Getting nervous about trip to Germany re: Covid

You accept your personal level of risk, just like you would at home. You take standard precautions and avoid doing stupid things. Or you make the hard decision and pull the plug. Omicron (BA.1) might be fading but BA.2 is the next wave and no one has a clue what's going to happen.

We are going the last week in April and are following this closely. We will likely go.

You might do a Google on "Deutsche Welle Coronavirus" and read articles about the relaxing of Covid restrictions. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is quoted there as saying that he thinks they are relaxing the restrictions too soon.

We will try to control our fate to some degree. In most cases I think we can avoid crowds, trains being the exception. We will avoid rush hours on typically busy routes. We tend to eat supper earlier than the crowd. We tend to sight-see outdoors. You just do what you can.

I live in Frankfurt and everything here is pretty much normal, except for still wearing masks in all buildings and on public transportation. Downtown is busy, everyone is out and about, enjoying their lives. It is a bit too full for me on weekends, but because tourism is still down (and I think this is more because of the season) the museums are not full, except for the Städel, which is doing timed entries due to the Renoir exhibit.

Go ahead and come over, enjoy your trip. Check out live webcams of the area if you want to see how busy it is.

and the associate is not boosted because . . . ?

And don't miss the Staedel Museum , one of the best art museums , anywhere . Also , if you listen to classical music , try to get tickets for The HR Symphony ( Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra ) . World class , among the absolute best !

Thanks all, for weighing in, most especially Ms. Jo. I appreciate the view from the ground! I agree that caution will be the operative word. We were caught short by the late discovery of this other person's lack of booster (associate is from another entity, evidently no particular reason for not doing so, but causing consternation with client nonetheless.). Given that our home area is doing fairly well (at the moment, knock wood), the thought of increasing caution again is understandable, but threw me off kilter. I truly appreciate being able to vent and gather some reassurance in the process. It is surely a different time to travel in! We won't be actually in Frankfurt long enough to see that particular museum, but I'm regathering my enthusiasm for a few days walking around Mainz ( thankful for yours and Russ's suggestions ), and looking forward to the Folkwang museum in Essen, where his business will be, and the Schwebebahn nearby! Focusing now on carefully enjoying the opportunity, I hope!

First, a little about me - I have been very cautious regarding Covid. Some people might even call me paranoid. My husband and I are both vaccinated and boosted. We fly to Frankfurt on Sunday to start a 6 week trip. Am I nervous? Yes, a little. But I have gotten to the point that all we can do is control our own actions. We may be wearing masks when nobody else is, and that’s fine with me. Everyone has to determine their own comfort level.

I'm thinking you might find a fair amount with masks, Andrea. My husband's client is requiring a self test before each visit, which tells me that they are taking this very seriously. As of today, we're still going, but very cautiously. Good luck with your trip!

In the last month, my partner and two friends have gotten Covid. All had two jabs and a booster. I never got it, at least that I know of. Things are reallatively back to normal here. Symptoms have been tired and cold like. Some are more severe and are staying in bed getting thru it. Many are now 3G - jabed, had it and tested. Hospital cases are rising, but may be due to those never vaccinated and now getting out. Like it has already suggested, it's your decision.

Thanks for your response, mchpp. I appreciate a different view on the ground to remind us to be very cautious. I’m glad you are well, and hope we will be also.

You are not paranoid, Andrea!

I can only hope that people are masked. 🤞🏼

As of right now I can echo what the others on the ground in Germany have said. Most I know who are vaxxed and boosted have had few or mild symptoms, and I have not had it. Numbers are certainly high, but it is mostly the unvaxxed or those with high risk who are in the hospitals. Restrictions are currently being lifted, but masking is still in place, at least here in HH. I think even when official mask requirements are lifted there will still be a lot of masked people out there. I think nobody will think ill of anyone masking even months after the restrictions lift.

Another important thing to note is that Germans are, as my spouse says, solar powered. We LOVE being outside, and if given the choice, will put on an extra layer and sit in the sunshine. As the weather continues to improve, life will be moving outdoors more and more. As Covid is FAR less likely to be transmitted outdoors, I expect that numbers will fall as the weather improves. But this is a guess, of course.

I don't know your health factors or risk tolerance, so I can't say whether you should stay or go. I can say that masking on public transport is likely to remain in place longer than in most any other place, and even when it is not required anymore it will likely still be common.

Thanks for the view from HH! We've resolved to be cautious, and thankfully we are coming into weather that it will be less odd to be dining outside! We are in our 60's, pretty healthy, so I think we're taking the right steps. I appreciate all the reassurance and cautions we've gotten!

There are several different layers to this:

1. Yes, we currently have all-time high numbers of infections. I constantly hear of people catching it.

2. I personally don't feel too concerned about that, being vaccinated and boosted. I may catch it, but I don't expect to get seriously ill.

3. In a travel situation, there is another consideration to make however, and that is quarantine. Once you catch it, no matter how mildly, you're stuck.

4. It's another issue yet with people who are, for some pre-existing condition, at a high risk. Your husband's client seems to be extra cautious for some reason. So that's something to keep in mind, if you have people in your family or in your environment who are at high risk in spite of being vaccinated. (Those who choose not to get vaccinated are a different matter, I would consider that their own risk.)