Some European Union member states have announced new steps to reopen their borders with the improvement of the COVID-19 situation inside their countries.
German Interior Minister, Horst Seehofer, announced on Wednesday that Germany would on Monday lift border controls, which have been implemented for three months since the coronavirus outbreak.
Controls along Germany’s land borders with Switzerland, France, Austria, and Denmark will be lifted on Monday and the government would reconsider its plans if the COVID-19 situation worsens, Seehofer said.
From Tuesday, European Union (EU) citizens and Swiss nationals can enter Germany again unhindered, without controls or quarantine regulations, according to the federal government’s decision.
The decision has a few exceptions.
For example, controls for foreigners arriving by plane from Spain will not end until June 21.
Danish Minister of Justice, Nick Haekkerup, said on Wednesday evening that the government has decided to reopen its border from Monday for residents of the northernmost German state, Schleswig-Holstein, without restrictions.
The government has also expanded the list of “recognisable purposes” that allow foreigners to enter Denmark.
Starting from Monday, visits to Denmark by family members a