Love in times of Corona:

In order to contain the corona virus, Switzerland has closed its borders with neighbouring countries. A fence now separates Constance and Kreuzlingen – but it still can’t stop love.

On Saturday alone, around 100 people met at the border fence that has been standing between Swiss Kreuzlingen and German Constance for about two weeks. The border, which is normally open to pedestrians and cyclists, now prevents couples from coming together. But you can still chat and hug over the fence, as dozens of couples and families have shown.

The fact that you can no longer simply drive over to the other side is difficult for Peter Lorenz and his Swiss girlfriend, for example: "It’s really an extreme burden," says the technical employee from Überlingen on Lake Constance. They’ve never really noticed the border before. Now couples without marriage certificates have no chance to get to the other side. “You can only stand at the border. It's a bit like it used to be in the GDR.

Couples and families have often met there since a fence has separated Constance and Kreuzlingen.

Families are also separated
Every five days, he and his girlfriend make the slightly longer trip in order to be able to give each other a hug. They’ve also noticed that many other couples are doing this, and even families where one parent lives in another country because of the job. Everyone has the same hope: "That the virus will go away quickly." says Lorenz.

The police are also watching on both sides to make sure that not too many people come together at the fence. "So far there has been nothing to complain about on the German side," said a police spokesman in Constance on Sunday.