Germany’s decision to suddenly impose travel restrictions across borders with Austria and the Czech Republic, and to those travelling from Slovakia, has drawn criticism from across the automotive industry as freight queues threaten to delay parts deliveries.
Germany stopped most road traffic across the border on February 14 to control the spread of Covid-19 variants detected in Austria’s Tyrol (Tirol) and the border regions of the Czech Republic. It later extended the ban to Slovakia, which has high levels of Covid infection.
The Czech Republic declared a state of emergency on February 14 because of the spread of the coronavirus.
While freight movements are permitted, drivers from those regions need to produce proof of a negative Covid test no older than 48 hours to avoid being turned back. Testing facilities have been set up in the border regions of the Czech Republic. However, the disruption has resulted in congestion that in some cases led to 20-kilometre tailbacks (12 miles) into the Czech Republic.
State-owned German rail company Deutsche Bahn also suspended cross-border services.
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