The German health institute has updated the list of so-called 'high risk areas', both France and Belgium are included.

Germany has expanded its list of at-risk regions to include neighbouring Belgium, and Iceland. This updated list, set against a background of rising cases of Covid-19, also covers most areas of France.

The latest update by the Robert Koch Institute, released on Wednesday evening , indicates that 17 EU countries are now classified as at risk, either in part or completely.

In France, the Loire and Burgundy regions have been added to the list. The entire country is now considered a risk zone, with the exception of the Grande Est border region, which was particularly hard hit at the beginning of the pandemic, but has since shown signs of stabilisation.

Parts of the United Kingdom are listed for the first time, along with areas in Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned on Thursday night against heading out on "tourist trips", and recommended avoiding "non essential travel" to these new areas, where the rising number of Covid-19 cases exceeds 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, over a seven day period.

This is also the case in Luxembourg. Tourists returning from these territories will be required to be tested, when they return, and placed in isolation, depending on the result.

The German ministry did, however, lift warnings for travel to more than 160 territories outside the European Union and the Schengen area.