Travel abroad during Covid

The most important points in brief

• The number of infections has fallen, the summer spreads a good feeling - and yet the corona pandemic is of course not over.
• The holiday season begins, but carefree travel like «before Corona» is in principle not even possible.
• This is also due to the fact that other countries still have stricter restrictions than is the case in Switzerland.
• The fact is: There are a few things you have to consider before going on a trip abroad. Here you can read what you should and must think about.

Hurray - the holiday season begins! But we have never had to go on vacation as well prepared as this year. At least when you want to go abroad. The reason for this: Covid-19 is still raging worldwide, and even if the number of infections or the incidence is falling, the restrictions outside of Switzerland are in some cases still much more rigorous than in this country. On this page you can read how you can prepare well for your trip abroad.

Take your vaccination card with you in addition to your passport

Anyone who has already been vaccinated against the coronavirus should of course not only have their passport with them, but also their vaccination card. The regulations here are the same worldwide. A person who has once received the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson is deemed to have been fully vaccinated; all other vaccines require two vaccinations with the known interval between them. In addition, 14 days must have passed in the country after the (second) injection in order to be considered vaccinated according to the official interpretation.

If you haven't received a spade - or have just received one - you don't have to stay at home because of that. Almost everywhere you get access to museums, restaurants, opera houses, theaters and the like with a daily Corona test. By the way: some countries recently decided that within their borders one injection with Biontech, AstraZeneca and Moderna is enough to be considered completely vaccinated. Those who rate this as too reckless may have to rethink their vacation planning. On the page RE-OPEN EUROPA you will find a lot of useful information on the measures in force, about quarantine and test requirements for travelers, entry regulations and much more for all European countries.

Disinfection still makes sense - masks are mandatory

A mask requirement generally still exists, but its application varies from country to country. In any case, you should stock up on FFP2 or FFP3 masks before starting your trip abroad. From what age your children have to wear masks is also regulated differently from state to state. So it doesn't hurt to have colorful disposable masks and extra masks for children with you. Of course, it also makes sense to disinfect your hands regularly - and this also applies to your stay abroad. So ideally equip yourself with disinfectants before starting your trip. Ideally, you don't just think of spray or gel, but also disinfectant wipes.

Because testing was already mentioned above: The test infrastructure that is needed is not available everywhere abroad. In many places, however, simple quick tests that you can carry out yourself - for example before visiting a cultural institution or a restaurant - are sufficient. For this purpose, it is good to have a small supply of Covid-19 rapid tests in your luggage. The tests are easy to perform and the results are very reliable.

Don't forget the usual holiday items!

As you can see, the preparations for the summer vacation are more extensive this year than we are used to. Just start with light luggage, which is not an option due to the pandemic. Despite all caution - enjoy your vacation. And enjoyment is even easier if, when packing your suitcase, you also think of the usual products that you need on your summer vacation.

Whether in the mountains or on the beach, in midsummer the sun's rays always unfold their full potential. You should arm yourself against this and carry sunscreen and sun oil with you; the higher the sun protection factor, the better you protect yourself. If you do get too much sun, good aftersun products will help prevent the worst sunburn. And last but not least, it increases the joy of summer freshness if you arm yourself well against insect bites and also think of stitch healers. We wish you a great vacation!