Germany may impose international travel ban again

German interior Minister Horst Seehofer informed that the country was planning an international travel ban to curb the spike of new coronavirus variant in the country.

“The danger from the numerous virus mutations forces us to consider drastic measures,” Seehofer told the Bild newspaper.

“That includes significantly stricter border checks, especially at the borders of high-risk areas, but also reducing air travel to Germany to almost zero, as Israel is currently doing,” he added.

Chancellor Angela Merkel also said in a meeting that “certain precautions at the border”, may be necessary in the wake of the new coronavirus spike, AFP reported.

“Everyone understands that now is not the time to travel,” she was quoted as saying.

The country in November had closed bars, restaurants, culture, and leisure facilities. In December, it ordered schools and non-essential shops to close.

The current shutdowns may continue until mid-February.

Currently, travelers arriving in Germany from countries where the new variants have been found are asked to provide a recent negative test result on arrival.

“The people in Germany who accept the tough restrictions expect us to protect them as best we can from an explosion in infection numbers,” Seehofer told Bild.

The country has registered over 2 million COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic and more than 52,000 deaths.

Many countries have taken stricter measures as reports suggest that the strain of SARS CoV-2 first found in the U.K and South Africa is 70% more infectious.