Coronavirus and borders
Everyone who knows me well also knows that I am a fond of borders. I like to stand on top of and/or walk around border markers, but mainly to show how ridiculous borders really are.
Regarding the Corona crisis I'm startting to really worry, specifically triggered by the information from Konstanz (Germany) / Kreuzlingen (Switzerland) that a fence is being erected there on the "green border" as I write this (17 March 2020). These 2 localities are just next to each other. Even though in different countries, one might say that small Kreuzlingen is a suburb of larger Konstanz.
The world should follow the advice of real experts. People like Christian Drosten in particular (one of the co-discoverers of the virus), but also the "Robert Koch Institut" from Germany, the "Institut Pasteur" from France, "Public Health England" or the "Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)" from the USA. These are the go-to guys.
Of course it probably makes sense to limit social contacts. But this applies to all unnecessary contacts, also between Konstanz and Allensbach (2 towns within Germany, Allensbach is also suburb of Konstanz, just like Kreuzlingen, just the other direction).
Accordingly, I have the following questions:
Borders in Europe are closing; officials ask every single person who wants to cross what they could possibly want "on the other side".
How is that supposed to help?
How does it help the city of Konstanz that people from Kreuzlingen (distance zero km, but Switzerland) cannot come anymore, but people from Flensburg (distance 983 km, but within Germany) can?
How does it help the city of Strasbourg (France) that people from Kehl (distance just across the river, but Germany) cannot come anymore, but from Bordeaux (distance 946 km, but within France): pas de problème!
To put it the other way around: why is it allowed to go from Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) to Ludwigshafen (Rheinland-Pfalz)? Two cities next to each other within Germany, but in 2 different states? Shouldn't this (state)border also be closed, or at least shouldn't the border be manned with officials asking what you might possibly want "on the other side"?
Ulm (Baden-Württemberg) to Neu-Ulm (Bavaria)?
Why is it allowed to go from Allensbach to Konstanz - after all you cross the city limits?
Why is it allowed to go from Meersburg to Konstanz- after all, a different district?
As for travelling, I do believe that air travel in a pressurised jet cabin can actually be a danger due to the circulating air. If there is even only one (unknowingly) infected person on board, many passengers could become infected. The route does not matter, even a sightseeing flight from A to A would yield these infections possible.
But if you drive from A to B by car, it is not likely that you will be infected on the way.
Should this scenario apply,
- a domestic flight from Munich to Hamburg is quite dangerous, while
- an (international) car trip from Amsterdam to Frankfurt would not be dangerous,
but # 1 is allowed while # 2 is prohibited.
Anyone who can conclusively explain the purpose of the border fence between Konstanz and Kreuzlingen: I'd love to hear it!
