following the introduction of a stricter lockdown in the Czech Republic.

At the same time, the German state of Saxony has eased entry conditions for commuters from the Czech Republic, allowing workers who are essential to the operation of their employer to cross the border without having to quarantine.

All commuters who are systemically indispensable for their employer can now enter Saxony. In this case, the employer fills in a form, which they have confirmed with the relevant provincial authority.

However, the condition for entry is daily testing as well as an ongoing obligation to register.’

Latest statistics

The health ministry recorded 11,928 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, 18% below the level reported a week ago.

The official death toll has reached 24,117, a rise of 215 from Wednesday; the increase also includes revisions to previous days, according to ministry data.

In total, 1.439 million infections have been recorded since March 2020.

Current hospitalizations stood at 8,910. The ministry reported 1.215 million vaccine shots have been administered.