Germany has extended permanent controls on the borders with the Czech Republic and Tyrol

Germany has extended permanent border controls with the Czech Republic and the Austrian federal state of Tyrol by two weeks. The decision was made on Wednesday by the German Ministry of the Interior. The current inspections were due to expire at midnight on Wednesday.

In the morning, the German Ministry of the Interior informed ČTK that the fate of the inspections had not yet been decided. Germany introduced permanent surveillance on the borders with the Czech Republic and Tyrol on 14 February to enforce compliance with quarantine measures.

Homeland spokesman Steve Alter said on Friday last week that the assessment so far showed that controls were effective but could not completely stop the spread of covid-19. This gave rise to speculation that Germany might return to random checks.

After the abolition of permanent inspections, not only the Czech Republic and Austria are calling, but also the European Union. Germany refused to relax the regime, saying it wanted to prevent the spread of mutations from the Czech Republic and Tyrol to Germany. The Czech Republic and most of Tyrol are on the German list of coronavirus mutations. This list also includes the French department of the Moselle, against which Germany does not exercise permanent controls, which Vienna and Prague criticize as disproportionate.

Only Germans, foreigners living permanently in Germany, freight carriers and selected commuters may travel from mutated areas to Germany if they prove negative by a coronavirus test. Everyone except cross-border workers and truck drivers must quarantine upon arrival.