Sick leave by phone is now possible again

Created: 2022-08-04Updated: 2022-08-04 13:20

In view of a corona summer wave, the reintroduction of sick leave by telephone is intended to minimize the risk of infection in practices.

© Paul Zinken/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

In view of the high corona numbers, doctors can again issue sick notes by phone – for up to seven days initially.

The measure is intended to “avoid the emergence of new chains of infection”.

Berlin – In view of the continued high number of corona infections, sick leave due to cold symptoms is now possible again purely by telephone and without a visit to the practice.

The joint federal committee of doctors, health insurance companies and clinics decided on Thursday, as a spokeswoman announced.

The regulation is therefore initially limited until the end of November.

Patients with mild diseases of the upper respiratory tract can be given sick leave for up to seven days without visiting the practice after consulting the doctor over the phone.

Sick leave can also be extended by a further seven days by telephone.

Cold and flu season is upon us

The regulation was already in place at the beginning of the corona pandemic, but expired on June 1 due to the more relaxed infection situation.

In the meantime, however, the numbers have risen again, explained committee chairman Josef Hecken.

At the same time, the cold and flu season will begin in the coming months.

"We want to avoid full waiting rooms in doctor's offices and the emergence of new chains of infection," he said.

The telephone sick note is a simple, tried and tested solution for this nationwide.

dpa