Germany has announced plans to offer free Covid-19 coronavirus testing to all arriving passengers at its airports.
The decision was made by health ministers and senators from the country’s state and federal governments. The test will be available to returning holidaymakers on a voluntary basis.
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DW reported Berlin state health minister Dilek Kalayci as saying that the travellers from high-risk areas will have to undergo the 14-day quarantine.
Those returning from non-risk areas will also be offered free tests, but not at the airports.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn stated that travellers returning to Germany can take a free Covid-19 test within three days of the date of arrival.
This move follows the rising number of cases in the country, which are related to people who are returning holidaymakers.
The proposal to mandate the Covid-19 test was rejected by the ministers and faced objections from the airport and consumer authorities.
Last month, Fraport and German airline Lufthansa partnered with Centogene to launch the first walk-in Covid-19 testing facility at Frankfurt Airport in Germany.
A walk-in testing facility was also introduced at Germany’s Munich Airport.
The Robert Koch Institute reported 815 new cases of Covid-19 on 24 July, which is reported to be the highest increase in cases since May.
Germany has reported over 206,000 total cases with around 9,000 deaths. There are around 6,900 active cases in the country.
