CoronaVO EQ stands for "Corona Ordinance on Entry Quarantine" and is an abbreviation for the "Ordinance of the Ministry of Social Affairs on Quarantine Measures for Entering and Returning Travellers to Control the Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2)".

The CoronaVO EQ ensures that entries from risk areas into the Federal Republic of Germany do not create additional stimuli for the domestic infection event and that no new infection foci are created by incoming and returning travellers. Against this background, a 10-day isolation by domestic quarantine is necessary for a large part of the arrivals so as not to jeopardize the measures already taken in Germany to contain the spread of the corona virus. At the same time, economic and social life should be maintained across borders to the extent that this is feasible in view of the current pandemic situation.

The background is the fact that the Federal Government has issued the Corona Virus Entry Ordinance ["CoronaEinreiseV"], which took effect on 14 January 2021. It regulates the registration, testing and verification obligations when entering the Federal Republic of Germany from a risk area. Therefore, there is no longer a requirement for testing and registration under state law. Now, the Corona Ordinance on Entry Quarantine exclusively regulates the question of who has to go into quarantine after entering the country.

The quarantine obligation applies to persons who enter the state of Baden-Württemberg from abroad by land, sea or air and who at any time in the ten days prior to entry have stayed in an area that was or still is a risk area during this period.

This means that if the area from which you are entering is designated a risk area at the time of entry into Baden-Württemberg, not only do you have to go into quarantine. Rather, the obligation also exists if you have been in an area that is no longer designated a risk area at the time of entry, but was so at any time within the last ten days prior to entry.

The classification as a risk area is made by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs and is published by the Robert Koch Institute on its website; it is frequently updated. Therefore, travellers should inform themselves before crossing the border. When entering the country from such a risk area, you must always go into domestic quarantine, unless exceptions apply, which are governed by Art. 2 CoronaVO EQ.

What is new: Due to the virus mutations that have occurred, there will be a subdivision of the risk areas into the following categories in the future:

1. "Normal" risk areas
2. High incidence areas: In these risk areas, there is a particularly high incidence for the spread of the corona virus.
3. Virus variant areas: In these risk areas, certain variants of the corona virus have widely occurred

For persons entering from risk areas and high incidence areas, the same exemptions from the quarantine obligation apply. For persons entering from virus variant areas, only very few exceptions to the quarantine obligation apply.

Daily updated information on the classification of risk areas, high incidence areas and virus variant areas can be found at https://www.rki.de/risikogebiete.

The regulations of the Corona Virus Entry Ordinance of the Federal Government apply. Further information on this can be found at https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/service/gesetze-und-verordnungen/guv-19-lp/coronaeinreisev.html

See also the questions "Do I need to be tested before entering the country?" and "Do I need to make a digital entry registration?"

The testing obligation is based on the Corona Virus Entry Ordinance of the Federal Government.

The following applies for persons entering the country from high-incidence areas and virus variant areas: Upon entry, persons entering the country must already carry proof of a negative test and present this to the competent authorities upon request and, if applicable, to the transportation company prior to the start of the journey. The test must have been taken no more than 48 hours before entry.

Those entering from "normal" risk areas must have a negative test result not later than 48 hours after their entry and present it to the competent authority on request. The following are exempt from compulsory testing when entering from a "normal" risk area:

• Transients
• Persons entering from the border region under the 24-hour rule
• Cross-border commuters and cross-border residents
• Persons transporting persons, goods or merchandise across borders for professional reasons
• Persons entering for less than 72 hours to visit a first-degree relative or partner

Proof of the negative test must be kept for 10 days and presented to the competent authority on request. Children under six years of age are exempt from the testing obligation.

In principle, a PoC antigen test is sufficient. Information on the recognition of diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 when entering Germany from a risk area can be found at https://www.rki.de/covid-19-tests.

The digital entry registration is based on the Corona Virus Entry Ordinance of the Federal Government. As a general rule, persons who have stayed in a risk area for the last 10 days must register digitally before arriving in Baden-Württemberg and must carry proof of the registration with them upon entry.

This obligation always applies to persons entering from virus-variant areas.

There are certain exceptions for people entering from "normal" risk areas and high-incidence areas (e.g. people entering from border regions under the 24-hour rule).

The entry registration can be made online at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/#/.

When entering from a risk area (that is not a high incidence or virus variant area), the following applies:

• Obligation for electronic entry registration. Only a few exceptions (e.g. persons entering from border regions under the 24-hour rule).
• Obligation to be in possession of a negative test no later than 48 hours after entry. Therefore, the test may also be taken shortly after entry.
• Only certain groups of people are exempt from compulsory testing, e.g.:
  • Transients
  • Persons entering from the border region under the 24-hour rule
  • Cross-border commuters and cross-border residents
  • Persons transporting persons, goods or merchandise across borders for professional reasons
  • Persons entering for less than 72 hours to visit a first-degree relative or partner
• In principle, there is a quarantine obligation. However, with the exceptions that have already applied up to now, which apply in particular to the above-mentioned groups.

See also: What are the exceptions to domestic quarantine?

When entering from a high incidence area, the following applies:

• Obligation for electronic entry registration. Only a few exceptions (e.g. persons entering from border regions under the 24-hour rule).
• A negative test must be carried upon entry. Exceptions from the test obligation only in a few cases.
• In principle, quarantine is compulsory. The same exceptions as for risk areas apply. See also: What are the exceptions to domestic quarantine?

When entering from a virus variant area, the following applies:

• Obligation to register electronically without exception
• A negative test must be carried upon entry. No exceptions to the test obligation.
• Quarantine obligation. Only very few exceptions (e.g. for cross-border commuters and cross-border residents). No shortening of the quarantine period possible. See also: What are the exceptions to domestic quarantine?

The following exceptions always apply (no matter what type of risk area one is entering from):

• Transients; however, these persons must leave the territory of the state of Baden-Württemberg again by the quickest route in order to complete their transit.
• For stays of less than 72 hours, persons who transport persons, goods or merchandise across borders for professional reasons.
• For stays of less than 72 hours, persons whose activity is urgently necessary and indispensable for the maintenance of health services.
• Cross-border commuters and cross-border residents (work, study, training) who reside either in the state of Baden-Württemberg or in a risk area and who return to their place of residence at least once a week. The compelling necessity as well as compliance with appropriate protection and hygiene concepts must be certified by the employer, the contractor or the educational institution.
• Persons who have recovered from a corona infection. This only applies if there is a medical certificate confirming an infection with the corona virus at least 21 days and not more than six months ago at the time of entry and confirmed by a PCR test.

The following exemptions only apply if coming from a "normal" risk area or high incidence area (i.e. not if entering from a virus variant area):

• Within the framework of the so-called 24-hour rule: That means, persons who, in the context of cross-border travel, enter the border regions defined in Annex 1 (see question: Which areas are considered cross-border regions according to Annex 1 to Art. 2 Paragraph 2 Numeral 1 CoronaVO EQ?) either for up to 24 hours and have their primary or secondary residence in these cross-border regions or who have stayed for less than 24 hours in a risk area. The exception only applies, however, if the entry is not predominantly for tourist reasons or for the purpose of shopping.
• For stays of less than 72 hours in the risk area (conversely also applies to persons living in a risk area when staying in Baden-Württemberg):
  • Persons entering for the purpose of visiting first-degree relatives, spouses or partners who are not members of the same household, or persons who have shared custody or rights of access.
  • Persons entering due to urgent medical treatment.
  • To attend a court hearing.
• Persons pursuant to Art. 54a of the Infection Protection Act
• Members of foreign armed forces within the meaning of the NATO Status of Forces
• Under certain preconditions: "seasonal workers" (see question: Do people who enter for the purpose of working for at least three weeks also have to be quarantined?).
• Further exemptions apply if a negative test result with regard to an infection with the corona virus is available on paper or in an electronic document in German, English or French at the time of entry and the test was carried out no more than 48 hours before entry (if entering from a "normal" risk area, the test must be available no later than 48 hours after entry), for:
  • Visits of first-degree relatives, of a spouse or partner not belonging to the same household or of a shared custody or access right lasting longer than 72 hours.
  • Visits of second-degree relatives.
  • Entry for reasons of urgent medical treatment (including for more than 72 hours).
  • Police officers returning from deployment and deployment-like duties from abroad.
  • Persons who have stayed in a risk area for up to five days on absolutely necessary and urgent business or because of their training or studies, or who are entering the state of Baden-Württemberg.
  • Persons who are accredited by the respective organising committee for the preparation, participation, implementation or follow-up of international sporting events or who are invited by a federal sports federation to participate in training and course measures.

The above exceptions do not require the approval of a government agency.

However, all exemptions apply only to the extent that the persons designated therein do not exhibit typical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 corona virus infection, such as fever, dry cough, or impairment of the sense of taste or smell, upon entry or for up to 10 days thereafter.

The exemption applies to persons who have a medical certificate stating that they were infected with the corona virus at least 21 days prior and not more than six months prior to entry, confirmed by a PCR test. The corresponding proof may be submitted in the German, English or French language. The exemption from the quarantine obligation also applies to these persons only if they do not show typical symptoms of an infection with the corona virus such as fever, dry cough or disturbance of the sense of taste or smell.

As a recovered person, it is irrelevant from which risk area category you enter.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

The mere visiting of relatives does not constitute an exemption from the quarantine obligation. However, there are exceptions for persons who visit first-degree relatives, spouses or cohabitants who are not members of the same household for a maximum of 72 hours in a risk area; the same applies to the exercising of shared custody or rights of access. For visits to second-degree relatives or for longer visits to the aforementioned groups of persons, the exemption from the quarantine obligation on return travel only applies if the returning person has a negative test result.

In justified individual cases comparable to the exceptional cases described above, the competent local police authority (municipality, town hall) may grant, upon application, an exemption from domestic quarantine. This applies regardless of the type of risk area one is entering from. Depending on the type of risk area, stricter standards may apply when granting an "exemption".

By way of example, persons may be permitted within the 10 days to leave their place of residence by way of an exception in order to perform acts that cannot be postponed and that no one else can perform for them.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

The quarantine period may be shortened. However, the quarantine shall end from the fifth day after entry at the earliest if a person has a negative test result regarding an infection with the corona virus SARS-CoV-2 on paper or in an electronic document in German, English or French and if he or she immediately submits it to the competent authority upon request within ten days of entry.

As far as the shortening of the quarantine period is concerned, only a test carried out in Germany is accepted. This may take place both at the place of domestic segregation as well as (after direct travel thereto) in a medical practice. The place of domestic isolation is generally understood to be the person's own home or accommodation to which the person concerned has gone in quarantine. If it is not possible to be tested by a physician in the domestic environment, the person may leave the domestic accommodation in order to visit the nearest test centre, the nearest specialized medical practice or the company physician for testing. No separate official permission is required for this. In the case of testing outside the place of domestic segregation, appropriate protective measures for going to the place of testing must be agreed with the outreach centre and adhered to. In particular, the use of local public transport should be avoided for the journey to and from the test site.

No. This Ordinance does not govern the border crossing itself, but only issues of the quarantine obligation when entering the country.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

Anyone who has been abroad for work-related reasons that are absolutely necessary and cannot be postponed is exempt from domestic quarantine, provided that the work stay in a risk area lasted no more than 5 days and only if a negative test exists (see question: What are the exemptions from domestic quarantine?). The stay abroad might be absolutely necessary and not able to be postponed if the attendance at the appointment is imperative and a cancellation or postponement would be accompanied by serious professional consequences. This is particularly the case if there is a risk of contractual penalties or considerable financial losses. The absolute necessity must be certified by the employer or the contractor.

If entry is made from a risk area, the exceptional circumstance must, upon request, be credibly substantiated to the responsible local police authority (municipality, town hall). In principle, this may initially be done verbally as well. However, it is advisable to take along documents that credibly show that there is a valid reason for doing so (e.g. visit to a first-degree relative, urgent medical treatment or the transportation of goods).

For other exceptions, certificates are envisaged that must also include the mandatory requirement of entry: For example, this is the case for professional and educational commuters (to the extent that they are not already covered by the regulation of cross-border travel with border regions pursuant to Annex 1) or attendance at court hearings.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

The question only arises if the person enters from a risk area and is subject to quarantine. Such areas are countries or regions outside the Federal Republic of Germany for which there is an increased risk of infection with the corona virus SARS-CoV-2. The classification as a risk area is made by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs. It is published by the Robert Koch Institute on its website.

However, there is an exemption, among other things, when entering for the purpose of working for a period of at least three weeks, if group-based operational hygiene measures and contact avoidance precautions outside the work group that are comparable to a domestic quarantine are taken at the place of lodging and employment for the first 10 days after entry. Leaving the accommodation must only be permitted for the purpose of carrying out the activity. This is a provision for incoming groups that are housed together and are working together, for example, harvest workers or workers on a large construction site. This exemption applies without the need for an exemption permit issued by an official authority.

In the case of stays of less than 72 hours and if appropriate protection and hygiene concepts are adhered to, persons whose activities are urgently required and indispensable for the maintenance of public health (as certified by the employer) may enter without quarantine. This applies regardless of the type of risk area.

Furthermore, entry without quarantine is only possible for these special groups of persons if they do not enter from a virus variant area and meet the following requirements:

• Persons from a high incidence area must have a negative test result at the time of entry, which must have been taken at least 48 hours before entry. Those arriving from "normal" risk areas must have a negative test result no later than 48 hours after entering the country.
• This concerns persons whose activities are essential for the maintenance of the functioning of the health care system (especially physicians, nurses, supporting medical personnel, and 24-hour caregivers), public safety and order, the maintenance of diplomatic and consular relations, the functioning of the administration of justice, the functioning of federal, state, and local government representation, government, and administration, or the functioning of European Union institutions and international organizations. The imperative necessity must be attested by the service provider, employer or contractor.

Quarantine-free entry is permitted for those persons who enter the country for up to 72 hours in the course of transporting persons, goods or merchandise, or who have stayed in a risk area for less than 72 hours.

For longer transportation journeys exceeding 72 hours, the exemption from the quarantine requirement applies to the aforementioned group of persons only if the person entering does not enter from a virus variant area and has a negative test result.

Such persons may enter without quarantine for less than 72 hours or if they have stayed in a risk area for less than 72 hours (see question: Do persons who transport persons, goods or merchandise across borders for professional reasons also have to be quarantined?).

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area: For longer transport journeys beyond 72 hours, inland waterway transport operators are also exempt from the quarantine obligation if basic precautions have been taken to avoid contact, in particular by refraining from land visits that are not absolutely necessary. A test is not required for this group of persons.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

Pupils who have vacationed in a high-risk area are generally subject to quarantine requirements upon entry. Exemptions may exist in certain cases, see above (see question: What are the exemptions from domestic quarantine?).

However, persons returning from a high-risk area as vacation returnees who tested negative for corona virus SARS-CoV-2 infection at their vacation destination immediately prior to return may be exempt from the quarantine requirement, subject to certain additional conditions.

The period of segregation may also be shortened. However, the quarantine shall end at the earliest as of the fifth day after entry if a person has a negative test result with regard to infection with corona virus SARS-CoV-2 on paper or in an electronic document in German, English or French and if he or she immediately submits it upon request to the competent authority within ten days of entry.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

Persons, such as service engineers or assembly workers, who work predominantly abroad and enter Germany after their foreign assignments before going abroad again for a work assignment, must, as a matter of principle, go into domestic quarantine, unless they are covered by the exemption provision in Art. 2 Paragraph 3 Numeral 4 CoronaVO EQ: They have been in a risk area for up to five days on absolutely necessary and work-related grounds that could not be postponed and have a negative test result (free test). The necessity and inability to postpone shall be affirmed, for example, if service engineers have to repair systems that would otherwise be at a standstill because no corresponding specialist is available on site. The absolute necessity must be attested by the employer or the client.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

Persons entering Germany for up to 72 hours for urgent medical treatment (such as chemotherapy) or travelling to a risk area for this purpose are not subject to the quarantine obligation. Longer stays for urgent medical reasons are only possible if a negative test exists.

The following only applies when not entering from a virus variant area:

The mere visiting of relatives does not justify an exemption from the quarantine obligation. However, there are exceptions for persons who visit first-degree relatives, spouses or partners who are not members of the same household, for a maximum of 72 hours in a risk area; the same applies to the exercising of shared custody or rights of access. For visits to second-degree relatives or for longer visits to the aforementioned groups of persons, the exemption from the quarantine obligation only applies if the returning person has a negative test result.

No.

This also applies to persons who enter the country for up to 24 hours within the framework of cross-border traffic with border regions* and who have their primary or secondary residence in these border regions, as shopping has been explicitly exempted from this privileged treatment.
On the question of what constitutes a border region, see: Which areas are considered border regions according to Annex 1 to Art. 2 Paragraph 2 Numeral 1 CoronaVO EQ?

In principle, yes, the borders remain open. Both the federal government as well as the state government have repeatedly called on the population to refrain from travelling to risk areas whenever possible. However, such trips are not prohibited, but you have to enter into quarantine afterwards.

Travellers should inform themselves about the current occurrence of infections in the respective country of travel. Anyone who has stayed in a risk area for a leisure trip or for a family visit must always go into quarantine, unless exceptions to the quarantine obligation apply, which are governed by Art. 2 CoronaVO EQ.

The current exceptions for local border traffic in border regions* no longer apply to journeys and day trips that are primarily undertaken for tourist reasons. This includes, for example, excursions for skiing. Thus, a stay in a risk area close to the border is likewise only possible with a subsequent ten-day quarantine upon return to Baden-Württemberg.

On the question of what constitutes a border region, see: Which areas are considered border regions according to Annex 1 to Art. 2 Paragraph 2 Numeral 1 CoronaVO EQ?

The following only applies if the border region is not designated as a virus variant area:

Walks and similar sporting activities such as jogging or cycling are still possible without quarantine within the framework of the 24-hour rule, as long as the focus is on exercise in the fresh air and one is still moving in the immediate vicinity of the place of residence. Walks and similar short-term sporting activities do not fall under the concept of tourism then (but this is different for a day skiing trip).

However, walks and similar sporting activities are usually no longer quarantine-free when travelling by car to the destination for the purpose of exercising in the fresh air. Then, there is no longer any proximity to the place of residence; the focus is then on visiting unknown natural landscapes or the like.

However, both the federal government and the state government have repeatedly appealed to the population to refrain from trips to risk areas wherever possible.

The following only applies when not entering or returning from a virus variant area:

The absolutely necessary care of animals is only possible without quarantine within the framework of the 24-hour rule for border regions.

On the question of what constitutes a border region, see: Which areas are considered border regions according to Annex 1 to Art. 2 Paragraph 2 Numeral 1 CoronaVO EQ?

Anyone who has goods ordered in a risk area explicitly delivered to an address in Baden-Württemberg that differs from their place of residence, for example parcel shops or other parcel acceptance points, cannot pick them up there without subsequently having to go into quarantine. This is covered by the term "shopping" in terms of Art. 2 Paragraph 2 Numeral 1 of the CoronaVO EQ.

One's own post office box, on the other hand, may be visited without quarantine consequences for collecting (letter) mail delivered to the post office box. This only applies if you are not entering from a virus variant area.

Yes. This applies without exception, because Click & Collect is covered by the term "shopping" in terms of Art. 2 Paragraph 2 Numeral 1 of the CoronaVO EQ.

Border regions are the Mandate Areas of the International Lake Constance Conference and the Upper Rhine Conference not located on German territory, namely:

• in Austria, the State of Vorarlberg,
• in the Principality of Liechtenstein, the entire territory,
• in Switzerland, the cantons of Appenzell (Innerrhoden, Ausserrhoden), St. Gallen, Thurgau, Zurich and Schaffhausen as well as the cantons of Aargau, Basle-City, Basle-Country, Jura and Solothurn, and
• in France, the European Collectivity of Alsace, comprising the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin.

The Ordinance of the Ministry of Social Affairs on Quarantine Measures for Entering and Returning Travellers to Control the Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2) (Corona Ordinance on Entry Quarantine – CoronaVO EQ) is available for download under the following link: Corona-Verordnung Einreise-Quarantäne