Patients who want to be on sick leave due to a cold must go back to the doctor. Telephone sick leave is no longer possible.
- For sick days with a cold, a visit to the doctor has been necessary since April 20 .
- Previously, in the corona crisis, patients with mild respiratory illnesses could be sick on the phone for up to 14 days.
- There is criticism of the now applicable regulation.
Update from April 20: For sick leave if you have a cold, you need to see a doctor again
Workers who want to get sick leave * due to a cold have had to go back to the doctor since April 20. A sick leave is no longer possible. The Federal Joint Committee of Doctors, Clinics and Statutory Health Insurance Funds (G-BA) had not extended the corresponding exemption - against the votes of doctors and hospitals, as reported by the German Press Agency.
Health politicians, trade unions and consumer advocates had massively criticized this and asked Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) to override the decision and continue to allow sick leave by telephone . Upon request, the Federal Ministry of Health had referred to the fact that it was a decision of the self-government in the health system. The G-BA chairman Josef Hecken had justified the expiry of the regulation with a significant slowdown in the dynamics in connection with the corona crisis *.
Read here : These are the new hygiene standards for corona protection in the workplace.
14-day telephone certification is no longer possible
The previous regulation is therefore no longer applicable: People in Germany were allowed to have their doctor on sick leave on the phone for two weeks in the event of mild respiratory illnesses . In the Corona crisis * there was originally the option of seven days - then the sick leave was possible for up to 14 days - this extension had been agreed upon by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) and the health insurance association at the time. To date, the 14-day certificate of incapacity to work was only possible if there was a suspicion of an infection with the corona virus. "The prerequisite is always that there are slight complaints of the upper respiratory tract," was the stipulation.
Read also: Corona pandemic - Do I still have to come to the office?
The most important rule: keep your distance
The official rules continue to impose strict exit restrictions and avoid social contacts. At least 1.5 meters should be kept away from other people and meetings outside the living space are only possible with one other person at the same time - with one exception: Family and shared apartments are exempt from this rule. However, you should take special safety measures * for sick and old family members.
Also interesting : Corona help from the state - who is entitled to what - and from whom?
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* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
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