Because of the stricter corona entry rules, many families are currently separated between Austria and Germany.
Susanne R. from Starnberg is desperately looking for a solution.
Starnberg
- Susanne R. is desperate.
While all of Germany is discussing corona vaccination campaigns and opening strategies, the 44-year-old from Starnberg is plagued by completely different worries.
Because the new quarantine rules, which were tightened again on March 8th, which apply in the Free State when entering from a so-called "risk area", threaten to destroy Susanne R.'s small family.
For 19 years now, Susanne R. has had a weekend relationship with her partner Walter A. (55), who lives in Kitzbühel in Tyrol.
The two have a son, Manuel, he is nine years old.
"Our entire family life has actually always taken place in Tyrol," says Susanne R .. But that has become almost impossible since the beginning of the corona pandemic.
For a year now, the regulations on entry and quarantine requirements between Tyrol and Bavaria have been changing constantly.
Corona entry rules: family from Starnberg separated from father - 14-day quarantine threatens
Since last Monday, the rules have even been tightened again.
The reason is the spread of a new virus mutation in the state of Tyrol.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has therefore increased the danger level - and the Free State has ordered a strict 14-day quarantine for all people entering from Tyrol.
The previous option to “test yourself” is therefore no longer applicable.
It is of no use that the state of Tyrol places the family under special protection and would allow entry, at least from an Austrian point of view.
For Susanne R. and her son this means the final separation from the father for the time being, with a 14-day quarantine Susanne R. could not pursue her job as a property manager and son Manuel could not attend school.
Susanne R. has already had two applications for special permits submitted to the district office via her lawyer from Munich.
So far without success.
Even a request from District Administrator Stefan Frey personally did not help her.
"I was only told that an exception was not possible," says Susanne R ..
Corona: Family from Bavaria cannot travel to Tyrol - the government must grant an exception
"The district office itself does not have the authority to issue exemptions from the entry quarantine regulation," says Barbara Beck, spokeswoman for the Starnberg district office, when asked by the editorial team.
Ms. R's concern was therefore forwarded to the government of Upper Bavaria.
The application will be examined there.
However, the district office has not yet received any feedback.
It cannot predict how the government will ultimately decide, but “as far as we know, no exceptions have been made to the regulation when it comes to family visits,” said Beck.
In her desperation, Susanne R. even wrote an email to the top level, namely to Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU).
In it, the 44-year-old also expressed her greatest personal concern: that the relationship with her partner could break up after 19 years of bureaucracy related to Corona politics.
Because the situation is more than tense after around twelve months of the pandemic.
Susanne R.'s life partner is also tied to a specific location, both through his job as a paver worker and the care of his mother.
Corona quarantine rules: Tyrol is considered a mutation area - now Manuel cannot see his dad
Son Manuel also suffers from the separation from his father, whom he had not been able to see for about six weeks during the first lockdown in spring 2020.
“The last times they saw each other, he wanted to cuddle a lot more than usual and kept saying 'Dad, I love you'.
Now they talk to each other about ten times a day and nobody knows when we can all see each other again, ”says Susanne R.
What makes the 44-year-old particularly angry is that, in her opinion, the random classification of Tyrol as a mutation area.
“I could go to all areas throughout Germany where there are mutations and high incidences without having to be quarantined afterwards.
But because of 58 cases of mutation in all of Tyrol, my son is not allowed to see his father now.
That is pure arbitrariness, ”says the 44-year-old.
Corona request letter to Markus Söder: Mother from Starnberg falls on deaf ears
She did not receive an answer from Markus Söder.
And despite multiple inquiries, the district office has not yet wanted to give an answer to the application for exception.
If Susanne R. were to work in Tyrol, she would probably get it immediately, because the work is considered a valid reason.
A few days ago she signed a petition intended to lift the “Iron Curtain between Tyrol and Bavaria”.
In addition, she is still hoping for a positive answer from the district office.
"It can't be that I can go over to work, but the family, which is supposed to be protected according to the Basic Law, is being disregarded," says the 44-year-old.
It sounds bitter.
Susanne R. wants to keep fighting so that she can soon embrace her partner and son Manuel again.
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