[UPDATE] Russia closes its borders. Coronavirus in Europe: bans, restrictions and health checks at the borders

Norway

Travellers who want to enter Norway from countries outside Scandinavia are immediately returned or must be quarantined for two weeks.

Russia

Russia has closed the land border with Poland and Norway for foreigners. The ban applies from midnight, 15 March. Belarusians, members of official delegations and people who have permission to stay in Russia are allowed to enter the country. The restriction does not apply to professional drivers.

Last updated: 11:31 14 March 2020

Chech Republic

 From 14 March border controls on the borders with Austria and Germany will be introduced. Only 11 border crossings will be available. Necessary documents and an updated list of active border crossings can be found on the website of the Czech Ministry of the Interior: https://www.mvcr.cz/docDetail.aspx?docid=22239800&doctype=ART „

Germany

The federal police tightened controls on the French border in Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. During the control, people travelling from France are asked about their health, and officials also measure body temperature. A checkpoint was also set up on the A8 near Perl, where drivers from Luxembourg are checked.

5 German states –  North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein- decided to loosen the Sunday and holiday ban on truck traffic. However, it only applies to hygiene products and non-perishable food.

Latvia

A state of emergency was declared. It is in force until 14 April. We don’t have information about any difficulties for transport or border controls.

Lithuania

Lithuania Introduced health checks on the border with Poland and Latvia. The authorities randomly check all travellers and truck drivers.

Poland

From 15 March to 24 March, border controls will be in force on the Polish borders with Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Polish borders can only be crossed at designated places. Checks will also be carried out at seaports and airports.  Restrictions will be introduced for foreigners on entry to Poland but those who carry goods, including truck drivers, will be allowed to enter the country. 

List of road border crossings with EU countries that will be OPEN:

Czech Republic

Cieszyn – Chotebuz

Gorzyczki

New Chalupki

Trzebinia

Kudowa – Salty

Jakuszyce

Germany

Jedrzychowice

Olszyna – Forst

Swiecko – Frankfurt

Lower Krajnik – Schwedt

Kolabaskowo – Pomellen

Swinoujscie – Garz

Slovakia

Periwinkle

Chyzne

Lithuania

Budzisko

List of CLOSED border crossings with non-EU countries

Russia

Goldap – Gusev

Gronowo – Mamonowo

Belarus

Rudawka- Lesnaja (river)

Bialowieza – Piererow

Slawatycze – Domaczewo

Polowce – Piestatka

Czeremcha – Wysokolitowsk (rail)

Ukraine

Zosin – Ustilug

Dolhobyczów – Uhrynów

Hrebenne – Rawa Ruska (rail)

Budomierz – Hruszew

Medyka – Szeginie

Kroscienko – Smolnica

Kroscienko – Chyrów (rail)

Switzerland

Random checks on the Italian-Swiss border. People entering the country are asked about the reason of their journey. 83 control points have been set. Nine smaller border crossings with Italy are closed in the Canton of Tessin: Pedrinate, Ponte Faloppia, Novazzano Marcetto, San Pietro di Stabio, Ligornetto Cantinetta, Arzo, Ponte Cremenaga, Cassinone and Indemini.

Last updated: 12:50 13 March 2020

Spain

On Thursday evening (12 March), the Catalan government decided to quarantine four towns in Spain’s northeastern autonomous region of Catalonia:

• Igualada 
• Vilanova del Camí, 
• Santa Margarida de Montbui,
• Enadena.

There is no information on freight transport yet.

Czech Republic

There are random health checks at borders with Germany and Austria. Entry for foreigners coming from the most infected countries (China, Italy, Iran and South Korea) is banned.

 From 12 March, a 30-day state of emergency was declared. 

From 14 March, border controls with Austria and Germany will resume. The entry will be possible only in 11 designated crossings.

Necessary documents and an updated list of active border crossings on the website Czech Ministry of the Interior: https://www.mvcr.cz/docDetail.aspx?docid=22239800&doctype=ART

Estonia

Estonia has introduced health checks at its borders to identify people with possible coronavirus symptoms. Travellers arriving in Estonia have to fill in a document to declare which countries they have recently been.

Slovakia

Temporary border controls have been reintroduced at crossing points with Austria, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Hungary. Only people with a permanent or temporary residence permit in the Slovak Republic and Slovak citizens will be allowed to enter the territory of the Slovak Republic. For persons living abroad and commuters in Slovakia, priority border controls have been introduced – proof of employment is required.

Further measures:

– introduction of a 14-day quarantine for all arrivals from high-risk countries.

– suspension of international transport (except supply and transit);

– no controls will be introduced on the Slovak-Polish border

– closure of international airports for passenger traffic (Bratislava, Košice, Poprad);

– suspension of international passenger transport (air, rail, bus)

Last updated: 13:34 12 March 2020

Slovakia

Slovakia re-introduces border checks, closes its borders to non-residents and shuts down international airports to prevent travel to and from the country, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini has announced the new regulations on Wednesday. According to local media, international freight traffic is not restricted.

Last updated: 10:07 12 March 2020

Ukraine

170 border crossings will be closed, 49 will remain open (mainly the international crossings). All visitors’ temperature will be checked. More information coming soon.

Last updated: 17:23 11 March 2020

Austria

Austria is banning entry to anyone arriving from Italy without a health certificate, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Tuesday morning.

In order to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, the Austrian government has issued a regulation for health checks upon entry from Italy. From Tuesday morning, two mobile health check teams will carry out selective health checks in the Brenner border area (motorway, state road and train traffic) and at the Sillian and Reschenpass borders.

During the health checks, temperature measurements will be carried out at random. Also, the medical team will ask standard questions, such as whether the trip was started from a risk area and whether the people being checked have flu-like symptoms.

Czech Republic

The Czech authorities have been carrying out random health checks on passengers at the Austrian and German border crossings from Monday.

Hungary

Border controls at Slovenian and Austrian borders have been reintroduced.

No entry to Hungary for people coming from the territory of Italy, China, South Korea and Iran but this measure does NOT affect the transportation of goods.

Italy

The quarantine of entire Italy does not apply to road transportation of goods. However, drivers carrying out transportation in zones subject to exceptional measures, and now, de facto the whole country should have a statement with them, which includes the origin and the destination of their travels, the route between the two points, and the employer’s declaration of the trucker’s job.

It is fine to write your own statement or use a ready-made form, such as the one published by the Italian daily Il Messaggero (the document is in Italian).

>>>>> Check out the sample HERE <<<<<

Poland

Poland has also introduced health checks at its border crossings with Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

Romania

Romania has also closed its border to freight traffic arriving from northern Italy. The border lock is in force until 31 March.

Serbia

Serbia is closing its borders with immediate effect for those coming from areas that are the focal points of the new type of coronavirus, Serbian head of state Aleksandar Vucic said late Monday night.

According to the Serbian Public Service Television (RTS) report, the President of the Republic has explained that people from parts of China, South Korea, Iran and Switzerland, as well as northern Italy, are temporarily denied entry to Serbia.

Slovenia

Slovenia, similarly to Austria, closes its border with Italy; the measure, however, does not apply to the transportation of goods, announced Chief Executive Marjan Sarec on Tuesday. To be able to enter Slovenia, drivers and passengers should be able to present a negative coronavirus health certificate issued by the competent authorities within the preceding three days. Otherwise, their entry will be banned, the statement reads.

However, the border will not be closed for road transport because that would cause further damage to the economy.

Turkey

Health checks are carried out at the border crossings with Bulgaria.