Germany closes border with Czech Republic over virus mutations

Germany closed its border with the Czech Republic on Sunday after designating the country as "very high risk" due to the growing number of variant coronavirus cases on Czech territory.

Border controls are in place and only selected cross border workers are allowed entry.

They must produce a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours and are only allowed to drive to their place of work and back.

Saxony has made an exception for cross-border workers in agriculture.

Truck drivers transiting the country must also produce a negative PCR test.

The German authorities ascribe the higher number of coronavirus cases in the border regions to the presence of Czech cross-border workers in these areas.