Category: CORONA ENGLISH

The corona pandemic may lead to a curfew being imposed in Germany. If people now stick to the rules of distance and hygiene, the curfew would not be necessary. However, a curfew is at present possible under the Infection Protection Act. This would have considerable consequences: For example, you will no longer be allowed to enter public areas such as streets or squares. Or you will not be allowed to leave the house or apartment at all. However, a curfew often includes exceptions for certain people who work in systemically important professions. Exceptions may also be permitted on certain occasions,… Read More

Baden-Württemberg is intensifying its fight against corona, announced the state government in a press statement on 20.03.2020. No more than three people are now allowed to meet in public places. The only exceptions are for parents with their children. All pubs and restaurants must close as of Saturday. However, they may continue to offer take-away food. Minister President Winfried Kretschmann called on everyone to refrain from group meetings in private spaces. This is to protect the elderly and people with illnesses. The virus is especially dangerous for them. They could die if infected by it. “The situation is very serious”,… Read More

Corona infections have led to official institutions using legal instruments provided by the German Protection against Infection Act (IfSG). This law from 2001 contains rules to protect people against infectious diseases. Its instruments are aimed at preventing transmittable diseases, detecting them early and preventing their further spread. In any case, the Federal Government can initiate measures such as vaccinations, preventive medical check-ups, reporting obligations or the keeping of cancer registers on the basis of the constitution. Because infectious diseases often involve human-to-human transfer, the law empowers authorities to take measures that encroach on fundamental human rights. To protect the general… Read More

The Tübingen District Office is offering a telephone hotline for the Corona pandemic. More than 200 employees of the District Office are taking calls from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 07071/207-3600 – with 500 to 900 calls daily. The Public Health Department is answering medically relevant questions. 30 medical students are assisting. This hotline is intended only for questions about Corona. All other questions, such as those regarding short-time work compensation or financial compensation, are not answered at this hotline. The district office is not responsible for these queries. They urgently request that such enquiries be asked from the… Read More

On March 19, the chairwoman of the German Red Cross, Dr. Lisa Federle, compared the corona virus with the flu. It is similar, she said, ” but it is contagious much faster”. The spread of the virus is not stoppable anymore. The important thing now is to slow the spread of the virus “so that our hospitals can stay in control.” At the same time, the clinics also need to care for other seriously ill patients. District Administrator Joachim Walter asked everyone to “limit or stop social contacts to the absolute minimum”. Even age groups with comparatively lower risk can… Read More

The laboratories testing for Corona are completely overworked. Therefore, tested persons might need to wait longer than five days for their results to come in. The public health department will, then, inform tested persons as soon as the results are received. Those who have not been notified after a whole week are most likely to have a negative test result. Due to the high demand, the public health department can only send those to be tested who have more severe symptoms such as fever of 38 degrees (or higher), those who came in direct contact with a verified infected person… Read More

Corona infections have led to official institutions using legal instruments provided by the German Protection against Infection Act (IfSG). This law from 2001 contains rules to protect people against infectious diseases. Its instruments are aimed at preventing transmittable diseases, detecting them early and preventing their further spread. In any case, the Federal Government can initiate measures such as vaccinations, preventive medical check-ups, reporting obligations or the keeping of cancer registers on the basis of the constitution. Because infectious diseases often involve human-to-human transfer, the law empowers authorities to take measures that encroach on fundamental human rights. To protect the general… Read More

Chancellor Angela Merkel has addressed the German public in a TV message to make clear the seriousness of the crisis surrounding the corona virus. The most important thing according to her is to fight the rapid spread of the virus: “We must keep our distance out of consideration for each other. No more handshakes, wash your hands thoroughly and often, at least stay one and a half metres away from the next person and preferably no contact with the very old because they are particularly at risk”. Visits, travels, contact in public space: “All of this can be contagious and… Read More

WHO (World Health Organization) has a Youtube channel with several videos including a short explanatory video on how to protect yourself from the novel Corona virus: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=159&v=mOV1aBVYKGA&feature=emb_title Another important video is on the origins of the new virus. However, please keep in mind that this particular video is from 31st January and some things have since further developed: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=159&v=mOV1aBVYKGA&feature=emb_title On the official website of WHO one can also find a lot of reliable information about the developments of the Corona pandemic such as global situation reports, disease outbreak news, travel advice, myths surrounding the disease and much more. The website… Read More

Are you allowed to not go to work if no one can look after your children? Many working parents ask themselves this question, especially single parents, because daycare centres and schools are closing from Tuesday onwards. Parents must “make every reasonable effort” to find a solution. This is what the federal government wrote on its “News” page. This means that perhaps relatives (not grandparents because of the high-risk to them), the partner or friends can take over the care. If nobody can be found to take care of the children, employees should talk to their employer. If it is impossible… Read More