Corona and Delta: This is how you plan your summer vacation 2021

The delta variant continues to spread in Europe. In many countries and regions, the number of infections is rising again - also in this country. The Robert Koch Institute reported another increase in the seven-day incidence to 10.3. Many are now wondering whether the planned summer vacation is in jeopardy. Business Insider will answer the most important questions so that you can travel this year despite Corona.

Where do I need a PCR test to enter Germany?
While a PCR test was required for a long time in most countries, a negative rapid antigen test is now sufficient in many places. With proof of full vaccination protection or recovery, you can now travel almost unhindered. But you should pay attention to when to get tested. How old a rapid or PCR test can be varies between countries in Europe.

We have summarized for you which rules apply in the individual EU countries:

How do I keep track of the corona situation in my holiday country?
The “Safe Travel!” App from the Federal Foreign Office gives you information about the entry rules that apply in the various countries. If the situation changes in your holiday country, you will be informed via a push message. However, the app does not show the incidence and corona status of the respective country. To do this, you have to use the information from the RKI.

What belongs in the Corona first-aid kit?
Due to the pandemic, the first-aid kit can be larger than usual. Several mouth and nose protective masks - preferably FFP2 - are compulsory and a disinfectant in the suitcase cannot do any harm. Due to the warm weather, you should also make sure to store your medicines in a cool place.

Where is the digital vaccination certificate valid?
Since June, fully vaccinated people have been able to receive the so-called “digital vaccination certificate” in pharmacies. Approximately one million pieces are currently on display each day. If you have saved your vaccination status on your smartphone, you can easily show it at any time - for example when visiting a restaurant or when traveling within the European Union. This offers a lot of advantages: You no longer have to take the yellow vaccination certificate with you everywhere and there is no risk of losing it. The virtual vaccination certificate should also be better protected against counterfeiting than its analogue counterpart. In addition, the digital certificate should also make summer vacation within Europe easier: at airports, for example, the vaccination status can be checked much faster.

Since the beginning of July, Genese has also been able to have a digital vaccination certificate issued. However, whether countries outside the EU will also accept that people who have survived Covid disease and only have a booster vaccination are considered fully immunized is still in the stars. Many other countries, such as the USA, also vaccinate convalescents twice. It is therefore questionable whether a single vaccination will be accepted for incoming tourists who have survived Corona. Outside the EU, the digital vaccination certificate is currently also accepted in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican.

How does Corona affect my travel insurance?
In principle, travel cancellation insurance takes over if an insured person falls ill before the start of the holiday and can confirm this with a doctor. However, there are insurance companies that have pandemic exclusion clauses in their contracts. In some cases it could happen that the travel cancellation insurance does not come into effect and you are left with the costs. It is best to contact your insurance company. The same applies to travel interruption insurance. In the event of illness abroad, this will usually take care of you. But here too, some insurance companies have stipulated pandemic clauses.

Do you fall ill abroad and have previously taken out health insurance? Normally, this then pays the treatment costs. But even during Corona everything is a little different here. Because insurers have also partly agreed pandemic clauses that exclude reimbursement of treatment costs in other EU countries after a corona illness. Even when traveling to risk areas for which a clear travel warning has been issued, the insurance companies often do not pay the treatment costs.

What are the rules when re-entering Germany?
Whether and how long you have to be in quarantine after your vacation depends on the classification of your travel destination. The Robert Koch Institute differentiates between three types. Countries or regions whose seven-day incidence has exceeded 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants are considered risk areas. Countries or regions with a seven-day incidence of over 200 are deemed to be high-incidence areas. In some cases, however, countries below this threshold are also classified as high-incidence areas, as travelers are exposed to an increased risk of infection. Countries and regions in which particularly contagious corona mutations are widespread are classified as virus variant areas.

Different entry regulations as well as test and quarantine obligations also apply to all three classifications.