Measures and restrictions applicable in accordance with the Public Decree issued by the City of Dresden on 23rd October 2020

Period of validity: From 27th October 2020 until further notice

Data collection

Organisers and operators with an approved public health concept, such as the organisers of large-scale public and sports events or other gatherings in public spaces, or the operators of businesses, sport facilities, restaurants and other food service locations, hotels and other places of lodging, colleges, universities and other training and further education facilities, are required to record the name, telephone number or e-mail address, post code and times of arrival and departure of each visitor or guest. These data must only be collected for the purpose of contact tracing and are only to be passed on at the specific request of the Public Health Office. The records are to be destroyed after one month. The operators of shops, market stalls and other places which members of the public typically visit for only a very short time, for example recycling centres or cafés, snack bars and the like selling ready-prepared food and drinks, are exempted from this obligation.

Mouth-and-nose coverings in enclosed spaces

In addition to the already existing requirement to wear an appropriate covering over mouth and nose in certain situations, e.g. when using public transport, in shops and businesses, on coach journeys and most recently also when entering doctor's practices and other medical facilities, the wearing of a mouth-and-nose covering is now also mandatory in the following cases:

• In all rooms and buildings which are open to regular public access, in particular shopping centres, hotels and other places of lodging (public and communal areas, dining rooms until the guest reaches his or her designated seating), museums and municipal or governmental offices.
• In all restaurants and other food service locations, including snack bars and cafés. If the place in question offers seating, the mouth-and-nose covering must be worn until the guest reaches his or her designated seating. The wearing of a mouth-and-nose covering is not required while the guest remains seated.
• In churches and other rooms used by religious communities, at sports competitions with spectators (with the exception of recreational sport with a maximum of 50 persons present), at trade fairs, in conference and congress centres and at cultural events of all kinds, in particular in theatres, musical theatres, cinemas, concert halls, concert venues, opera houses, music clubs (without dancing) and circuses. This applies also during the performance or presentation.
• At large-scale and sports events or at other gatherings in public spaces (e.g. town and community meetings).
• In school buildings and additionally elsewhere on school premises, with the exception of classrooms during lessons and during outdoor activities. Exceptions defined in the Saxon Coronavirus Protection Ordinance for specified groups of children or pupils remain applicable. It is prohibited for persons who fail to observe this requirement to wear a mouth-and-nose covering in a school building or on school premises to be present on those premises.

Employers are obliged to implement suitable protective measures on behalf of employees who come into contact with customers or visitors.

Limitation of the numbers of persons present at an event

• Private gatherings at home, as well as family celebrations in restaurants or other rooms made available by third parties: max. 10 persons
• Company and club functions: max. 10 persons
• Large-scale public and sports events: max. 100 persons
• Meetings and gatherings in public spaces: max. 100 persons. This does not apply to gatherings covered by the right of assembly. Special rules are applicable to such gatherings.

The above limitations on the number of persons permitted to attend an event do not apply for facilities and institutions with an approved public health concept. In such cases, the public health concept and the protective measures defined therein are decisive. This applies, for example, to concert venues, cinemas and theatres. Already approved public health concepts remain valid without renewed application to the Public Health Office provided the following additional requirements are observed:

• Data collection as described above
• Mouth-and-nose coverings must be worn for the entire duration of a visit, including during the performance or presentation
• Mandatory compliance with the physical distancing rules contained in the Public Decree.

Closing time and ban on the serving of alcohol

Restaurants, pubs and the like must remain closed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on the following day. The sale of alcoholic beverages is forbidden between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on the following day. This applies to all sources and facilities, including both the catering and retail trades.

Gatherings in the sense of laws on the right of assembly

All participants at such gatherings, including stewards and security personnel, must wear a mouth-and-nose covering. Furthermore, gatherings may only be held at a fixed location; processions are forbidden. The upper limit for the permissible number of participants is to be determined such that an area of at least four square metres is available for each person, in order to better ensure physical distancing between the participants.

Prostitution venues

It is forbidden to open and operate prostitution venues or similar facilities.

Health and social care facilities

All health and social care facilities, for example hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly or facilities providing support for the disabled, are obliged to introduce strict visiting times and other rules to reduce the numbers of visitors, insofar as such measures are not already in place. The objective is to prevent infections entering facilities in which particularly vulnerable persons are gathered.

Measures in accordance with the Coronavirus Protection Ordinance

Events with more than 1,000 participants

In accordance with § 5 (3) of the Saxon Coronavirus Protection Ordinance, all large-scale and sports events and other events in accordance with § 4 (3) of the Ordinance previously approved for a planned attendance of more than 1,000 persons are prohibited with immediate effect and irrespective of further notification from the authorities. Such events remain prohibited until the 7-day incidence of new infections remains below the threshold of 20 per 100,000 inhabitants for more than seven consecutive days, i.e. the “Corona traffic light” must remain dark green (level 1). Approved events which limit the number of visitors to 1,000 persons are permitted to take place.

• Disturbed sense of smell or taste, fever, (dry) cough, sore throat, general fatigue
• Less frequently: Pain, nausea and vomiting, runny nose, diarrhoea
  

Persons at a higher risk of serious illness

• Older persons (increasing risk of serious illness from an age of around 50 to 60 years)
• Persons with pre-existing medical conditions: Heart diseases, lung diseases, chronic liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancer, conditions resulting in a weakened immune system, obesity
• Smokers                          

• Maintain a distance of 1.5 to 2 metres to others and avoid crowds wherever possible
• Wearing a covering over your mouth and nose can reduce the risk of infection
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow
• Thorough washing of your hands (20 seconds – for children: Sing “Happy Birthday” twice)
• Wash your hands after using a disposable tissue
• Avoid touching your face to reduce the risk of the virus coming into contact with your eyes, nose or mouth
• Avoid physical contact, including handshakes, when greeting others
• Provide for regular and effective ventilation of indoor spaces
• The Corona-Warn-App can help to interrupt chains of infection
  

The Corona-Warn-App is an important element of the measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It helps the Public Health Office to identify chains of infection quickly and efficiently. The underlying concept is based on voluntary use of the app. All data are stored locally on the user's own mobile phone. Further information can be found on the website of the Robert Koch-Institute.

In order to effectively protect oneself and others against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the Free State of Saxony currently prescribes the mandatory wearing of a covering over mouth and nose for certain areas (public transport, stores and businesses). A violation of the mask obligation will in future be punished with a fine of 60 euros. Children up to the age of six will be exempted. In other areas of public life, it is urgently recommended to wear a covering over mouth and nose.

• Citizens who are displaying relevant symptoms may contact a general practitioner after making an appointment by telephone.
• Persons who are known to have had contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus are required to observe a period of quarantine. If the quarantined person later develops symptoms, a general practitioner should be consulted to determine further action (an appointment must be made in advance by telephone). The Public Health Office (Gesundheitsamt) must also be notified by telephone (0351-4885322) or by e-mail.
• In exceptional cases, persons who develop symptoms may also seek help at the Corona Outpatient Clinic (Corona-Ambulanz) at Dresden University Hospital.

 Important notes

• A general practitioner is obliged to treat patients.
• The Public Health Office is unable to issue medical certificates (“sick notes”) for presentation to an employer (e.g. if a child is placed in quarantine or in case of voluntary quarantine).

Returning from a risk area

Since 8th August, all persons entering the country from an area designated a risk area by the Robert Koch Institute must present themselves for a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus test within ten days. This testing is conducted free of charge. Persons returning from risk areas are furthermore obliged to report immediately to the responsible Public Health Office and must observe a 14-day period of quarantine at home until they receive a negative test result.

Please note: Completion of a passenger locator form does not fulfil the above reporting obligation!

These requirements apply to all arrivals from areas which are designated a risk area on the date of entry into the country.

You can report to the Dresden Public Health Office via the corona hotline (0351-4885322) or by e-mail, and must provide the following information: 

• Full name, date of birth and address of each person concerned
• Phone number to enable the Public Health Office to contact you quickly if necessary
• Date of entry (arrival in Germany)
• Exact description of your travel route for the 14 days before entry, specifying any stopovers and the means of transport used up to arrival in Dresden (e.g. journey starting on 1st June 2020; flight to Sweden, staying until 8th June 2020; flight to Copenhagen, staying until 15th June 2020; return flight to Frankfurt/Main and train to Dresden, arriving at 2.00 p.m. on 15th June 2020)
• Occupation (to enable the Public Health Office to decide whether a work-related exemption may apply)

An official notice of quarantine will be sent to youby email or by post within a few days. The requirement to isolate ends automatically 14 days after entry into the country.

Presentation of a medical certificate

Persons returning from an area designated a risk area by the Robert Koch Institute may be exempted from the requirement to self-isolate if they are able to present a medical certificate, issued in the German or English language, which states that there is no evidence of an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. They are nevertheless obliged to report their arrival to the Public Health Office. As described above, all persons concerned should report to the Public Health Office by e-mail and must provide the specified information.

The medical certificate must be supported by a molecular biological test (PCR test) conducted in a member state of the European Union or in one of the other states listed by the Robert Koch Institute no more than 48 hours before entry into the Federal Republic of Germany. The certificate must be kept for at least 14 days after entry into the country. In such cases, no quarantine is imposed.

Returning from a non-risk area

There is no obligation to provide data or undergo testing. Voluntary testing is possible for self-paying patients at the family doctor´s, any medical specialist´s or at any medical out-patient laboratory.