Current regulations to contain the pandemic - Vaccinations (15 July 2021)

Vaccinations without an appointment

There are currently several options to get a vaccination without prior appointment:

Vaccinations at the vaccination centres

Since 26 June 2021, everybody is eligible to make a vaccination appointment in the vaccination centres in the state of NRW.

You can register and make an appointment here.

The website is only available in German. In this document, you can find information how to make the appointment i.e. an English translation.

Regulations lifted on 14 June 2021

The district of Paderborn is in incidence level 1 (maximum 35) with the most far-reaching relaxations as of Monday, 14 June.The district has fallen below the seven-day incidence of 35 for five consecutive working days.

As of Monday, 14 June, shopping will be allowed at all shops without a test or appointment. You no longer need a negative test to visit outdoor swimming pools and fitness studios. Cafés and restaurants are allowed to open indoors and outdoors, and the testing obligation for guests is also waived indoors because the state-wide incidence in NRW has also been below 35 since Friday, 11 June.

No contact restrictions apply to vaccinated and recovered persons. The new classification allows meetings in public spaces for any number of people from five households. In addition, up to 100 people with negative tests from any number of households are allowed to meet.

Further information about the current regulations in Paderborn can be found here (in German).

COVID vaccination priority dropped from June 7

 From Monday, 7 June, prioritisation for all vaccines is lifted: This means that from 7 June, everyone can now make an appointment for a vaccination - regardless of age, pre-existing conditions or profession.

However, in the vaccination centres, the vaccine provided by the federal government must be used completely for second vaccinations at least until mid-June. Therefore, for the time being, no new appointments will be made available in the booking portals. As soon as sufficient vaccine is available, new appointments will be bookable in the vaccination centres.

Therefore, please contact your family doctor and ask if you can get vaccinated. Some doctors have waiting lists.

Unfortunately, it is probably not possible to get an appointment immediately, as the doctors in private practice are dependent on the vaccine procured by the federal government and not all patients can be vaccinated at once. Vaccinations by general practitioners are their own responsibility. It remains up to the respective medical practices in which order and to which patients vaccination appointments are given on the basis of the available vaccine doses.

Please contact the Welcome Services if you need support or have any questions!

Further information on vaccinations in NRW

"Emergency Brake" lifted from 22 May 2021

In the disctrict of Paderborn, the emergency brake is lifted from 22 May 2021

 

Archive

***

"Emergency Brake" with new regulations, starting on 24 April 2021

As the seven-day incidence exceeds 100 for three consecutive days in Paderborn, new regulations will apply from 23 April 2021.

Some of the regulations of the "Emergency brake" are as follows:

  • Restriction of personal contacts to one household and one other person, not counting children under 14. Exemptions include meetings of spouses and partners or the exercise of custody and access rights.

  • Implementation a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew with exceptions for walking and jogging alone until midnight. Other exceptions could be made for emergencies, professional practice, nursing and care, animal care, or other significant reasons.

  • Nonessential shops only allow customers in with a negative COVID-19 test and an appointment. If the incidence rate exceeds 150, customers can only pick up preordered goods (also known as click & collect). 

  • Closure of in-person teaching at schools if the incidence rate exceeds 165. Exceptions for graduating classes and special schools are possible. From 100 to 165, alternate attendance teaching days are required.

(Source)

An overview of the regulations can be found here (Federal Government) and here (DW)

Current regulations in Paderborn and mandatory testing before entering Germany

(updated 29 March 2021)

From Monday 29 March 2021, shopping in many stores in Paderborn is only possible via "Click & Meet" - customers must make an appointment before shopping. Exceptions apply to grocery stores and drugstores, among others.

As of 29 March 2021, people entering Germany by plane must get tested before entering the country. The test must be taken at the earliest 48 hours before entering Germany.

Extension of the current regulations until 18 April

On 22 March 2021, chancellor Angela Merkel  and the state premiers decided that the existing measures will remain in place until 18 April.

In addition, for five days over Easter from 1 April, Germans are being asked to stay at home and reduce contacts:

  • In-person religious services are cancelled
  • Two households, or up to five people, are allowed to meet
  • All shops are shut, apart from food shops on Saturday 3 April.

An "emergency brake" will halt further re-openings in areas where infections exceed 100 new cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period.

Further information

FYI: Every person in Germany is now entitled to a weekly rapid test, either from a test center, medical practice, or place of work, administered by trained personnel. A list of places where you can get a rapid test in Paderborn can be found here (in German).

Extension of the current regulations, relaxation of some regulations and introduction of opening options

(updated 4 March 2021)

The lockdown to combat the Corona pandemic in Germany will be extended in principle until 28 March, but with many opening options depending on the infection situation.

Further information can be found here.

New entry regulations for entry from high incidence areas or virus variant areas

(updated 1 February 2021)

Travellers aged six years or older who have been in a high incidence area or in a virus variant area in the past ten days prior to entry into Germany must carry proof that they have been tested for infection with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus with them upon entry and present it to the competent authorities upon request and, if necessary, to the transport company prior to travelling. Further information

A travel ban has been imposed on countries with widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants of concern (referred to as “areas of variant of concern”).

Extension of the regulations until 14 February 2021

(updated 22 January 2021)

The regulations to contain the pandemic, previously set to expire at the end of January, has now been prolonged until February 14. Most shops, schools and non-essential business, such as gyms and sports centers, will remain closed. The new measures include stricter rules on the types of masks that must be worn in certain public places.

Further information

Regulations until 31 January 2021

(updated 6 January 2021)

On 5 January 2021, Chancellor Merkel and the heads of government of the federal states have agreed to extend and, in some cases, tighten the measures in place to contain the pandemic. The existing resolutions which are in effect since 16 December 2020 (see below) remain valid until 31 January 2021.

The following regulations will come into effect on 11 January 2020:

Contact restrictions: The existing resolutions for private gatherings will be extended. It is only allowed to meet members of one's own household and one other person not living in the household.

In areas with a 7-day incidence of more than 200 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, the federal states can restrict the radius of movement to 15 km around the place of residence.

Children's sickness benefits:  Children's sickness benefits will be granted for 10 additional days per parent (20 additional days for single parents) in 2021. Parents can also apply for children's sickness benefits when it is necessary to take care of the child at home because the school or kindergarten is closed due to the pandemic.

Entry regulations: In addition to the existing quarantine regulations after entering Germany from a risk area, as of 11 January 2021, it is obligatory to show a negative test result which is not older than 48 hours or to get tested shortly after entering Germany.

Further information on the regulations as of 6 January 2021. Please note that the regulations may vary depending on the federal state.

Regulations as of 16 December 2020

(updated 15 January 2021)

As of Wednesday, 16 December 2020, new regulations are in effect in Germany to help contain the Covid 19 pandemic.

The following rules will apply:

  • Shops, with the exception of shops for daily needs, will be closed from 16 December to 10 January. Supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, gas stations and some other shops will remain open.
  • Pick-up and delivery services can still be used. An overview of restaurants which deliver or offer pick-up service can be found here. Some shops in Paderborn also offer delivery or pick-up service and there are also some supermarkets that deliver food. The websites are in German only. Please contact us, if you need any further information or assistance.
  •  Until January 10, the contact restrictions continue to apply: a maximum of five people from two households may come together
  • For the days from 24 to 26 December, meetings with 5 persons plus children up to 14 years of age in the closest family circle are permitted.
  • For New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (1 January), there is a nationwide ban on  assembly.
  • The sale of fireworks is generally prohibited this year.
  •   Since 14 December 2020, compulsory attendance in schools has been abolished. In North Rhine-Westphalia, daycare centers are to remain open, but they should only be used if absolutely necessary.

Further information can be found here.

Please note, that the regulations may vary depending on the state. Information about the regulations that apply in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia can be found here.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, if you have any questions or need any support!