Since early December 2019, there has been an increasing number of cases of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged from Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei province. Most of the cases appeared within China. The disease is transmitted from person to person, primarily via respiratory secretions.

At present, all federal states have reported cases of infection with the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The Robert Koch Institute is continuously monitoring the situation, defining international risk areas and highly effeceted areas in Germany. Also, the Instiute is evaluating all available information, estimating the risk for the population in Germany and providing health professionals with recommendations.

Enforcement of the Infection Protection Act

• Enforcement of the Infection Protection Act - Measures to be taken in connection to the corona pandemic – restrictions on leaving one’s home (curfew).

  Enforcement of the Infection Protection Act - Measures to be taken in connection to the corona pandemic – restrictions on leaving one’s home (curfew).

  The Free State of Saxony is enacting measures to slow down the corona pandemic. From Monday, 23 March 2020 (00.00 hours), restrictions on leaving one’s home (curfew) have been in force throughout the state. This applies until 5 April (00.00 hours). The Free State of Saxony is enacting measures to slow down the corona pandemic. From Monday, 23 March 2020 (00.00 hours), restrictions on leaving one’s home (curfew) have been in force throughout the state.

  This applies until 5 April (00.00 hours).

  (information status as per 25rd March)

  On the Saxon State's website you will also find the general ruling in Russian, Spanish and Chinese.

Coronavirus - multi-language information

• Information from the Federal Government's Integration Officer

  The information is continuously expanded and updated.

Current limitations for public life

Reduced office hours in the City Administration

The City Administration offices and other municipal facilities are reacting to the current situation regarding the novel coronavirus and have reduced the hours in which they are open to visitors. For the time being, advice and support for citizens and residents will be provided primarily by phone or e-mail. Please contact us first by phone or e-mail to find out whether a personal appointment is actually possible or necessary.

In particular, please do not visit municipal offices or other facilities in person, if you

• display any symptoms of illness
• returned to the city from a known risk area during the past 14 days
• know that you have come into contact with a person who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus

Furthermore, please follow all advice on how to react in case of suspected infection, observe the necessary rules on hygiene and protection, and limit your social contacts. If necessary, contact the relevant authorities or facilities in advance to find out whether your questions can be answered by phone or e-mail.

The Foreign Nationals Office (Ausländerbehörde) in Dresden has issued a ruling under which the current validity has been extended for all residence permits, temporary residence permits, suspension of deportation certificates and other residence status documents which would otherwise expire in the meantime. In the case of tourist visas which are due to expire, the period for departure from the country has been extended until 20th April 2020. These extensions have been granted automatically and do not require you to make an application or contact the relevant office in person.

For exceptional urgent cases which require immediate action but are not covered by the aforementioned ruling, the Foreign Nationals Office has set up a telephone hotline under 0351-4886009. The staff there can identify cases requiring an immediate decision and will pass your call to the relevant office.

Further information can be found at: www.dresden.de/erreichbar (in German)

Schools

All schools in the city are currently closed. Emergency day care is provided only for children of the classes 1 to 4 at primary and special schools. No emergency day care can be provided for children at secondary and equivalent schools.

The offer of emergency day care is open only to the children of households in which either both parents or else a single parent works in a job classified as belonging to critical infrastructure. Click here for further information (in German)

Kindergartens and child day care

All nurseries, kindergartens and child day care facilities have closed. Until 17th April 2020, they will be providing only emergency day care for the children of certain designated groups of persons. The Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Cohesion specified the groups entitled to make use of emergency day care in its public decree (further information in German). The list of entitled parents includes, for example, police officers, emergency service employees, and those working in doctors' practices, for public utility companies and in food shops and supermarkets. The decisive prerequisite is that both parents work in a job classified as belonging to critical infrastructure. To relieve the financial burdens on parents, the parental contributions for all children who have not attended a day care facility will be refunded. This rule applies from 16th March 2020 and initially until 17th April 2020. If your children attend an independently operated day care facility, please contact the operator concerned. They are themselves responsible for the organisation of refunds. If your children attend a municipal day care facility or are cared for by a child minder, the contributions will be refunded automatically.

Health Information about Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Symptoms

• May occur after an incubation period of up to 14 days.
• Are fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, limb pain, fatigue, diarrhea (rare occurrence).

How to behave correctly

• If you have been to an international risk area and you develop some above mentioned symptoms please immediately contact your Public Health Office. Additionally, see your general practitioner after registering by telephone. If your general practitioner is not available, the Corona-Ambulance of the University Hospital Dresden is the second point of contact.
• If you are returning from international risk areas without the above mentioned symptoms, please carefully observe your health status for 14 days and contact your general practitioner in case symptoms occur; reduce contact to other people and/or quarantine yourself if possible (e.g. homeoffice).
• If you had contact to a person tested positive for the coronavirus, please immediately contact your responsible Public Health Office.
• All citizens with the above mentioned symptoms can visit their general practitioner after calling the doctor’s practice.

Who and how can be tested

• Without symptoms, no tests on coronavirus are conducted.
• After assessment of the necessity by your general practitioner or clinicians, testing is possible.
• The Public Health Office is conducting tests in domestic surroundings only in persons, who have had contact to a person tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Duration: About 3 to 5 hour.

Individual Prevention

• Keep your distance from others when coughing and sneezing and turn around
• Cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or use a tissue that you can dispose of immediately (cough and sneeze etiquette)
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water (minimum 20 seconds)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth (hand hygiene)
• Keep distance of at least 1 meter to other persons
• Airing regulary living and working spaces
• Please avoid unnecessary contacts
• Stay home as far as possible

Desinfection or respiratory masks are only recommanded in medical settings!