Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[D6700]

In Berlin and heading to football at Eisenhüttenstadt tomorrow and was hoping to do a bit of shopping over the border in Slubice on an hours wait at Frankfurt (O) Ain't gonna happen as proof of recent negative test is required to enter Poland. It's creating havoc with people that commute daily between the two towns.

I'm quite confused by this, as proof of a recent negative test is not required to enter Poland from a Schengen country.

11 days ago, I travelled by train from the Czech Republic to Poland, having also stayed in Austria and Germany during the trip. I didn't need to be tested, as I hadn't come directly from the UK. As aside, I didn't need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form to enter Poland, as that is for arrivals by air only.

The full details are here:
https://www.gov.pl/web/coronavirus/eu-member-states-schengen-area

The UK Government advice is here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-a...try-rules-in-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19

This currently states:

All travellers arriving from non-Schengen countries, which includes the UK, who are aged five years and older must present evidence of a negative pre-departure test (PCR or antigen/lateral flow) taken within 24 hours before arrival.

As such, UK citizens arriving from Schengen countries are not affected by that restriction.

 

[rvdborgt]

The "3G rule" (vaccinated/recovered/tested) to use public transport in Germany will be abolished tomorrow:

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www.tagesschau.de

 

[Watershed]

Italy will be lifting Covid restrictions very gradually over the coming four months. See article as quoted below from TheLocal.it:

From [1 April], the green pass or certificato verde will no longer be needed to access museums, shops and local offices (including bank branches and post offices) nor to consume drinks or food in outdoor venues.

On public transport, passengers will no longer be required to have a valid certificato verde. That being said, it might be necessary to take a rapid Covid test before boarding planes or trains, and the use of FFP2 face masks will remain mandatory on all means of transport.

April 1st will also likely see the end of the quarantena preventiva (preemptive quarantine). Briefly, those coming in contact with people who have tested positive for Covid will no longer be asked to self-isolate.

There's good news for partygoers and sports fans too as the capacity of outdoor clubs and stadiums will be restored to 100 percent.

Finally, for indoor bars and restaurants, Italian residents wll have to keep displaying a valid super green pass (i.e. the certificate granted via vaccination against or recovery from Covid) for entry, whereas a green pass base (the ʻbasic' version, afforded by a negative Covid test result) will suffice for tourists.

May 1st

According to the latest reports, on May 1st, Italy will finally bid farewell to the much-contested green pass.

There will likely be an exception though. Those wishing to visit friends or relatives in hospitals or care homes will be required to show a valid super green pass. This measure is expected to remain in place until at least December 31st, 2022.

Also from May 1st, Italy will likely say goodbye o another staple of the 'Covid era', namely face masks. Masks will no longer be necessary on public transport nor in indoor venues.

June 15th

June 15th should seal the end of all Covid- related measures. As anticipated by the Italian Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, compulsory Covid vaccination for people over 50, teachers and police forces will be scrapped altogether.

It is worth reminding however that, although mandatory vaccination will remain in place throughout April and May, people over 50 will only be required to provide a valid green pass base in order to work. This marks a large departure from previous measures, which effectively prevented all residents without a valid super green pass from working.

Yet again though, there will be an exception. Vaccination will remain mandatory for hospital and care home workers up until the end of 2022. Failure to comply will be met with a €100 fine.

So essentially a continuation of most restrictions for the remainder of April, but most domestic restrictions removed from 1 May. Just my luck, seeing as I am booked to go there in the last week of April!

Also the discrimination between tourists and residents does not sit right, and it's effectively an admission that the restrictions are unjustified by global standards.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Italy will be lifting Covid restrictions very gradually over the coming four months. See article as quoted below from TheLocal.it:


So essentially a continuation of most restrictions for the remainder of April, but most domestic restrictions removed from 1 May. Just my luck, seeing as I am booked to go there in the last week of April!

Also the discrimination between tourists and residents does not sit right, and it's effectively an admission that the restrictions are unjustified by global standards.

So if I read that correctly tourists will be required (from1 April) to have a covid test before entering restaurants, bars etc.

 

[Watershed]

So if I read that correctly tourists will be required (from1 April) to have a covid test before entering restaurants, bars etc.

Yes, that will be an option (what the Germanic countries call "3G") instead of presenting a "2G" Covid passport (proving vaccination or recovery). The 2G rule will continue to apply to Italian residents throughout April.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Yes, that will be an option (what the Germanic countries call "3G") instead of presenting a "2G" Covid passport (proving vaccination or recovery). The 2G rule will continue to apply to Italian residents throughout April.

But the article is worded very poorly. I really don't see how a test is easier than a vaccination certificate.


Italian residents will have to keep displaying a valid super green pass (i.e. the certificate granted via vaccination against or recovery from Covid) for entry, whereas a green pass base (the ʻbasic' version, afforded by a negative Covid test result) will suffice for tourists.

 

[Watershed]

But the article is worded very poorly. I really don't see how a test is easier than a vaccination certificate.


Italian residents will have to keep displaying a valid super green pass (i.e. the certificate granted via vaccination against or recovery from Covid) for entry, whereas a green pass base (the ʻbasic' version, afforded by a negative Covid test result) will suffice for tourists.

It's effectively an easement for those who are "unvaccinated" (which, by the Italian definition, includes anyone who was double vaccinated more than 270 days ago and hasn't had a booster). They can take a test to get entry to certain places rather than getting vaccinated (or proving they've had Covid).

The rule is less onerous for tourists than for residents. I agree that the article could be better worded but to be fair, I imagine many readers would have background understanding of the concept of Super Green Pass (i.e. 2G) and Green Pass Base (i.e. 3G). Much though I detest the concept, the German abbreviation is at least much clearer!

 

[kristiang85]

What's Portugal like at the moment? I'm off there in 3 weeks, but I haven't seen anything suggesting they are one of the countries dropping all restrictions yet.

 

[Howardh]

The requirements for the Netherlands are confusing me, what will the situation be for the fully vaxxed next month?
Their governments site currently says there are still stringent restrictions.

 

[nw1]

Italy will be lifting Covid restrictions very gradually over the coming four months. See article as quoted below from TheLocal.it:


So essentially a continuation of most restrictions for the remainder of April, but most domestic restrictions removed from 1 May. Just my luck, seeing as I am booked to go there in the last week of April!

Also the discrimination between tourists and residents does not sit right, and it's effectively an admission that the restrictions are unjustified by global standards.

And the discrimination depending on what side of 50 you are, as in "people over 50 will only be required to provide a valid green pass base in order to work". Why is this sort of blatant ageism, prejudice and discrimination allowed in modern society?

 

[Watershed]

And the discrimination depending on what side of 50 you are, as in "people over 50 will only be required to provide a valid green pass base in order to work". Why is this sort of blatant ageism, prejudice and discrimination allowed in modern society?

It's absolutely ageism, but in contrast to many of the measures which have been imposed over the course of the pandemic, it is at least something which has a verifiable medical/scientific basis: on average, the higher your age, the higher your risk of becoming hospitalised when (not if) you catch Covid.

Of course that doesn't mean that it's a reasonable step - stopping people from working is a severe infringement on liberties, which I cannot see as remotely justified by the rather low concomitant increase in vaccination rates. It's also incredibly arbitrary, as a healthy 65 year old would still be less likely to be hospitalised than an overweight 49 year old with asthma. But such is the nature of all these restrictions.

Unfortunately Covid has unlocked a highly divisive "them and us" attitude in a lot of people.

 

[nw1]

It's absolutely ageism, but in contrast to many of the measures which have been imposed over the course of the pandemic, it is at least something which has a verifiable medical/scientific basis: on average, the higher your age, the higher your risk of becoming hospitalised when (not if) you catch Covid.

I take your point, but that could apply to any illness, people over a certain age might have a high risk of getting seriously ill with flu, yet no-one has ever tried to introduce restrictions on them.

And also, surely it should be up to the individual. Why should a fit and healthy 52-year-old for instance be told by the state that they have to be subject to bureaucracy to go into work? Surely it's up to the 52-year old to make the risk assessment for themselves, not the state, and if that 52-year old believes they are fit and not especially susceptible to viral infections it's up to them.

Of course that doesn't mean that it's a reasonable step - stopping people from working is a severe infringement on liberties, which I cannot see as remotely justified by the rather low concomitant increase in vaccination rates. It's also incredibly arbitrary, as a healthy 65 year old would still be less likely to be hospitalised than an overweight 49 year old with asthma. But such is the nature of all these restrictions.

Exactly. And the 'age' argument could be used to discriminate in other ways. If any attribute of a person makes them more susceptible to Covid, or any other disease for that matter, is it now acceptable to discriminate against people with that attribute? For example could they use the same argument to discriminate against, and impose additional restrictions, on people with a BMI over a certain value?

Prejudice is prejudice and discrimination is discrimination, and the state should not impose restrictions on people if they belong to a certain group just because that group has a higher risk of getting ill. Fair enough to offer the choice of additional vaccinations to people in a group with higher risk, but not to impose restrictions on them.

 

[Watershed]

I take your point, but that could apply to any illness, people over a certain age might have a high risk of getting seriously ill with flu, yet no-one has ever tried to introduce restrictions on them.

Well exactly. If there was no justification for such restrictions before, then there certainly isn't now.

And also, surely it should be up to the individual. Why should a fit and healthy 52-year-old for instance be told by the state that they have to be subject to bureaucracy to go into work? Surely it's up to the 52-year old to make the risk assessment for themselves, not the state, and if that 52-year old believes they are fit and not especially susceptible to viral infections it's up to them.

I absolutely agree; of course the counterargument will go "ah, but they will be imposing negative externalities on others if they end up in hospital". But so what? We allow people to impose negative externalities on others for free all the time. Should we start banning older people from driving, on the basis they're more likely to cause a crash? Or ban airlines from flying, because they create noise and pollution? Ban smoking and drinking because they're more likely to cause "unnecessary" demand on the NHS?

It is incredibly inconsistent and illogical to accept all of the above (and more), but to draw the line at stopping people from exercising medical autonomy over their bodies.

Exactly. And the 'age' argument could be used to discriminate in other ways. If any attribute of a person makes them more susceptible to Covid, or any other disease for that matter, is it now acceptable to discriminate against people with that attribute? For example could they use the same argument to discriminate against, and impose additional restrictions, on people with a BMI over a certain value?

I think if you applied restrictions on that basis, then regardless of the fact that it would be likely to be much more effective (relatively speaking), people would realise just how wrong it is. I suppose ageism is very common in society and that makes it more palatable.

 

[D1024]

What's Portugal like at the moment?

Not mainland Portugal but I was in Madeira a couple of weeks ago and the restrictions there are (on paper anyway) slightly more severe than the Mainland...

Masks to be worn outside when Social Distancing not possible - overwhelmingly ignored
Masks to be worn in indoor settings - mostly complied with
Masks to be worn to/from/moving around Restaurants/Cafes etc - mostly ignored especially when dining Al Fresco
Covid Passes for entry to various businesses - completely ignored & never asked for one once.
The only actual mask 'enforcement' was on boarding buses.
Did a small group off-road jeep tour - the driver/guide said we should wear masks but it was up to us as a group - we didn't!

Enjoy!

 

[kristiang85]

Not mainland Portugal but I was in Madeira a couple of weeks ago and the restrictions there are (on paper anyway) slightly more severe than the Mainland...

Masks to be worn outside when Social Distancing not possible - overwhelmingly ignored
Masks to be worn in indoor settings - mostly complied with
Masks to be worn to/from/moving around Restaurants/Cafes etc - mostly ignored especially when dining Al Fresco
Covid Passes for entry to various businesses - completely ignored & never asked for one once.
The only actual mask 'enforcement' was on boarding buses.
Did a small group off-road jeep tour - the driver/guide said we should wear masks but it was up to us as a group - we didn't!

Enjoy!

Thanks! That's good to know.

 

[nw1]

Well exactly. If there was no justification for such restrictions before, then there certainly isn't now.


I absolutely agree; of course the counterargument will go "ah, but they will be imposing negative externalities on others if they end up in hospital". But so what? We allow people to impose negative externalities on others for free all the time. Should we start banning older people from driving, on the basis they're more likely to cause a crash? Or ban airlines from flying, because they create noise and pollution? Ban smoking and drinking because they're more likely to cause "unnecessary" demand on the NHS?

Indeed - all sorts of activities could lead to a greater risk of ending up in hospital. It's the same sort of argument some people make when they say that smokers or consumers of junk food should be banned from treatment for cancer or heart disease, on the basis that they 'brought it on themselves'. I'm not sure if there is an 'ism' for this school of thought, but there should be.

I think if you applied restrictions on that basis, then regardless of the fact that it would be likely to be much more effective (relatively speaking), people would realise just how wrong it is. I suppose ageism is very common in society and that makes it more palatable.

I think at the end of the day, the last sentence is the key to age-related Covid legislation. It's probably the last remaining prejudice still seen as acceptable by many people. Try to discriminate based on any other attribute and the relevant government would (rightly) be torn to pieces.

 

[Mintona]

I’m trying my first trip abroad at the weekend since all this nonsense, to Croatia. Hoping it won’t be too onerous.

 

[route101]

I’m trying my first trip abroad at the weekend since all this nonsense, to Croatia. Hoping it won’t be too onerous.

Same here off to France.

 

[ABB125]

(Apologies if this is the wrong thread)

In about a week and a half, myself and @Nunners are going Interrailing. We would appreciate it if someone (or more than one!) could confirm the rules regarding coronavirus for the countries we're planning to visit (and any train operator-specific requirements). For fully-vaccinated people, our understanding is as follows:

• France - we may need to provide a "sworn statement", but I don't think so as we're just passing through on Eurostar to Brussels
• Belgium - we may need to fill in a passenger locator form, but I don't think so as, again, we're just passing through? Must wear a mask
• Germany - no entry requirements, a "medical grade" mask needed on public transport
• Austria - no entry requirements, FFP2 mask required on public transport
• Italy - we need to complete a passenger locator form, even though we're only passing through (via Venice... )? (The UK government website is slightly unclear), FFP2 mask required
• Switzerland - no entry requirements, must wear a mask
• Czech Republic - no entry requirements,FFP2 mask required
• Denmark - no entry requirements, no mask requirements?
• Sweden - no entry requirements, no mask requirements?

I don't think I've missed off any countries (@Nunners can confirm?).
In summary, I think we need to procure some FFP2 masks, fill in an Italy passenger locator form and possibly a Belgian one?

As for train operators, are there any specific requirements for NightJet, SnallTaget, and Eurostar?

Thanks very much

 

[rvdborgt]

In about a week and a half, myself and @Nunners are going Interrailing. We would appreciate it if someone (or more than one!) could confirm the rules regarding coronavirus for the countries we're planning to visit (and any train operator-specific requirements).

Websites like reopen.europa.eu (especially if you click further to the national websites mentioned there) are much more reliable than experiences (or opinions...) on a public forum. Requirements change often and with little notice, so what was valid last week may not be valid now, let alone next week or next month. You'd better check yourself and check again shortly before you cross a border.

 

[1D54]

Medical grade masks are a requirement in Germany on public transport but many people are just wearing the cheap disposable ones that litter our streets.

 

[Citybreak1]

I wonder when Eurostar will ditch masks now EasyJet have eased the rule?

 

[Watershed]

I wonder when Eurostar will ditch masks now EasyJet have eased the rule?

EasyJet have only abolished it where both the origin and destination countries have abolished their mask mandate. That means only a small number of routes are covered so far.

This is in contrast to Jet2's policy, that effectively they won't enforce masks onboard anywhere, only requiring you to wear them upon landing if the destination requires it.

I imagine Eurostar will stick with their mandate for as long as France and Belgium don't abolish their mandates.

 

[johncrossley]

The requirements for the Netherlands are confusing me, what will the situation be for the fully vaxxed next month?
Their governments site currently says there are still stringent restrictions.

The rules have been relaxed from today and vaccinated people from the UK no longer need a test. They still need to fill in the vaccine declaration form.

 

[Howardh]

The rules have been relaxed from today and vaccinated people from the UK no longer need a test. They still need to fill in the vaccine declaration form.

Thanks! Is a locator form necessary?

 

[johncrossley]

Thanks! Is a locator form necessary?

You still have to fill in a health declaration form if you arrive by air or sea.

 

[joncombe]

Does anyone know the current rules for Sicily?

The UK website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements suggests that to enter mainland Italy if you've been vacinated there is no need for a Covid test, but it goes onto say this.

All arrivals from the UK into Sicily will need to undertake a rapid lateral flow test on arrival (administered by the local health authorities free of charge).

I tried the "Reopen Europa" website but couldn't see anything about this rule for Sicily. I did try to have a look around various website but couldn't find anything defintiive. I found other sources saying a Covid test was needed to enter Sicily but not anything that looked "official".

I have a trip there planned in just over a month (already deferred twice already) and I need to make a decision soon about whether to postpone it again (or cancel). I don't want to go until the requirement to take a test has gone.

 

[P Binnersley]

It is a Sicilian requirement.

The link is https://www.costruiresalute.it/?q=info viaggiatori (in Italian).
Google translate seems to confirm a lateral flow test on arrival. I think it applies to all arrivals, including mainland Italy.

 

[Bald Rick]

France - we may need to provide a "sworn statement", but I don't think so as we're just passing through on Eurostar to Brussels

You will need the sworn statement (which in practice takes about 10 seconds to do) if you think you will encounter French border control. E.g. at St Pancras.

 

[island]

You will need the sworn statement (which in practice takes about 10 seconds to do) if you think you will encounter French border control. E.g. at St Pancras.

This is rarely if ever checked, though of course the time you don't have it would be the one time they ask.