People wearing face masks sit on a bench at Berlin Central Train Station in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Aug. 6, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

The German federal government has extended its travel warning for more than 160 non-European Union (EU) and non-Schengen area countries and regions due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

The travel warning, which also applies to the United Kingdom, would remain in effect until Sept. 14, according to the government. The previous travel warning is set to run out on Aug. 31.

The travel warnings currently in force apply to more than 160 countries and regions, but only slightly more than 130 of these have been classified as risk areas by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany's public health agency.

Anyone entering Germany from a risk area must go into home quarantine and inform the responsible health authority, according to the German government.

Since the beginning of August, all persons entering Germany from a risk area also have to present a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of taking the test or be tested within 72 hours of arrival.

Test centers have been set up at airports and train stations and other easily accessible locations for tests across Germany. According to the German government, the tests for returning travelers are free of charge.

The German Travel Association (DRV) criticized the extension of the travel warning on Wednesday, calling it a "wrong signal."

"A recovery of the global economy will not be possible without travel," said DRV President Norbert Fiebig in a statement.