Information on coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)

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. 

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

Our video demonstrates how to use masks which cover the mouth and nose correctly.

Case numbers continue to fall, and we appear to have passed the peak of the Omicron wave. As a result, Charité is updating its rules for visitors and accompanying visitors.

From 7 March 2022, inpatients will once again be permitted to receive one visitor per day, for a maximum of one hour.  Critically ill patients will be exempt from this restriction.

Outpatients, day case patients and patients attending Charité’s emergency departments may bring one accompanying visitor.

All visitors and accompanying visitors must provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test result obtained on the day of their visit.

The aim of these rules is to prevent the virus from entering and spreading through Charité, and to optimize the level of protection in place both for Charité staff and for particularly vulnerable patients with severe underlying medical conditions.
 

What these new rules mean in practice:

• Only individuals with a negative rapid antigen test result will be permitted to visit or accompany patients. This rule also applies to fully vaccinated and recovered individuals. To be considered valid, the negative test result must be no older than 24 hours. This testing requirement also applies to children above the age of 5 and to adolescents. Presentation of the child’s student ID card will not be sufficient. Asymptomatic children aged 5 or younger will not require proof of testing.
   
• To gain admission to hospital grounds, all visitors will be asked to show proof of a negative test result, in addition to an identity card or passport. Visitors will then be issued with a visitor pass or visitor armband and granted admission to Charité premises. Visitors who are unable to produce a visitor pass or armband will be asked to leave the premises immediately.
   
• Children and adolescents under the age of 19 who are being accompanied by a parent or carer during their stay may continue to receive one visitor (another parent or carer) for up to one hour every day. Exceptions may be made in certain circumstances, subject to discussion with the ward’s clinical and nursing managers.

Test centers

• For Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF), you can use the test center situated on Brahmsstraße, near the northern entrance. In accordance with the current version of the Coronavirus Test Ordinance (TestV), the center offers both rapid antigen- and PCR-based testing. All tests falling under the individual entitlement (Bürgertestung) category will be free. The test center’s opening hours are: Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday (including public holidays), 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
• At the Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), an external mobile testing station is available at the so-called "Storchenparkplatz" near the entrance to the central emergency rooms (opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
• On Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK), you can use one of two external test centers, which are situated at the Augustenburger Platz and Seestraße entrances. The Augustenburger Platz test center is open daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM; the Seestraße test center is open daily from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

The following rules remain unchanged:

• Mask mandate and distancing rules: Visitors and accompanying visitors must wear FFP2 masks (without a valve) at all times while inside Charité buildings and maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from others whenever possible, including when outside.
   
• Individuals with symptoms of respiratory infection will not be permitted within any Charité buildings.

The aim of these measures is to prevent the virus from entering and spreading through Charité, and to optimize the level of protection in place for particularly vulnerable patients, for patients with severe underlying medical conditions, for visitors and accompanying visitors, and for Charité members of staff. These measures were established pursuant to the SARS-CoV-2 Basic Protective Measures Ordinance (BaSchMV) of 03.06.2022.

Please bring your identity card or passport with you to your scheduled visit. These will be checked at the entrance and your details recorded. You will then be issued with a visitor pass or visitor armband and granted admission to the hospital grounds.

Visitors are advised that checks at entrances may result in delays. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. To minimize delays, please ensure that you have all required documentation ready for inspection.

The collection and processing of personal data is solely for infection control purposes, in order to ensure the safety of patients, visitors, accompanying visitors and hospital staff should an infection develop or be diagnosed at a later stage. All collected data will be erased after a period of 2 weeks. Please click on the following link for more information on the processing of personal data under the GDPR.

• Why is it important to use face masks in hospitals?
   
• What needs to be considered when putting on and wearing face masks?
   
• Can masks be reused?
   
• What rules must patients and visitors observe while using Charité’s inpatient and outpatient areas?

Our video provides you with the answers to these questions.