Charité’s clinical services will continue to operate at a severely reduced level. This is due to continued pressure caused by the coronavirus pandemic – particularly by the number of COVID-19 patients, which remains high. Services for emergency patients, cancer patients and patients with urgent medical or welfare needs remain unaffected.

FFP2 masks are compulsory

In line with the tighter rules on mask use issued by the Senate of Berlin, Charité has amended its rules for visitors and patients. The wearing of surgical masks will no longer be permitted. 

• FFP2 masks will be compulsory for all visitors wishing to visit family members in hospital.
• All patients must wear an FFP2 mask when leaving their rooms and while others are present in their (single or shared) rooms.

Please consult our information on current rules regarding face coverings in both inpatient and outpatient areas.

Accompanying visitors in outpatient areas

As a rule, patients attending an outpatient appointment must do so unaccompanied.

Exemptions may only be made for patients with physical impairments, patients who are underage, patients who undergo procedures or treatments which mean they may not leave unaccompanied, patients who require an interpreter (which the hospital is unable to provide), and patients who are being accompanied by their court-appointed carer (proof required).

The follwoing rule shall apply since June 1, 2021: Visitors accompanying outpatients must also provide proof of a negative test result (rapid antigen test or PCR) issued by a test center/unit or pharmacy and no older than 24 hours. This testing requirement does not apply to fully vaccinated individuals and individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and received one dose of the vaccine, provided they can produce the relevant documentation and the latest vaccine dose was administered more than 14 days earlier.

Packing for your inpatient stay

Please ensure you are aware of current visitor restrictions and pack accordingly. You will not be permitted to receive visitors and be unable to have personal items dropped off for you. Exceptions will only be made in cases of emergency admission.

Please consult our checklist detailing what you should bring with you into hospital.

Since June 1, 2021 patients are once again be able to receive visitors from the first day of their stay in hospital.

• Fully vaccinated individuals (two doses) and individuals who have received one dose of the vaccine six months after recovering from COVID-19 will not require testing but will need to provide documents proving their COVID-19/vaccination status. In all cases, the last recorded vaccine must be dated at least 14 days prior to the date of the visit.

The following rules will apply to inpatient visitors:

• Patients may receive one visitor a day for one hour.
   
• Children under 16 and critically ill patients will be exempt from visitor restrictions.
   
• Visitors must provide a certificate confirming their negative rapid antigen or PCR test. Certificates must be issued by a test center/unit or pharmacy. The test result must be no older than 24 hours.
   
• The following shall be exempt from testing provided they can produce the relevant documentation:

1. fully vaccinated individuals
   Individuals shall be considered fully vaccinated if they have received both scheduled doses of the relevant vaccine and the second dose was administered at least 14 days before the date of the planned visit. Fully vaccinated individuals must produce a vaccination passport/certificate to confirm their status.*
    
2. individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 and received one vaccine dose
   Individuals shall be considered to have recovered from COVID-19 if they can produce proof of prior illness. Recovered individuals wishing to visit inpatients at Charité will need to provide proof of a positive PCR result along with proof of vaccination (at least one dose) six months after recovery. This vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days before the date of the planned visit. If there are doubts regarding the individual’s immune status, proof of a negative rapid antigen test result will be required.*

• Visitors must wear FFP2 masks (without valves) at all times while inside Charité buildings. Visitors should bring their own FFP2 masks. Where these are found to be soiled or faulty, ward staff should issue visitors with new FFP2 masks. Visitors who present written evidence of exemption from mask use will still be required to wear a mask. Without one, they will not be permitted to enter any enclosed spaces.
   
• Individuals with symptoms of respiratory infection are not permitted to enter Charité buildings.

*Digital certificates confirming test results and vaccination status are acceptable. This includes the ‘BärCODE’, a type of digital signature generated by Berlin’s official testing and vaccination centers when an individual’s test result is negative. The code can be scanned at access control points, enabling the individual to gain admission.

Visitor processing times may be increased due to entrance controls currently in place.
To minimize delays, please ensure you have any proof of status documentation ready for inspection. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Please note: Booking visits with registration code will be suspended. Currently existing appointments will be canceled.

FAQs: Further answers to frequently asked questions about coronavirus