The western German city of Cologne has exceeded a critical COVID-19 infection rate, joining Berlin and Frankfurt. The city recently imposed new restrictions in anticipation of the threshold being breached.
Image: DW/D. Dedovic
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The western German city of Cologne exceeded the key level of 50 new infections per 100,000 residents over seven days on Saturday, health authorities have announced.
The North Rhine-Westphalian State Center for Health reported that there were 54.8 cases per 100,000 residents.
Cologne recently instituted a nighttime ban on the consumption of alcohol on streets and squares after 10 p.m., a weekend ban on selling alcohol at party hot spots and a limit of five people from different households meeting in public.
"We are in a serious phase of the pandemic," Mayor Henriette Reker wrote on Twitter on Friday, hours before Cologne exceeded the threshold, warning that more measures may soon be necessary.
The rate of 50 infections per 100,000 in seven days is how Germany determines which foreign cities, regions and countries are added to the government list of "risk zones." Travelers arriving in Germany from a risk zone must quarantine until they can provide a negative test result.
As things stand, each German state can decide what the high rates mean for domestic travel. The northern state of Schleswig-Holstein brought in a requirement for travelers from Berlin to test negative or quarantine when the capital exceeded the threshold earlier in the week.
Infection rates across Germany have risen dramatically this week, going from 2,828 new reported daily cases on Wednesday to 4,721 on Saturday.
At least three German cities have now exceeded the threshold, including Frankfurt and Berlin. Cologne exceeded the same threshold twice in March and April, at the height of the first wave of the pandemic in Germany.
Cologne is the heart of Germany's Carnival, which normally kicks off on November 11 before the main event in February. The new number of cases may dash carnival-lovers' hopes that the annual festival can take place in some form in 2021.
More than 9,600 people have died from the virus in Germany. Overall, at least 320,478 people have been diagnosed since January, most of whom have recovered, according to figures compiled by the disease control agency the Robert Koch Institute.
Germany's most beautiful tourist destinations less crowded than ever
Strolling around Neuschwanstein Castle without crowds, gazing for minutes at the imposing face of Nefertiti: This is how relaxed a visit to Germany's most popular sights in the time of the coronavirus can be.
Image: DW/Emily Gordine & Olivera Zivkovic
Neuschwanstein Castle
King Ludwig II of Bavaria was shy and sought solitude in Neuschwanstein Castle. After his death in 1886, life entered his refuge when it was opened to visitors. In previous years, 6,000 people a day walked through the castle of the "fairy-tale king" in the Allgäu region during the high season. In times of COVID-19, the daily figure is only 1,080. Ludwig would have approved of the peace and quiet.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Puchner
Cologne Cathedral
Only 300 visitors at a time are allowed into the cathedral until further notice. This leads to long queues, especially on weekends. Once inside, the experience is all the more impressive. Visitors have much of one of Germany's largest cathedrals nearly to themselves. Although tourists must also be prepared for longer waiting times when climbing the tower, it is worth it.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gambarin
Heidelberg Castle
This summer it is also quieter than usual on the romantic ruins high above the Neckar River. Instead of 4,000 visitors a day, only half of that amount visit the Emperor's Hall, the Great Barrel or the castle garden this year. "You can enjoy a more individual experience of the castle," says Michael Bös, head of the castle administration.
From the public viewing platform at a height of 37 meters (121 feet), guests can enjoy a sensational view of Hamburg and its harbor. Currently, there are even tickets available for last-minute visitors. Nevertheless, the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall recommends booking tickets in advance online. Due to social distancing rules, not as many people as usual are allowed in at the same time.
Image: picture-alliance dpa/C. Charisius
The dome of the Reichstag in Berlin
Seeing the Brandenburg Gate or the government quarter from the roof terrace of the Reichstag building and looking through the glass roof into the Bundestag plenary chamber is currently only available to registered individuals. The Reichstag dome, designed by architect Norman Foster, will not be accessible to groups until the end of September. There are also no guided tours of the building.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/imageBROKER
Berlin's Museum Island
Access to the State Museums in Berlin is also limited and only possible with reserved time slot tickets, for example for the Panorama of the Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum. You can finally enjoy attractions like the bust of Nefertiti in peace and quiet! In 2019, a total of 4.2 million people visited the State Museums in Berlin. Currently, the figure is expected to be 30 percent of that.
Image: picture-alliance/U. Baumgarten
Flower Island of Mainau
With its seasonal flower arrangements, the island is a tourist hotspot. Well, normally. Usually up to 8,000 daily guests populate Mainau Island on Lake Constance. This year the visitors from abroad are missing as well as most bus trip tourists. For those visitors who manage to get here, it is a privilege to enjoy the beautiful garden in peace and quiet.
Image: picture-alliance/imageBROKER/F. Bienewald
The Frauenkirche in Dresden
The world-famous 18th-century church, which was destroyed at the end of the Second World War and rebuilt true to the original after 1990, is a magnet for visitors. But at the moment, only 50 people are allowed into the dome of the Dresden Frauenkirche at the same time, and only 40 visitors inside the church. At concerts, only about 350 of the approximately 1,660 seats are available.
Image: picture-alliance/Arco Images
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
This small, medieval town in Bavaria with a population of just over 10,000 usually attracts some 1.9 million visitors every year. A large part of them come from Asia and the US. These guests are missing this year, but local visitors finally have the chance to explore their town with its timber-framed houses. As Goethe once wrote: "Why wander off into the distance? Look, good things lie so near!"
