Germany has named five additional countries as new areas of a variant of concern for Covid, taking the number of countries on the list to 12.
The new countries of concern are Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
People arriving in Germany who have been in one of the countries on the list, which includes the UK, Ireland and South Africa, over the previous ten days must provide a negative result to both the transport provider and authorities in Germany from a Covid test taken at the earliest 48 hours before entry. The proof of a negative test result or corresponding medical certificate must be provided on paper or electronically in German, English or French.
The country has also added Saint Lucia and the Greek regions of Attica and Central Greece as as additional risk areas but removed the Norwegian regions of Rogaland, Trøndelag and Vestfold og Telemark.
Since November, foreigners entering Germany who have stayed in a risk area in the ten days before entry are obliged to enter a ten-day quarantine immediately after entry but can end quarantine after five days with a negative test.