Menu
Expat.com

Corona Virus - Staying put or going home ?

Last activity 20 March 2020 by Aisling12

Post new topic

Aisling12

Hey all,
Just wondering what people think is best to do during this uncertain time. I personally am going back to Ireland until things have calmed down a bit. I´m afraid Germany will be in a similar situation as Italy soon and I won´t be able to leave my apartment! I´d prefer to be with my family.

SimCityAT

Are there any flights?

TominStuttgart

Germany is closing land borders already except for essential travel. I think flights within Europe are screened but some still happening but who knows for how long.  The question people might ask if they will get stuck if they are away from where they reside. And don’t expect things to be much different in Ireland, maybe just a short time lapse behind countries like Italy and Germany. But any guess about how long things might take or what conditions might come up are all speculation; things are changing on a daily basis.

Aisling12

Citizens will always be allowed back to their home countrys. Its just a matter of getting a flight, I have one booked for tomorrow evening..I think in Irelands case major flight restrictions will start next week. I still have an internship in Berlin though and I am paying rent here so I hope I will be back in Summer!

SimCityAT

Aisling12 wrote:

Citizens will always be allowed back to their home countrys. Its just a matter of getting a flight, I have one booked for tomorrow evening..I think in Irelands case major flight restrictions will start next week. I still have an internship in Berlin though and I am paying rent here so I hope I will be back in Summer!


Be prepared to be self-isolated for a couple of weeks though if you do manage to get to Ireland.

Aisling12

To be honest I think the whole country will be self isolating soon anyway

TominStuttgart

Aisling12 wrote:

Citizens will always be allowed back to their home countrys. Its just a matter of getting a flight, I have one booked for tomorrow evening..I think in Irelands case major flight restrictions will start next week. I still have an internship in Berlin though and I am paying rent here so I hope I will be back in Summer!


Not true. Citizens always have a theoretical legal right to travel to their country but safety takes precedence. Period. I couldn’t get back to Europe from the USA when the Icelandic volcano blew up in 2010. All flights got shut down, no exceptions due to people’s citizenship. And they have found that merely screening people if they have a fever is far from enough to keep this virus from spreading since people can already be contagious without having any symptoms. And people are always crowded in airplanes. Land border closures now implemented in Germany have exceptions for absolute essential travel and Trump’s ban on Europeans didn’t include returning Americans or US residents - but such things can change at a moment’s notice.

beppi

I have non-European friends who were scheduled to move back to their country in two days. A few days ago (on very short notice) they were told they cannot return for three months. A family with two small kids, stranded here on packed bags.
Another non-European friend here, whose husband and child were supposed to join her soon, will now have to wait for an unknown time longer - with no chance to even visit.
But the real tragedies are those who die.

Aisling12

wow crazy I can´t wait to get back to Ireland now before the situation gets worse !

Brit_Bryant

Hey Aisling12! Safe travels! And be careful on your way home.

I feel like the situation is worse in Germany, but that doesn't mean that it can't turn bad in Ireland soon. But I agree it's always better to be with family at times like this.

henryor

Hi Aisling, I was meant to move to Germany for an Internship but its looking like it won´t be going ahead. So I will be staying put at home. Very understandable given the circumstances..disapointing none the less but I most certainly am not near the worst affected by this pandemic

Aisling12

Hi Brit..thank you! Safely back in Ireland now. Yes the situation is a little worse in Germany for now but realistically the virus is pretty much everywhere in the coming weeks every country will be under strain! Especially Ireland we have an extreme shortage of ICU beds to tackle this crisis. Definitely better to be with family during times like this !

Aisling12

Sorry to hear that Henry! Hopefully once things are more certain you can arrange a later date to start it!

Articles to help you in your expat project in Berlin

  • Moving with your pet to Germany
    Moving with your pet to Germany

    Traveling with a pet from one country to another can be costly and requires good organization on the basis of ...

  • Relocating to Germany
    Relocating to Germany

    If you are planning to relocate to Germany, there are several things you should consider organizing well in ...

  • Universities in Berlin
    Universities in Berlin

    Studying in Germany is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, which may open many doors to professional ...

  • Student life in Berlin
    Student life in Berlin

    Living in Berlin as a student will probably be one of your most rewarding life experiences, as the city offers ...

  • The work culture in Berlin
    The work culture in Berlin

    When starting out in a new city, it's really important to understand the work culture before your first day at ...

  • Buying property in Berlin
    Buying property in Berlin

    Buying property in Berlin is easier than in most European cities when it comes to the bureaucracy and formalities ...

  • Berlin's neighbourhood guide
    Berlin's neighbourhood guide

    Berlin has 12 official boroughs and 96 localities, which, for the most part, are self-sustained, offering ...

  • Accommodation in Berlin
    Accommodation in Berlin

    Finding accommodation in Berlin (or any other city for that matter) will be your first step towards settling into ...

All of Berlin's guide articles