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The public life in Munich and Germany in general is shutting down from March 17th 2020 due tom COVID-19
public life as we know it as travellers will change drastically from today, March 17th 2020.
Germany, and with it Munich, will severely restrict public life due to the growing spread of COVID-19. What this means for citizens but also for travellers, I have summarised for you in the following article.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_single_image image=“1466″ img_size=“500×500″ alignment=“center“ style=“vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space height=“50″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
What does a shutdown in Germany and Munich mean?
On Sunday evening, March 15, 2020, the Bavarian Minister President announced that Bavaria, and thus also Munich, is declaring a state of emergency (in German: Katastrophenfall, literally „catastrophe case“ K-case).
The Federal Government followed this decision and decided to implement a complete shutdown for all of Germany.
If a disaster is declared, the government is authorized to restrict public life. In the present case, this has an impact on schools, restaurants, museums, leisure activities, but also on public transport and cross-border traffic.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_single_image image=“656″ img_size=“500×500″ alignment=“center“ style=“vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_column_text]
What will change in Munich?
Below you can see the effects in Munich and Bavaria that the shutdown will have:
Educational institutions:
- Schools and daycare centers are closed. Emergency care is guaranteed.
- Universities and libraries are closed
Stores and Shops:
- All shops are closed. Exceptions are: grocery stores, drugstores and supermarkets, beverage shops, banks, post offices, pharmacies and medical supply stores, opticians, pet shops, DIY- and hardware stores, gas stations, dry cleaners and of course online shops. Shopping malls are allowed to open shops mentioned above.
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In order to ensure the supply, the shop opening hours were adjusted and extended. The shop opening hours in Bavaria and Munich are as follows with immediate effect up to and including March 30th 2020:
weekdays: 6.00 AM to 10.00 PM
Sundays and public holidays: 12.00 AM to 6.00 PM
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_column_text]Restaurants, bars and similar establishments:
May open, but only between 6 AM and 3 PM and only if it is ensured that a maximum of 30 people are in a room and that they are at least 1.5 metres (60 in.) apart.
Delivery services, takeaways and drive-in counters may remain open after 3 pm.
Hotel restaurants may continue to open, but only for the exclusive purpose of serving their own guests.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Leisure facilities:
All leisure facilities in Bavaria are closed until April 19. These are swimming pools, saunas, thermal baths, cinemas, conference and event rooms, clubs, bars and discotheques, gaming and gambling halls, theatres, museums, libraries, club rooms, brothels, sports halls, fitness studios, zoos, music and adult education centres and youth centres, sports- and playgrounds.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Restaurants, bars and similar establishments:
May open, but only between 6 AM and 3 PM and only if it is ensured that a maximum of 30 people are in a room and that they are at least 1.5 metres (60 in.) apart.
Delivery services, takeaways and drive-in counters may remain open after 3 pm.
Hotel restaurants may continue to open, but only for the exclusive purpose of serving their own guests.
Service companies and handicraft enterprises:
Can continue working as usual. This applies to craftsmen such as plumbers, and car repair shops, but also hairdressers/barber shops. Nevertheless, these businesses can open at their own discretion. Many of these businesses will not open to protect their own employees.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_single_image image=“1469″ img_size=“500×500″ alignment=“center“ style=“vc_box_circle_2″][vc_empty_space height=“50″][vc_column_text]
Changes at national borders
The borders to the following countries are basically closed:
- Denmark
- France
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
- Austria
Still allowed to cross the border are vehicles/persons transporting goods, especially food, commuters and Germans returning home from abroad.
All other travellers, regardless of their nationality, who have no valid reason to enter Germany will be turned away at the border.
What are „valid reasons“?
Valid reasons include for example medical treatment, funeral of a family member, a required professional activity in Germany (e.g. commuters, seasonal workers, diplomats, etc.) or the delivery of goods.
The valid reason must be proven to the border officials by carrying suitable documents (employment contract, employer’s certificate, order documents, cross-border commuter card or similar).
Is transit through Germany permitted?
Persons who live in a third-party country and only travel through Germany for transit purposes (e.g. from Italy to the Netherlands) are generally allowed to pass through.
Each individual border official is responsible for deciding on entry. He or she decides at his or her dutiful discretion.
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Changes in flight and ship traffic
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community created a specific website for all such travel related questions. Information in English can be found under the following link:
https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/EN/topics/civil-protection/coronavirus/travel-restrictions-border-control/travel-restrictions-boarder-control-list.html[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
