Advertisement

Health Paywall free

Coronavirus: These are the measures in Germany you need to know about

Rachel Loxton
Rachel Loxton - [email protected]
Coronavirus: These are the measures in Germany you need to know about
An empty classroom in North Rhine-Westphalia. Many German schools are closing to stop the spread. Photo: DPA

Germany is beginning to take extreme measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Here's what you need to know.

Advertisement

We have chosen to make this article completely free for everyone. Please support our coverage by considering joining as a member. Scroll to the bottom for more information.

As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rises, some countries are imposing strict measures, such as in Italy which is currently on lockdown.

With over 5,500 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Sunday, Germany is starting to follow suit, with states such as Berlin closing all bars, museums, clubs and fitness studios, and banning events with over 50 people. 

As of Monday, Germany will also be closing its borders with five countries: France, Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Denmark.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Berlin orders closure of bars, museums and gyms

Deutsche Bahn will also be restricting its regional transport Germany-wide to an "Emergency Plan" starting on Tuesday or Wednesday. There will also be no ticket inspectors to protect their safety.

The move was made to accommodate the large number of DB employees who need to stay home with their children, and due to the reduced number of customers.

Most German states have closed schools and Kindergartens until April 20th, while Bavaria has imposed restrictions on families visiting nursing homes. 

Even though coronavirus or COVID-19 is not dangerous for the majority of people, it can be to high-risk groups, such as the elderly or those with a compromised immune system. 

So politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, are urging people to show solidarity with more vulnerable groups and limit non-essential social contact, wash hands more and not attend large gatherings. 

The aim is to slow down the spread of the virus so that hospitals and health workers do not become overwhelmed.

But what does all this actually mean? Here’s a breakdown. 

READ ALSO: What's the latest on coronavirus in Germany and what do I need to know?

What should I do and what action is Germany taking?

Since the beginning of the outbreak, everyone has been advised to wash their hands thoroughly and more often, and avoid shaking hands. 

According to the government, residents in Germany should also, when possible, avoid going on trips, using public transport and instead work from home. 

“Generally, all contact with others should be reduced,” said the government in a press release.

Chancellor Merkel and Health Minister Jens Spahn have urged people to think about what is essential and what isn’t at this time, and practise "social distancing" (staying away from other people).

READ ALSO: Merkel calls for social contact to be avoided where possible

They say social engagements or gatherings with lots of people should be postponed for now.

Berlin is to close its bars, clubs and other facilities such as gyms and swimming pools. Restaurants will remain open for now.

Cologne is also banning all events, with only a few exceptions, as many other cities in North-Rhine Westphalia impose strict measures as the number of confirmed cases rise above 2,000.

The government has also urged for events with more than 1,000 people to be cancelled. Many cultural buildings are shutting for the time being, including libraries, while clubs have closed their doors.

Merkel has also said smaller events with hundreds of people should also not go ahead. 

So what can we take from this? Well, if it's not essential don't do it.

It's important to remember that closures are temporary and things will get back to normal in the future, likely after the worst has passed.

Of course there is bound to be an economic impact on businesses and people will be worried about this. The government says it will support firms, as well as workers with economic help and the most important thing at this stage is to limit the spread.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus - the everday precautions to take if you're in Germany

Should I take any other action?

Citizens over the age of 60 should inquire with their doctor about getting a vaccine against pneumococcal infection, authorities say. 

Experts have also advised people to do what they can to avoid putting people at risk.

A man wearing a protective face mask in Cologne. Photo: DPA

"We must really protect the population above the retirement age," said the director of the Institute of Virology at the Berlin Charité, Christian Drosten.

He said families needed to look for solutions that would keep older people safe.

"From now until September or October, children should no longer go to grandma and grandpa for care," he said.

What should I do if I think I have coronavirus or I’ve come into contact with someone who has it?

People who have had personal contact with someone confirmed as carrying SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) should immediately, and irrespective of symptoms, contact their regional health office, get in touch with their doctor or call the non-emergency medical health number 116 117 – and self-isolate at home.

A coronavirus infection causes symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, a runny nose and fatigue. There have also been reports of difficulties breathing, an itchy throat, headaches, joint pains, nausea, diarrhoea and shivering.

If you have any of these symptoms you should also stay at home and NOT go to the doctors surgery. Instead, contact the doctor or a health hotline number and you will be advised of the next steps. 

If you have any serious symptoms, the emergency number in Germany is 112.

The coronavirus incubation period is two to 14 days, with an average of seven days.

What happens if I have a cold? Do I need to go to the doctor for a sick note?

As The Local reported this week, patients with mild respiratory ailments (such as a common cold) can get certificate of incapacity to work (sick note) issued for a maximum of seven days, after consulting with their doctor by phone.

There is no need to go to a doctor’s practice for this purpose. This agreement has been in force since March 9th, for an initial period of four weeks and was introduced to help relieve doctors during this busy time.

READ ALSO: The German vocab you need to understand coronavirus

What happens if I’ve been abroad?

The Health Ministry has now urged all recently returned travellers to Germany from Italy, Switzerland and Austria to self-isolate for 14 days on their return, regardless if they have symptoms or not.
 
Previously, this measure was only for people who had COVID-19 symptoms.
 
"If you have been in Italy, Switzerland or Austria within the last 14 days avoid unnecessary contact and stay at home for two weeks," said Health Minister Jens Spahn and his ministry wrote on Twitter on Friday night.
 
This applies "regardless of whether you have symptoms or not". According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Europe is now at the epicentre of the outbreak.
 
Should you develop symptoms within 14 days, you should contact a doctor.
 
Germany's neighbours, the Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark, are sealing off their borders to foreigners in a bid to limit the spread.
 
 
Since midnight on Friday March 13th, Germans, Austrians, Swiss and citizens of 12 other high-risk countries are no longer allowed to enter the Czech Republic.
 
Denmark planned to close its borders on Saturday. Switzerland is reintroducing controls at its borders - also with Germany.
 
Austria will close many of its shops for a week initally and also quarantine the Paznaun valley and the community of St. Anton am Arlberg (both in Tyrol).

Meanwhile, by establishing a quarantine zone for the whole of Catalonia, northeastern Spain region aims to combat the spread of the epidemic.
 
The Robert Koch Institute has added Tyrol and Madrid to its list of international risk areas. So far, these already include Italy, Iran, the Chinese province of Hubei, a province in South Korea, and in France Alsace, Lorraine and the Champagne-Ardenne region.

How dangerous is coronavirus?   

As of Friday, there were 2,750 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany. The Robert Koch Institute analysed about 650 cases in more detail, reported German daily Welt on Thursday.

Rsearchers found that 54 percent are male and 46 percent female. Among them there were 11 children under 5-years-old and another 14 children up to the age of 14.

A total of 547 people were between 15 and 59 years old, and 76 people were over the age of 60.

Among cases reported to date across the board, disease progression was mild in four out of five cases. In some patients, the virus can lead to severe illness including difficult breathing and to pneumonia.

Deaths have mainly occurred among patients who were elderly and/or had prior underlying chronic illnesses.

Robert Koch Institute President Lothar Wieler said that 60 to 70 per cent of the German population would become infected with the virus over a longer period of time.

And he said the country should unfortunately expect more deaths.

"Of course, more people will die in our country," Wieler said. "Particularly when it comes to those over 65, the mortality rate will rise rapidly."

READ ALSO: School closures and no partying: How coronavirus is affecting life in Germany

Will I definitely be given a coronavirus test in Germany if I think I have it?     

Currently, hospitals and doctors decide who will be tested and they base their decision on the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute. 

According to the RKI, symptoms such as fever, a sore throat and breathing problems, on their own, are not sufficient. The person must also have had contact with an infected person, or have spent time in a region in which the virus was proven to exist over large areas.

Health insurance funds have been covering the cost of coronavirus testing in Germany. The prerequisite is that the doctor decides whether the patient should be tested.

Will I continue to be paid if I have to take time off work?

Yes, your employer will continue to pay your salary. Your employer will then be entitled to reimbursement.

If your employer does not pay, you are entitled to compensation from the local authority (according to Section 56 of the Protection against Infection Act (IfSG)). In the first six weeks, this compensation will correspond to your net salary. After this period, you will receive the amount you would receive as sick pay.

What about self-employed and freelance people?

Self-employed people and freelancers will also receive compensation for loss of earnings according to the Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. The local authority will base compensation on the profit from the tax declaration of the previous calendar year.

Do I need to stock up on food?

Experts say no-one needs to worry about supermarkets not being able to provide enough food so there is no need to panic-buy.

The government says: "There are explicitly no supply problems, the supply of food is still guaranteed. Retailers have given assurances that they will respond to the increased demand and increase the product range."

Some items that have been selling out in German supermarkets are toilet roll, tinned food and pasta.

A customer with a car packed full of toilet and kitchen roll in Brunthal, Bavaria. Photo: DPA

Should I cancel my trip to Germany?

A lot of readers are getting in touch to ask if they should still visit Germany. Lots of flights are being cancelled at the moment or operators are giving the option to change dates so check with your airline to see if there are any changes.

Now that some places in Germany are partially shutdown, life is not continuing as normal and most events have been cancelled.

There are currently no travel bans on entering Germany (however other countries like the US has one in place right now for people coming from Germany) but keep an eye on advice in your country to see if that changes.

Can Germany cope with the spread?

Authorities say Germany is prepared for the crisis but there is growing concern that the German health care system will be overloaded.

Although Germany has 28,000 intensive care beds, if too many people become ill at once it would cause massive difficulties, similar to what's happening in Italy.

Experts have pointed out that the pattern and rising number of cases in Germany is similar to what happened in Italy.

If this pattern continues, there are fears that severely affected regions in Germany, such as North Rhine-Westphalia, could face a similar bottleneck to that currently affecting Lombardy in about two weeks' time.

"We must do everything possible to prevent such drastic measures as in Italy," said Health Minister Spahn this week.

Will Germany impose a lockdown like some other countries including Italy?

On Friday there was still no sign of an enforced quarantine but many people are asking if Germany should take further and more decisive action.

Nevertheless, lots of buildings, such as libraries, gyms and cinemas have been closing as well as lots more schools.

We'll have to wait and see what the next steps are.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also