Coronavirus-related travel restrictions no longer apply to travellers entering Germany. However, travellers must comply with the general regulations under German residence law and other border control entry requirements.
Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior under Lifting of COVID-19-related restrictions for entry into Germany (in German and English).
Yes, in Germany, basic protection (basic immunity) against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is recommended for all persons aged 18 and over. This basic immunity is achieved when the immune system has had three contacts with components of the pathogen (vaccination) or the pathogen itself (infection). At least one of these contacts should be a vaccination. For some people who have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, annual booster vaccinations against COVID-19 in autumn are also recommended. These include, for example, people aged 60 and over, people aged 6 months and over with certain underlying conditions and residents of care facilities. This also applies to people who have a high risk of infection due to their profession (e.g. in care) and to people who have close contact with people who cannot protect themselves well with a vaccination (e.g. because they have certain illnesses). The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is still widespread in Germany. Vaccination against the coronavirus is the most effective protection against COVID-19, especially against severe disease progression and long-term consequences (Long COVID).
For information on COVID-19 vaccination, see Infection Protection (materials in Ukrainian), among others.
Information material on the COVID-19 vaccination in several languages can be found in the following documents:
RKI information sheet on vaccination with mRNA vaccines PDF, 376 KB, not barrier-free
RKI information sheet on vaccination with protein vaccines PDF, 276 KB, not barrier-free
You can find more information about protection against infection here: www.infektionsschutz.de
Treatment after a coronavirus infection/Long-term effects of coronavirus infection
If you have been infected with the coronavirus and are in a risk group, please consult your doctor straight away and ask about treatment with medications at an early stage. These have the best possible effect if treatment is started as soon as possible.
Symptoms and course of the disease
An infection with SARS-CoV-2 can take very different courses. Some of those infected have no symptoms at all. The majority of those affected have mild to moderate symptoms and recover within one to two weeks. However, high-risk groups in particular may experience very severe symptoms, including pneumonia, multiple organ failure or embolisms. Some of those affected develop long-term health consequences after an acute infection.
Get plenty of rest after an infection. The COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of severe cases.
More information can be found here.
Vaccinations
Vaccination against COVID-19 shows a high protective effect against severe disease progression or death. Even after infection with the current COVID-19 variants, sufficient immune protection does not build up. You can still become infected again. It is recommended that everyone in Germany aged 18 and over is vaccinated against COVID-19 at least once (for so-called ‘basic immunity’). Some people who are particularly at risk of a severe course of the disease or becoming infected with COVID-19 should also receive annual booster vaccinations against COVID-19 in autumn. These include:
- People aged 60 and over,
- People aged 6 months and older who are particularly at risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 due to an underlying illness
- Residents in care facilities,
- Staff in medical facilities and care facilities (outpatient and inpatient) with direct contact with patients,
- Family members and close contacts of people who cannot protect themselves sufficiently with a COVID-19 vaccination (e.g. due to illness).
You should therefore check whether your vaccination should be boosted next autumn.
Protection from infection
If you have symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, you should generally stay at home for three to five days. A mask then helps to protect others; this is particularly important if you cannot completely avoid contact with people at risk despite having symptoms. And above all, people who belong to a risk group should also consider this option for self-protection.
More information can be found at here and here.
Offers of assistance, information on the latest research and answers to the most important questions about long COVID can be found on the Federal Ministry of Health’s Long COVID initiative website: www.bmg-longcovid.de
More information can be found at www.infektionsschutz.de/coronavirus/basisinformationen/long-covid-langzeitfolgen-von-covid-19/