In a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, Germany has become the latest European country to impose a travel ban on most visitors from the UK. German nationals and residents will continue to be granted entry from the United Kingdom. 

Regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated, they must have a negative test and be quarantined for two weeks. 

The restrictions go into force on Sunday evening, and France has already implemented similar restrictions in response to an increase in coronavirus illnesses in the UK. 

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The new guidelines were revealed by the Robert-Koch-Institut, a federal health institution, as it categorised the United Kingdom as a virus variation area of concern, the highest risk category in the Covid system. 

Denmark, France, Norway, and Lebanon have all been added to Germany’s high-risk list, restricting travel from those nations.

Following days of record highs, this comes after another 90,418 daily COVID instances were registered across the UK on Saturday. 

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Due to a dramatic increase in cases, London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared a “major incident” in the capital on Saturday. On Saturday, there were 26,418 new cases reported, the highest number since the pandemic began. 

Without further limitations, scientific advisers have warned that England’s hospital admissions might approach 3,000 per day. 

While the number of new confirmed coronavirus infections in Germany is lower than in the United Kingdom, with 50,968 new cases announced on Friday, the number of deaths associated with a positive COVID test is increasing. On Friday, Germany reported 437 deaths. 

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According to German health minister Karl Lauterbach, the Omicron variety is predicted to unleash a “massive fifth wave” of the pandemic.

He stated that Germany would face a challenge “that we have never seen in this form before”. 

Prof Lauterbach stated on Saturday that the “more we can push back… the better”. 

France is likewise concerned about the development of Omicron in the UK, and on Saturday, UK tourists were barred from travelling between the two nations. 

Under the new criteria, UK people must have a “compelling reason” to visit France, with tourism and business trips being prohibited. 

Transport workers, hauliers, and French nationals are exempt. 

On Friday, a rush of travellers heading to France to avoid the country’s tourist ban had a knock-on impact on freight traffic, resulting in long lorry lines. 

Saturday saw long traffic jams on the M20 motorway in Kent, which leads to Dover, as well as at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel. 

Many people moved up their Christmas vacation plans as a result of new rules.