C4 Logistics Group COVID-19 Bulletin: 23th March 2020 at 12pm GMT
The European Union
Brussels has announced a 30-day travel restriction into the European Union because of the coronavirus pandemic. This was announced by Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission. This restriction does not apply to freight transportation.
Please see below for the specific restrictions in place in individual countries:
United Kingdom
There are currently no travel restrictions in place.
France
On Monday evening, President Macron announced that France would enter a period of enforced lockdown from midday on Tuesday 17th March. International freight transport is not included in the lockdown.
Austria
The weekend traffic ban for all heavy goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes has been suspended until 3 April 2020. According to IRU, this measure has been discussed and coordinated with Italy and Bavaria in order to avoid border waiting times where possible.
Austria is refusing entry to anyone arriving from Italy without a valid health certificate. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Tuesday morning. “In order to prevent the further spread of coronavirus, the Austrian government has issued a regulation for health checks upon entry from Italy. From Tuesday morning, two mobile health check teams will carry out selective health checks in the Brenner border area (motorway, state road and train traffic) and at the Sillian and Reschenpass borders. During the health checks, temperature measurements will be carried out at random. Also, the medical team will ask standard questions, such as whether the trip was started from a risk area and whether the people being checked have flu-like symptoms.”
Denmark
The Danish government have suspended the rules governing drivers’ hours and working time in road transport for 10 days. From 23rd March, drivers carrying groceries will not have to comply with the 24 and 45-hours rest regulations.
Bulgaria
As of 00:00, 18 March, entry into the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria for people coming from the following countries is forbidden: China (the People’s Republic of); Iran (the Islamic Republic of); Bangladesh; India; Maldives (the Republic of); Nepal (the Federal Democratic Republic of); Sri Lanka (the Democratic Socialist Republic of); Spain; Italy; Korea (the Republic of); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Northern Ireland; France; Germany; the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Norway
Travellers who want to enter Norway from countries outside Scandinavia must enter quarantine for two weeks or will be refused entry.
Germany
From Monday morning, Germany has closed its borders with Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Denmark. Only German citizens, those who reside in the country and work in a neighbouring nation, and physical goods, can now cross the German border. International freight transport will also be allowed to cross the borders.
The federal police have tightened controls on the French border in Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. People travelling from France will be asked about their health, and officials will measure body temperature. A checkpoint is also in place on the A8 near Perl, where drivers from Luxembourg are checked. The German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein have relaxed the ban on delivery trucks on Sundays and holidays. However, this will only apply to transports of hygiene products and non-perishable foods.
Latvia
A state of emergency has been declared and will remain in force until 14 April. Currently we do not have information about any difficulties for transport or border controls.
Lithuania
Lithuania has introduced a quarantine. Foreigners will not be able to enter the country, except for those who deliver goods. People entering from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Korea, Singapore and Japan will be subject to health checks. The Ogrodniki-Lazdijai border crossing is open to all drivers, there are no tonnage restrictions at the crossing.
Poland
Between 15th March to 24th March, border controls will be in force on the Polish borders with Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Polish borders can only be crossed at designated places. Checks will also be carried out at seaports and airports. Restrictions will be introduced for foreigners on entry to Poland but those who carry goods, including truck drivers, will be allowed to enter the country. Poland has also introduced health checks at its border crossings with Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
List of road border crossings with EU countries that will be OPEN:
Czech Republic
- Cieszyn – Chotebuz
- Gorzyczki
- Chałupki
- Trzebinia
- Kudowa – Salty
- Jakuszyce
Germany
- Jędrzychowice
- Olszyna – Forst
- Świecko – Frankfurt
- Lower Krajnik – Schwedt
- Kołabaskowo – Pomellen
- Świnoujście – Garz
Slovakia
- Periwinkle
- Chyżne
Lithuania
- Budzisko
Switzerland
Random checks are taking place on the Italian-Swiss border and people entering the country will asked about the reason of their journey. 83 control points have been established and nine smaller border crossings with Italy are closed in the Canton of Tessin: Pedrinate, Ponte Faloppia, Novazzano Marcetto, San Pietro di Stabio, Ligornetto Cantinetta, Arzo, Ponte Cremenaga, Cassinone and Indemini.
Spain
On Thursday evening (12th March), the Catalan government decided to quarantine four towns in Spain’s north-eastern autonomous region of Catalonia:
- Igualada
- Vilanova del Camí,
- Santa Margarida de Montbui,
- Enadena.
There is no information about the impact on freight transport yet.
Czech Republic
There are random health checks being conducted at the borders with Germany and Austria. Entry is being refused for foreigners coming from the most infected countries (China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.)
A 30-day state of emergency was declared from 12th March. From 14th March, border controls with Austria and Germany will resume. Entry will be restricted to 11 designated crossings. Necessary documents and an updated list of active border crossings can be found on the website Czech Ministry of the Interior: https://www.mvcr.cz/docDetail.aspx?docid=22239800&doctype=ART
Estonia
Estonia has introduced health checks at its borders to identify people with possible coronavirus symptoms. Travellers arriving in Estonia must fill in a document to declare which countries they have recently visited.
Slovakia
Temporary border controls have been reintroduced at crossing points with Austria, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Hungary. Only people with a permanent or temporary residence permit in the Slovak Republic and Slovak citizens will be allowed to enter the territory of the Slovak Republic. For persons living abroad and commuters in Slovakia, priority border controls have been introduced – proof of employment is required.
Further measures:
- introduction of a 14-day quarantine for all arrivals from high-risk countries.
- suspension of international transport (except supply and transit);
- no controls will be introduced on the Slovak-Polish border
- closure of international airports for passenger traffic (Bratislava, Košice, Poprad);
- suspension of international passenger transport (air, rail, bus)
Hungary
Hungary closed its borders foreign nationals on 16 March midnight. Only Hungarian nationals can enter the country, but international freight transport is still allowed. The government has created freight corridors for trucks. Trucks can enter the country at designated border crossings, they must then follow a designated transit route, they can re-fuel only at designated fuel stations.
Border-crossing open for international freight traffic:
- Rajka (SK)
- Hegyeshalom, Sopron, Rabafuzes (Austria)
- Redics (Slovenia)
- Letenye (Croatia) Udvar (Croatia)
- Roszke (Serbia)
- Csanadpalota (Romania)
- Zahony (Ukraine)
- Tornyosnemeti (Czechia)
Turkey
All Turkish border crossings were closed yesterday for travellers from the following countries: Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, China, Iran, Iraq, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.
Turkish truck drivers entering the country from one of these countries will be quarantined for 14 days at home. Foreign truckers entering Turkey from one of these countries will be quarantined for 14 days at the border and will not be able to enter the country during the quarantine period. Truck drivers who are nationals of these countries will not be allowed to enter Turkey.
Italy
The quarantine of Italy does not apply to road transportation of goods. However, drivers carrying out transportation in zones subject to exceptional measures, and now, de facto the whole country should have a statement with them, which includes the origin and the destination of their travels, the route between the two points, and the employer’s declaration of the driver’s job.
Collections and deliveries from/to Italy are becoming increasingly challenging.
Romania
Romania has closed its border to freight traffic arriving from northern Italy. The border lock is in force until 31 March. Drivers are currently reluctant to go back to Romania as they are subject to a 14 days confinement.
Serbia
Serbia is closing its borders with immediate effect for those coming from areas that are the focal points of the new type of coronavirus. According to the Serbian Public Service Television (RTS) report, the President of the Republic has explained that people from parts of China, South Korea, Iran and Switzerland, as well as northern Italy, are temporarily denied entry to Serbia.
Serbia has introduced a state of emergency – access is banned for all foreigners except diplomats and Chinese citizens. Penalty for non-compliance – 3 years in prison. These measures, however, do not apply to freight traffic when performing international road transport. In the case of international road traffic burden, the stay is limited to a period of no longer than 12 hours from the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
Slovenia
Slovenia has closed its border with Italy however this does not apply to the transportation of goods. To be able to enter Slovenia, drivers and passengers should be able to present a negative coronavirus health certificate issued by the competent authorities within the preceding three days. Otherwise, their entry will be refused. The border will not be closed for road transport because that would cause further damage to the economy.
Belarus
Foreign truck drivers travelling through Belarus will be able to stop to rest and refuel only in places designated by the Belarus Ministry of Transport from midnight 19 March. Sanitary and epidemiological controls will be introduced at fuel stations. Compliance checks will be carried out by road transport inspectors. The measure will be in force from midnight 19 March.
