Germany to test travelers for virus on entry: report

Germany announced Tuesday that it will begin testing visitors entering the country for the coronavirus to curb its spread.

According to Deutsche Welle, the country’s Health Ministry said that all travelers, even those from low-risk areas, will undergo mandatory testing.

The ministry is reportedly seeking “an expansion of test requirements upon entry as quickly as possible,” the outlet reported.

Air travelers entering Germany currently are required to provide a negative coronavirus test or proof of their vaccination against the virus only if they are coming from high-risk areas. The new move comes as Germany aims to crack down on the rise of delta variant infections.

Health ministry officials have not yet made it clear as to whether the newly proposed testing requirements will apply to fully vaccinated individuals.

“The coordination in the government on this is underway,” a Health Ministry spokesperson told Reuters.

Germany has reported more than 3.7 million coronavirus cases and more than 91,000 related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University.