we4you COVID-19 information

For entrants to Germany, no proof of vaccination, no proof of recovery and no test is required for entering Germany.

There are restrictions for persons entering from so-called virus variant areas, but currently no country in the world is classified as a virus variant area.
If countries are classified, they can be found in the overview of the Robert Koch Institute.

At the end of the last year, the state of Thuringia closed all remaining vaccination centers. Currently, there are also no vaccination appointments available in the Ilmenau area via the online portal www.impfen-thueringen.de.

If you want to get vaccinated against Covid19 and need help booking your vaccination appointment, you can contact us at any time .

General information about vaccination, the different vaccines and hygiene guidelines in different languages can be found on the website of the Thuringian Ministry of Health.

Six vaccines against COVID-19 are currently approved in Germany:

• Comirnaty®(BioNTech/Pfizer)
• Spikevax® (Moderna)
• Vaxzevria®(AstraZeneca)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen® (Johnson&Johnson)
• Nuvaxovid® (Novavax)
• Valneva® (Valneva)

In some cases, the vaccines in countries outside the EU have a different name. This is not a problem as long as the active ingredient is identical to that approved in the EU.

People vaccinated with vaccines that are not approved in the EU (e.g. Sputnik-V) count as unvaccinated in Germany!
You then have the option of being vaccinated with a different vaccine in Germany.

In most cases, you will need the EU vaccination certificate as proof of your vaccination.
If you were fully vaccinated in a non-EU country with an approved vaccine (see above), you can have the certificate from your home country converted into an EU vaccination certificate.
For this you should contact the doctor  Heike Reichelt (+493677/63434). Bring all documents about the vaccination from your home country to the appointment in the original and preferably in paper form. Copies, photos, etc. cannot be accepted.

There are now many different types of protective masks. We would like to introduce you to the most common types here:

• Everyday mask: These masks are made of fabric or wool and offer only a low level of protection against infection. Therefore, they are no longer sufficient for most activities in Germany.
• Surgical Mask: You may be familiar with these masks from a doctor's visit or hospital stay. They are made of multi-layer plastic with pleats for better fit and are flat when unworn. With an approval according to DIN EN 14683, this mask type is considered a medical face mask, colloquially also a surgical mask.
• FFP2 mask: These are respiratory protection masks that filter aerosols, smoke and dust. Thus they also effectively protect against infection with the coronavirus. You can recognise the masks by their beak shape. Important: Your mask must be labelled with the CE mark and a four-digit number, otherwise you must not use it.
• (K)N95 mask
  These masks are also beak-shaped respirators. The same rules apply as for the FFP2 masks.

Find pictures of the mask types here.

Important: The masks must not have a valve!

If you find the name of your mask in  this list, then it is approved in Thuringia.

Different types of tests

Basically there are 3 different types of coronatests:

• Self-test
  These tests are suitable for everyone and are carried out by yourself
  Reliability: Okay
  Duration until result: approx. 15 minutes
  Available here: supermarkets, discount stores.
• Rapid test
  These tests are carried out by trained personnel in a test centre or similar facility
  Reliability: Good
  Duration until result: approx. 20 minutes
  Available here: test centres, pharmacies
• PCR test
  A swab is taken in a test centre and analysed in a laboratory
  Reliability: Very good
  Duration until result: 30 minutes to 48 hours
  Available here: test centres, pharmacies

Realization of rapid tests

The previously free citizen tests (Corona tests in test centers) are now subject to a charge. A minimum of €3 is now charged per test. Free tests are only available for people with special protection needs. These are, among others, people ...

• who cannot be vaccinated
• who are exposed to many contacts with others
• who live in a household with an infected person
• who visit a nursing home

as well as young children and refugees.

An amount of 3€ must be paid by visitors of family celebrations, concerts or any other "indoor event" on the same day. A 3€ test should also be given to anyone who has a red Corona warning app or who plans to meet other people over 60 or with pre-existing conditions.

Those who want to be tested without a concrete reason or without a concrete clue will have to pay even higher prices.

We have confirmed information from the following providers that testing is carried out daily:

• Waldmeister pharmacy: Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:30 pm , Sat: 9:00am - 11:30 am, phone appointment requested

If you are feeling sick and showing COVID-19 symptoms such as loss of taste or smell, fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, sore throat, nausea, or diarrhea or your rapid test shows a positive result...

Do not visit the doctor praxis or the hospital on your initiative!

1. In case of mild symptoms: call your family doctor or a general practitioner. The doctor will assess your condition and tell you what to do next.
   These general practitioners in Ilmenau speak foreign laguages:

   Dr. Christin Grahmann                         +49 3677-202075700                  English

   Dipl.-Med. Jutta Kaltwasser                 +49 3677-20671319                    English, Russian

   Dr. med. univ. Petra Ligwe                   +49 3677-206891330                  English, Italian

   Dr. Eva-Marie Hasenauer                    +49 3677-62048                          English
   
   You can also ask friends who speak German to call a doctor for you.
   When the doctor is not reachable (e.g., at night or during weekends) and you need non-urgent medical assistance, you can call the number +49 116117 (on-duty medical unit).

2. In case of emergency: call the European emergency number 112 stating you have COVID-19 symptoms.
   You will get further instructions on what to do.

   A COVID-19 test will be covered by your health insurance when you are showing symptoms and it's prescribed by a doctor.