As the RKI announced, another new category was added to the federal Coronavirus Entry Regulations on 7 January: Accordingly, there is now also the category "virus variant area in which a virus variant of particular concern threatens to occur". China and Macao have been classified as such.

According to the RKI, this area classification entails an obligation to provide test proof upon entry (PCR or PoC antigen test). There is no obligation to register prior to entry, and quarantine is only compulsory for areas that have been classified as virus variant areas, in which a virus variant of particular concern already occurs.