COVID-19

New quarantine rules for people entering Germany from risk areas enters into force on 8 November. Up to now, anyone returning to Germany from a risk area has been subject to compulsory testing and quarantine. The new regulation provides for a reduction of the quarantine period from 14 to 10 days. What are the new rules? Anyone who has been …

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge across Germany, hospitals are under pressure to prepare for treating severely ill patients. Staff in many hospitals in Germany are currently “working at the limits of their capacity,” Uwe Janssens, president of the Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), told a press conference on Tuesday. Speaking alongside German …

Coronavirus continues to spread rapidly in Germany. The number of registered new infections has reached a new record level of 21,506 cases within one day on Thursday. It was the highest single-day rise since the pandemic began, according to the country’s centre for disease prevention, Robert-Koch-Institute (RKI), in its report on Friday morning . Thursday’s caseload was an increase by …

The hairdresser stays open, restaurants have to close: strict restrictions in everyday life apply nationwide from Monday until the end of November as part of new wide-ranging measures to fight Covid-19 by significantly reducing person-to-person contacts in Germany. The corona containment measures at a glance. Who can still meet now? In principle, the Federal Government and the Länder have decided …

To contain the corona pandemic, the Federal Government and the States (Länder) have decided on a nationwide partial lockdown in Germany. It will apply from Monday, 2 November, until the end of the month, according to a resolution of a virtual meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the state premiers on Wednesday. The so-called nationwide “lockdown light” is a less …

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned citizens to stay at home and reduce all unnecessary contact and travel after the number of infections hit a new record high. The country’s death toll also passed 10,000 on Saturday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned citizens to stay at home and reduce social contact to an absolute minimum on Saturday, following another notable rise …

The federal state of Berlin is offering financial support to religious communities suffering from the impact of the corona crisis. Many churches and mosques are in financial distress due to pandemic-related restrictions and the resulting drop in donations they receive from members. Small religious communities engaged in social and integration issues could apply for funding for their rent, incidental rental …

The Minister of State for Integration, Annette Widmann-Mauz, has said that the coronavirus pandemic was hitting people with a migration background and refugees particularly hard. They often work in sectors that are particularly affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic, the Ms Widmann-Mauz said at the 12th Integration Conference, which took place on Monday and that focused on the …

As the number of new coronavirus cases spikes in Germany, the federal government has reached out to migrant organisations in the country to seek their support for its containment efforts. On Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Minister of State for Integration, Annette Widmann-Mauz, and Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn parleyed with representatives of migrant organisations and religious communities at a video …

The coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Germany. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s centre for public disease control and prevention, reported a new record of 7,334 new infections within one day on Friday (16 October). A day earlier, 6,638 new cases were registered in the country, the highest figure since the beginning of the pandemic. In view of rising …

Retail shops have been subject to increased hygiene and social distancing rules since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March. These range from obligation to wear face mask, plexiglas panels at the checkout and distance markings on the floor to entrance restrictions. How do we protect ourselves when we go shopping is one of the questions we’re confronted with? …

To counter misinformation circulating in the country, the Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration – Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, Flüchtlinge und Integration – runs an online portal to provide information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in English, French, Turkish and other languages. “By obeying certain rules, every individual can help protect the elderly and people with pre-existing …

German airline Lufthansa may soon introduce rapid tests before certain flights to detect Covid-19 in passengers.  The tests are being developed by the Basel-based pharmaceutical company Roche, according to reports in the NZZ am Sonntag and SonntagsZeitung. It is unclear on which flights the tests, which could cost around €10 per passenger, will be trialled, the papers said. Lufthansa said …

A new report on the new coronavirus pandemic in Africa, presented by Partnership for Evidence-Based COVID-19 Response (PERC), reveals the multidimensional challenges faced by the people on the continent and makes recommendations to governments on how to manage the public health crisis to lessen its burden on their citizens Most African Union (AU) Member States swiftly implemented public health and …

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of government of the federal states (Laender) have agreed on further measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Germany. At the meeting held in Berlin on Thursday, the following directives were issued to people living in Germany:

The head of the Robert Koch Institute for health, Lothar Wieler, said on Tuesday (28 July) that he was “very concerned” by the surge of new coronavirus infections in Germany, the press reported. “We don’t know yet if this is the beginning of a second wave, but of course it could be,” Wieler said. Last week, Germany recorded 3,611 new …

ONE, MTV Base, Mandela Foundation pair up with 10 African Artists in Song to Fight COVID-19 Ten of Africa’s biggest musical artists are uniting to record “Stand Together”, a rallying call to all Africans to unite against COVID-19. With artists from seven African countries, the song is a powerful reminder that no one is safe from COVID-19 until everyone is …

Travel warnings, risk areas, quarantine requirements: For many, the entry regulations for Germany remain confusing. Here are a few answers to the most important questions. Within the EU, holiday flights are again operating and tourists from selected third countries (non-EU countries) can also enter Germany again. Everyone is strongly advised to seek the latest information before packing their bags. What …

Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of The African Network of Germany (TANG), has called on members of the Black community in Germany not to lower their guard in respect of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). She issued the advice on Thursday while speaking at a virtual conference attended by the regional representatives of the organisation from all parts of Germany. “The virus …

Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) says it has spent some €40 million on digital offerings to bridge the interruption of integration and language courses caused by COVID-19. According to BAMF, close to a quarter million migrants in Germany are currently having to pause their courses. Benjamin Bathke reports — Many government services in Germany have been suspended …