Measures against the corona virus

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Public assemblies may take place outdoors and in enclosed spaces without limitation of the number of participants, provided that the applicable hygiene and social distancing rules are obeyed. Singing together in enclosed spaces is only permitted if the hygiene and infection protection standards laid down in the framework hygiene plan of the responsible Senate Department of Culture and Europe are observed. In addition, participants must maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters from persons from other households and wear a medical mask. In the case of assemblies in enclosed spaces with more than 50 people, all participants must present a negative Corona test or proof of vaccination or of recovery from a Covid 19 infection. The person in charge of the assembly must make sure that the assembly does not have more people in attendance than what is permitted according to the usable area of the place of assembly. Furthermore, organizers must draw up a hygiene plan that ensures compliance with the social distancing and hygiene rules.

Worship services and religious or similar events held outdoors and in enclosed spaces are permitted with an unlimited number of people. It is required that the minimum distances between all participants are maintained and the general hygiene guidelines are observed. All participants must wear a medical mask if they are not in their seats.

Events that belong to the culture, entertainment or leisure sector – such as concerts, operas, theater performances and dance events – are permitted subject to strict hygiene requirements.

Public events in enclosed spaces may be held with up to 1,000 persons. The permissible number of persons is increased to a maximum of 2,000 if all the requirements of the hygiene concept of the senate administration are met. If more than 50 people meet at indoor events, all participants must be able to show proof of a current negative Corona test, a complete vaccination (both doses) or a previous Covid 19 infection. All visitors must be assigned a seat at events. If visitors are not in their seats, they must wear a medical face mask. The obligation to assign a seat does not apply if all participants have either a negative test result or are vaccinated.

Outdoor public events may take place with a maximum of 2,000 persons. If more than 750 people are present, testing is mandatory for all participants.

Large events with more than 2,000 and up to 25,000 people are only permitted if they have been approved by the relevant Senate Department. Separate protective measures must be observed for large events.

Private meetings indoors are permitted without any limits on the amount of people attending. Outside gatherings are allowed for a maximum of 100 people. Your own children up to 14 years of age as well as vaccinated and recovered persons are not included.

The permitted number of people at special celebrations is 50 persons indoors and 100 persons outdoors. These include weddings, baptisms and birthdays. If the events are organized commercially, the same regulations and maximum number of persons apply as for public events. Funerals and memorial services at cemeteries or funeral homes are not subject to person limits.

It remains a requirement for permission for all of these events that the organizers ensure compliance with the current social distancing and hygiene rules

At private and public events, the organizers must create an attendance list in which the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all participants are recorded. The list must be retained for two weeks and handed over to the competent authority on request if one of the participants was infected at the time of participation. For private events, this obligation only applies if more than 20 people participate. Organizers of permitted public events and organizers of private events are also obliged to draw up a safety and hygiene plan.

With regard to the rules governing events and gatherings of people, there are additional exceptions for the meetings of the German Bundestag and its committees, the Bundesrat and its committees, the House of Representatives and its committees, the federal government, the Berlin Senate, the Constitutional Court of Berlin, and the borough assemblies and their committees, as well as the diplomatic missions, the courts, the bodies and authorities of the federal government and the German states, and other bodies and institutions that perform public-sector tasks.

There is no longer a home office obligation as of July 1, 2021. However, employers are called upon to allow office workers, and employees who do similar work, to work from home or on a mobile basis. The above-mentioned employees are also called upon to accept the offer to work from home.

In office and administrative buildings, employees and visitors must wear a medical mask when they are not seated or cannot keep the minimum distance of 1.5 meters.

Companies are required to offer all employees, who are at least sometimes present at the workplace, free point-of-care (PoC) antigen testing twice a week. These tests may also be self-tests. Employees with physical customer contact are obliged to take these tests. Corresponding evidence and test results must be kept for four weeks. Employers must issue appropriate certificates upon request.

Self-employed persons with physical customer contact are also required to take a PoC test at least twice a week. The city of Berlin’s free test offer can be used for this purpose.

Exceptions to the above testing requirement exist for employees and for self-employed persons who

• have been fully vaccinated (both doses), with the final vaccination having taken place at least 14 days previously; or
• have recovered from a recent Covid 19 infection, with the Corona infection having occurred at least 28 days and no more than six months previously; or
• have recovered from a Covid 19 illness some time ago, and have also received at least one vaccination against corona virus that took place at least 14 days previously

Cinemas, concert halls, theaters, opera houses and other cultural venues may open to the public. There is an upper limit of 1,000 people present at any one time in enclosed spaces and 2,000 people in outdoor areas. Each visitor must be assigned a seat. Visitors must wear a medical face mask when they are not seated. This obligation does not apply if all participants have been tested negative for the coronavirus, have been vaccinated or have recovered from a coronavirus infection. The testing requirement for visitors only applies in enclosed spaces if more than 20 people are present and outdoors if more than 750 people are present at the same time, or if the minimum distance cannot be ensured and no other precautions are taken to protect against droplet infections and aerosols. Fairs and cultural festivals may be held again if the above measures are observed.

Amusement arcades, casinos, betting shops and similar places are allowed to open. Inside areas are only allowed to be entered by persons who have been tested negative for the coronavirus or have been fully vaccinated. The same applies to saunas and thermal baths.

Museums, galleries and memorials are allowed to open. Visitors must wear a medical mask. In addition, extensive distance and hygiene rules apply as well as upper limits on the number of visitors.

Libraries are permitted to open. Library users must wear a medical mask.

Dances may be held outdoors with a maximum of 1,000 people, provided these people have tested negative, are vaccinated or have recovered. All participants must wear a medical face mask.

Restaurants and canteens may open to the public subject to strict hygiene requirements. The consumption of food and beverages is only permitted at the table. Visitors sitting in the inside areas must present a current negative Corona test or proof of vaccination or recovery from a Covid 19 infection.

Tourist overnight stays in hotels, vacation apartments and other types of accommodation are permitted. The requirement is that the hygiene concept of the Senate Department for Economic Affairs is adhered to.

Retail stores are allowed to open. The opening of these stores is subject to the conditions relating to hygiene, access control and the avoidance of queues. Shopping malls and department stores may also be opened subject to compliance with the hygiene guidelines – however, incentives to prolong the stay must be avoided and, if necessary, areas should be closed off. Visitors must wear a medical mask. In addition, the number of shoppers must be limited.

Operators of retail establishments are required to draw up a safety and hygiene plan and to submit it to the competent authority on request. In addition, notices indicating the applicable rules must be posted in a clearly visible manner.

Department stores and shopping malls are encouraged to organize testing opportunities for customers using the PoC antigen test.

Sports are permitted outdoors.

Fitness studios, dance studios and similar facilities are allowed to open subject to strict hygiene regulations. These are laid down in the hygiene concept of the Senate Department for Sport. They include presenting a negative Corona test or proof of vaccination or recovery from a Covid 19 infection and making an appointment in advance.

Children up to 14 years old are allowed to train in fixed groups indoors without any prior testing. In this case, the group may include up to 20 participants plus one supervising person. The supervisor must have proof of a negative Corona test.

This restriction on contact during sports and the testing requirements does not apply to federal and State team athletes, athletes in professional leagues and professional athletes provided that they train in compliance with strict hygiene requirements. Fully vaccinated and recovered persons are also exempt from the testing requirement if they can provide alternative proof.

The zoos and gardens may open to the public.

Saunas, thermal baths and similar facilities may be reopened and visited only by visitors who have tested negative. Infusions are prohibited. Steam baths are to be kept closed.

In general, school attendance is compulsory. Berlin schools are back to regular teaching. After the summer vacation, subject to infection rates, the obligation to attend school will again apply.

During vacation periods, extra support and supervision and summer school will take place. During summer vacation, there is no general obligation to wear a mask in schools. However, students and carers must continue to wear a medical face mask in certain indoor situations – such as when playing music together.

Teachers and pupils must take a Corona test twice a week. This also applies to summer school, participation in field trips and educational events, and to the use of childcare services. Vaccinated and recovered persons are exempt.

The Berlin daycare centers offer regular operation.
Children with cold symptoms will not be accepted in daycare centers. This also applies to children with a mild cold and cough without fever. However, upon presentation of a current negative Corona rapid test, children with cold symptoms may continue to attend daycare centers.

Quarantine, testing and reporting obligations apply to persons who have been in a risk area within the last 10 days prior to their arrival in the state of Berlin. In addition, testing is now mandatory for all persons entering from abroad by air. There are three types of risk area: High incidence areas (areas where the 7-day incidence is greater than 200), virus variant areas (areas where certain SARS-CoV-2 mutations are prevalent), and risk areas (other areas where there is an increased risk of infection). The list of current risk areas is published by the Robert Koch Institute. View the current list of risk areas.

People returning to/entering the country from risk areas are required to register their entry in advance. This notification must be made using the electronic registration and information system at www.einreiseanmeldung.de. The information will be forwarded to the health authority responsible. After successful digital registration, passengers will receive a confirmation which must be presented to the airline/other transporter or the relevant authority upon request.

If digital registration of entry is not possible for technical reasons, the person entering the country must carry a written substitute notification.

Furthermore, persons entering the country from any risk area are required to be tested for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus for entry. PoC rapid tests must have been performed no earlier than 48 hours prior to entry. For entries from virus variant areas, the test must not be older than 24 hours. PCR tests are permitted if they were performed no more than 72 hours prior to entry. Anyone entering from a high-risk area (high-incidence area or virus variant area) or anyone arriving by air is obliged take the test before entering the country. The test result must be kept for at least ten days after entry and must be handed over to the relevant authority upon request. Persons who are considered fully vaccinated or recovered may alternatively submit appropriate proof. The testing obligation applies to everyone entering from virus variant areas regardless – also for vaccinated and recovered persons.

Anyone entering the state of Berlin by air, land or sea after a stay in one of the above-mentioned areas must go directly to their own apartment or house or other suitable accommodation immediately after entry and stay there permanently for a period of ten days after entry. Those entering from virus variant areas are required to go into domestic quarantine for 14 days.

Symptomless persons who are fully vaccinated or considered recovered after a Covid 19 infection do not need to be quarantined after entry from a risk area or high incidence area, provided they submit appropriate evidence in the entry portal. The same applies to all other people entering from “simple” risk areas who submit a current negative Corona test in the portal.

Further exemptions from quarantine are defined using a tiered system. As a rule, persons who are exempt from the obligation to report or test also do not have to be quarantined. Furthermore, persons who are allowed to take a test to be “freed from quarantine” due to their occupation or other legal reason are exempt (including medical personnel, persons with a temporary stay in Berlin, for example for visits to relatives, assistance and care of vulnerable and needy persons). This group of persons can take a test to be freed from quarantine immediately before or immediately after entering the Federal Republic of Germany. Persons who are considered fully vaccinated or recovered from a Covid 19 infection are also exempt from the requirement to self-isolate. More stringent regulations apply to persons entering Germany from virus-variant areas: Exemptions from the obligation to go into quarantine can only be granted by the relevant health authority. This also applies to vaccinated and recovered persons.

The period of quarantine can be terminated at the earliest five days after entering the country from a high incidence area. Those entering from virus-variant areas are excluded from this regulation. The requirement for the shortening of quarantine at home is that the person provides a negative test for the corona virus, which was carried out on the fifth day after entry at the earliest. The test result must be written in German, English or French and be available in written or electronic form. The medical test certificate shall be kept for at least 10 days after entry and shall be presented immediately upon request of the authority responsible.

Persons who have been in a virus-variant area within the last ten days before entering Germany may currently not be transported to the Federal Republic by plane, train, bus or ship until April 14, 2021. Exceptions apply to German citizens, persons who have their residence and a right of abode in Germany, as well as for urgently needed transport – such as ambulance transport or transport for humanitarian reasons.

In hospitals and clinics, the basic obligation to wear an FFP2 or equivalent mask applies to both visitors and patients when they are not in their room or when they are receiving visitors.

Persons who show typical Covid-19 symptoms according to the current criteria of the Robert Koch Institute are not allowed to visit patients in hospitals or residents of nursing homes.

Patients may be visited once a day by one person for one hour. Newborn babies and their mothers may be visited by up to three people daily for two hours each.The baby’s siblings under 16 years of age may accompany the visiting persons.

Persons under 16 years of age, seriously ill and dying patients may generally be visited without restriction.

There are no restrictions on visiting rights for persons entrusted with pastoral care, notarizing officials and the necessary persons for legally required questionings in hospitals and nursing homes.

Residents of nursing homes are allowed visits. Visits to care facilities are possible within minimum visiting hours (daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on at least two days from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

Nursing facility visitors must wear a FFP2 mask without an exhalation valve at all times. In addition, access is only permitted to persons who can show either a negative POC antigen corona rapid test or a negative PCR test for the coronavirus. The test result must not be older than 24 hours. Vaccinated and recovered persons are not required to provide proof of testing.

The critically ill and dying may be visited without restriction. However, increased protective measures for the protection of other residents as well as visitors and staff must be observed.

In hospitals and nursing homes, visitors must wear an FFP2 mask without a valve or an equivalent mask. The same applies to patients and residents if they are not in their rooms or receiving visitors.

Hospitals may carry out plannable admissions, operations, and procedures, provided that a return to crisis mode with increased capacity to treat COVID-19 patients can be implemented on short notice at any time.

Hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are required to draw up a safety and hygiene plan.

Hairdressing salons, beauty salons, solariums and all similar businesses are allowed to open under strict conditions. Customers must wear an FFP2 mask without a valve or an equivalent mask during the visit. The mask may be removed if this is necessary for the treatment. However, in this case, customers must present a negative corona test result. For vaccinated persons, the obligation to present a negative test result is waived from the 14th day after the second vaccination. Persons who can prove that they have recovered from a Covid 19 infection also do not have to present a negative test result. A minimum distance must be maintained between customers at all times. Service providers are required to wear a medical face mask.

Body care treatments that are necessary for medical, nursing, psychological or therapeutic reasons may take place also without presenting a negative Corona test. Those treated must also wear an FFP2 mask in this case, if possible.

The provision and use of paid sexual services is permitted. Clients must make an appointment in advance, wear an FFP2 mask at all times, and be tested negative, fully vaccinated, or recovered. Prostitution vehicles may not be operated. Furthermore, prostitution events may not be offered.

The provision and use of paid sexual services with physical contact is prohibited.

Driving schools and all similar businesses may open to the public subject to special hygiene and protection measures. Pupils must present a current negative Corona test.

Anyone who does not comply with the applicable rules of the ordinance is liable to receive a fine. The following is a selection of the most important fines at a glance:

• Minimum distance of 1.5 meters not maintained: 100 to 500 euros
• No hygiene plan prepared or submitted: 250 to 5000 euros
• Attendance documentation not maintained: 500 to 10,000 euros
• Incorrect or incomplete information given in the attendance documentation: 100 to 1,000 euros
• Mask or medical mask not worn: 50 to 500 euros
• Being in public spaces with persons other than those permitted: 50 to 500 euros
• Hygiene measures described in the hygiene plan not enforced by the person organizing an event: 250 to 5,000 euros
• Hygiene measures not enforced by a proprietor: 100 to 2,500 euros
• Quarantine not observed upon entry: 1,00 to 5,000 euros
• Visitors received during quarantine: 500 to 5,000 euros (300 to 1,000 euros for the person visiting)
• Noncompliance with duty to report to health authorities upon entry: 500 to 2,500 euros
• Using sexual services that are prohibited: 250 to 5,000 euros
• Operating a prostitution facility that offers sexual services that are prohibited: 1,000 to 10,000 euros

The amount of the fine will be based on the extent of the danger caused by the violation, the offender’s contrition, whether this is a repeat offense, and the offender’s potential economic gain from the violation. In the case of repeated violations of particular rules, the fine may be as much as 25,000 euros. That applies to violations of the rules for restaurant and sports facilities and the rules prohibiting dance events and discos.

These regulations are based on the SARS-CoV-2 Infection Protection Ordinance of the State of Berlin.