Despite criticism, Germany closes borders with Austria

Due to the surge of coronavirus mutations, Germany partially closed its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol on Sunday, February 14th, winning swift condemnation from the European Union and criticism from the International Road Transport Union (IRU).

IRU stated that these restrictions are causing "chaos" in the transportation of land goods across Europe, which requires the EU government to "respect its commitment to keep the border open."

IRU Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto said: “Truck drivers, as well as European citizens and companies that depend on the goods they transport, will once again pay a heavy price for misleading COVID restrictions, which do not exempt transport workers from the responsibility.”

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung that he supports "Europe without borders", but emphasized that "in a pandemic, it is sometimes necessary to do something for everyone’s safety and health." 

Deutsche Bahn, a German railway company, has suspended services to and from the affected area. 

Austrian Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer stated that it is "absolutely unacceptable" for drivers to use shortcuts to travel from one Austrian region to another through Germany. 

 

The government of Prime Minister Angela Merkel recently decided to extend Germany's partial lockdown period to March 7 because of the risks posed by the virus, even if the number of daily infections has declined in the past few weeks.

Due to the surge of coronavirus mutations, Germany partially closed its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol on Sunday, February 14th, winning swift condemnation from the European Union and criticism from the International Road Transport Union (IRU). IRU stated that these restrictions are causing "chaos" in the transportation of land goods across Europe, which requires the EU government to "respect its commitment to keep the border open." IRU Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto said: “Truck drivers, as well as European citizens and companies that depend on the goods they transport, will once again pay a heavy price for misleading COVID restrictions, which do not exempt transport workers from the responsibility.”Due to the surge of coronavirus mutations, Germany partially closed its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol on Sunday, February 14th, winning swift condemnation from the European Union and criticism from the International Road Transport Union (IRU). IRU stated that these restrictions are causing "chaos" in the transportation of land goods across Europe, which requires the EU government to "respect its commitment to keep the border open." IRU Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto said: “Truck drivers, as well as European citizens and companies that depend on the goods they transport, will once again pay a heavy price for misleading COVID restrictions, which do not exempt transport workers from the responsibility.”Due to the surge of coronavirus mutations, Germany partially closed its borders with the Czech Republic and Austria's Tyrol on Sunday, February 14th, winning swift condemnation from the European Union and criticism from the International Road Transport Union (IRU). IRU stated that these restrictions are causing "chaos" in the transportation of land goods across Europe, which requires the EU government to "respect its commitment to keep the border open." IRU Secretary-General Umberto de Pretto said: “Truck drivers, as well as European citizens and companies that depend on the goods they transport, will once again pay a heavy price for misleading COVID restrictions, which do not exempt transport workers from the responsibility.”