https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Overstretched PCR testing capacities throughout the EU have led to requirements for recovery certificates being downgraded. https://www.thelocal.de/20220224/recovery-certificates-soon-to-be-valid-after-rapid-antigen-test Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:47:45 +0100 recovery-certificates-soon-to-be-valid-after-rapid-antigen-test A Covid rule change for travellers in Germany and the EU came into force on February 1st. Here's a look at what it means for entry to Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20220201/explained-the-new-rules-for-entering-germany-with-an-eu-covid-pass Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:04:46 +0100 explained-the-new-rules-for-entering-germany-with-an-eu-covid-pass Germany's 'Corona-Warn-app' is being updated to show users their vaccination status proof under the 3G, 2G and 2G-plus rules. https://www.thelocal.de/20220121/3g-2g-or-2g-plus-germanys-covid-warning-app-to-show-vaccination-status Fri, 21 Jan 2022 12:41:37 +0100 3g-2g-or-2g-plus-germanys-covid-warning-app-to-show-vaccination-status Many people - including tourists - are wondering exactly what they need to carry for Germany's new restrictions that favour Covid- boosted people. Here's what you should know. https://www.thelocal.de/20220114/what-documents-do-you-need-to-carry-for-germanys-2g-plus-restrictions Fri, 14 Jan 2022 14:34:49 +0100 what-documents-do-you-need-to-carry-for-germanys-2g-plus-restrictions As infection rates surge in parts of Europe, the EU will limit the validity of its flagship Covid-19 certificate to nine months. The pass is designed to allow for restriction free travel within the bloc but certain countries are stepping up restrictions. https://www.thelocal.de/20211123/how-the-eu-could-change-its-covid-certificate-for-travel Tue, 23 Nov 2021 13:30:59 +0100 how-the-eu-could-change-its-covid-certificate-for-travel Germany has strict Covid pass entry rules (known as 2G or 3G) to most public places. But tourists found an inconsistent picture of what vaccination proof is accepted, and varying experiences of being able to get the EU digital pass. https://www.thelocal.de/20211213/visiting-germany-what-its-like-to-try-and-get-an-eu-digital-vaccine-certificate Mon, 13 Dec 2021 17:25:48 +0100 visiting-germany-what-its-like-to-try-and-get-an-eu-digital-vaccine-certificate A German man killed his wife and three children before taking his own life, leaving behind a note that said he feared being jailed for faking a Covid-19 health pass, prosecutors said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20211207/german-man-kills-own-family-over-fake-covid-pass Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:34:32 +0100 german-man-kills-own-family-over-fake-covid-pass From Wednesday, passengers will need to carry a negative Covid test, proof of vaccination or a certificate of recovery on German buses and trains. But how would this work in practice? We take a look. https://www.thelocal.de/20211118/explained-how-covid-3g-rules-could-work-on-german-public-transport Thu, 18 Nov 2021 11:16:05 +0100 explained-how-covid-3g-rules-could-work-on-german-public-transport As winter approaches and the Covid entry rules to public places get stricter, there are still question marks over whether tourists can get Germany's digital Covid health pass. We found out the latest information. https://www.thelocal.de/20211026/can-tourists-and-visitors-to-germany-get-the-digital-vaccine-certificate Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:41:58 +0200 can-tourists-and-visitors-to-germany-get-the-digital-vaccine-certificate Germany's capital Berlin will tighten Covid rules by denying unvaccinated people access to many indoor public places like restaurants, bars, gyms and hairdressers in an effort to contain a coronavirus resurgence. https://www.thelocal.de/20211110/berlin-to-exclude-unvaccinated-people-from-indoor-dining-bars-and-hairdressers Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:39:31 +0100 berlin-to-exclude-unvaccinated-people-from-indoor-dining-bars-and-hairdressers Germany is experiencing a "massive" pandemic of the unvaccinated, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday, calling for tougher action to tame a resurgence in Covid cases. https://www.thelocal.de/20211103/germany-seeing-a-massive-pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:16:44 +0100 germany-seeing-a-massive-pandemic-of-the-unvaccinated Amid rapidly rising Covid infections in Germany, business leaders have called on the government to restrict access to workplaces via the '3G' rule and allow companies to request vaccination data from employees. https://www.thelocal.de/20211102/german-business-calls-for-introduction-of-covid-health-pass-in-offices Tue, 02 Nov 2021 18:39:31 +0100 german-business-calls-for-introduction-of-covid-health-pass-in-offices We looked at what tourists in Germany should know when it comes to Covid testing, and Germany's health pass regulations. https://www.thelocal.de/20210825/reader-question-can-visitors-to-germany-still-get-free-covid-tests-under-new-rules Wed, 25 Aug 2021 17:36:20 +0200 reader-question-can-visitors-to-germany-still-get-free-covid-tests-under-new-rules Supermarkets in Frankfurt and the surrounding region can now implement rules that only allow vaccinated and Covid-recovered people onto their premises. https://www.thelocal.de/20211015/supermarkets-in-german-state-of-hesse-can-now-block-entry-to-the-unvaccinated Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:26:31 +0200 supermarkets-in-german-state-of-hesse-can-now-block-entry-to-the-unvaccinated Several German states are allowing businesses like restaurants and bars to choose to exclude the unvaccinated. But a Hesse court recently ruled in favour of a shop introducing this 2G option. What does it mean for the future? https://www.thelocal.de/20211005/should-retailers-in-germany-be-allowed-to-exclude-unvaccinated-people-from-entry Tue, 05 Oct 2021 12:48:36 +0200 should-retailers-in-germany-be-allowed-to-exclude-unvaccinated-people-from-entry The German city of Cologne has just made it much easier for people to prove they've recovered from Covid-19 by offering a first-of-its-kind online certificate service. https://www.thelocal.de/20210922/cologne-becomes-first-german-city-to-offer-covid-recovery-certificates-online Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:43:07 +0200 cologne-becomes-first-german-city-to-offer-covid-recovery-certificates-online Germany has its own version of a Covid health pass - the 3G rules. But does it actually do the job? The Local editor Rachel Loxton found Germany could learn lessons from its neighbour after a recent trip to Paris. https://www.thelocal.de/20210910/covid-health-pass-what-can-germany-learn-from-france Fri, 10 Sep 2021 12:25:46 +0200 covid-health-pass-what-can-germany-learn-from-france From next month, Germany is getting rid of its taxpayer-funded free rapid tests. Who will still get them for free? And how much will they cost to others? https://www.thelocal.de/20210907/explained-who-will-still-get-free-covid-tests-in-germany-from-october Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:55:50 +0200 explained-who-will-still-get-free-covid-tests-in-germany-from-october In the battle against the fourth wave, German president of the World Medical Association has spoken out in favour of tough restrictions on the unvaccinated, stepping up the pressure on the government to act. https://www.thelocal.de/20210909/pressure-mounts-on-german-politicians-to-implement-vaccinated-only-rule Thu, 09 Sep 2021 14:35:34 +0200 pressure-mounts-on-german-politicians-to-implement-vaccinated-only-rule Senators in Berlin are considering extending the current '2G' rules for clubs to other areas of public life, like bars and restaurants. But what would that mean in practice? https://www.thelocal.de/20210906/is-berlin-set-to-introduce-vaccinated-only-bars-and-restaurants Mon, 06 Sep 2021 18:28:40 +0200 is-berlin-set-to-introduce-vaccinated-only-bars-and-restaurants