Updated July 27th, 2020 at 22:26 IST

Testing stations at German airports as cases rise

Testing stations have been set up at German airports to encourage people arriving from a long list of countries deemed high-risk — including popular destinations such as Turkey — to get tested for coronavirus.

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Testing stations have been set up at German airports to encourage people arriving from a long list of countries deemed high-risk — including popular destinations such as Turkey — to get tested for coronavirus.

The decision to test passengers at the airport was taken last week as new infections in Germany crept higher.

"Since the current legal basis in Germany is such that this can only be done voluntarily, we must also offer these tests free of charge, because otherwise we would be worried that they would not be used", said Karl-Josef Laumann, Health Minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Europe's tourism revival is running into turbulence only weeks after countries reopened their borders.

Rising infections in Spain and other nations are causing increased concern among health authorities over people bringing the coronavirus home from their summer vacations.

European countries started opening up to each other's tourists in mid-June, but recent events have shown that the new freedom to travel is subject to setbacks.

 

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Published July 27th, 2020 at 22:26 IST