Germany adds Prague to red list of risk areas; other neighboring countries promise no changes just yet

Germany has placed Prague on its list of risk areas due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, German officials announced on Wednesday evening, though other neighboring countries don’t plan to follow their lead just yet, according to published reports.

“Unfortunately, the epidemiological situation did not allow the German authorities to take any other step than add Prague among its list of risk areas. We assured the German side, with which we have very good and intensive contacts on all the appropriate levels, that we will do our utmost so that Prague can get back among areas that are not considered risky,” Czech ambassador to Germany Tomas Kafka told CTK.

Shortly after Germany placed Prague on their red list, the Germany Foreign Ministry warned against tourist trips and non-urgent trips to Prague due to the high number of new cases. The ministry also warned about the worsening epidemiological situation in other regions which are closer to Germany, including Karlovy Vary and Plzen.

“The border with Germany remain open, but random police checks are organised in Germany,” the Czech Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

People in Prague may face high fines if they violate quarantine measures.

One of the criteria for Germany to place any area on its risk area is if the number of the new local infections exceeds 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days.

Putting Prague on their red list does not mean that Germans can’t enter the area — it just means that the federal government, as well as the individual states, recommend that people avoid these regions if possible. People from risk areas can also travel to Germany, but with limitations.

Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček said he recommended travelers keep their negative COVID-19 test for up to 14 days in case German authorities randomly check the tests.