Coronavirus in Berlin: current restrictions and how to get tested

This guide helps you understand the Coronavirus situation in Berlin. It is frequently updated.

Coronavirus rules and updates for Berlin

• Summary of coronavirus rules by Berliner Zeitung
  • Official list of rules for Berlin
  • Official summary of coronavirus rules
  • Frequently asked questions
    
• Live map of Coronavirus cases (in German)
  
• Official situation report for Berlin (in German)
• Official Coronavirus news for Berlin

Travel restrictions in Berlin, Germany and the EU

• If you were in risk area outside of Germany in the last 14 days...
  Go directly to your accommodation, and call the local Gesundheitsamt. They will tell you if you must get tested, and where to get tested¹. You must self-quarantine for 14 days, or until you get a negative test result¹.
  
• If you were in a risk area inside Germany in the last 14 days...
  There are no special rules: you don't need to quarantine, and you don't need to get tested^{1, 2, 3}. If you choose to get tested, you must pay for your test.
  
• If you just transit in Berlin...
  You don't need to quarantine or get tested, but you must leave Berlin immediately¹.

These resources have more information:

• Information sheet for travellers from abroad
• Quarantine requirements for people who enter Berlin
  
• Coronavirus testing when entering Germany
• Entry restrictions, quarantine regulations when entering Germany
• List of current risk areas by the Robert Koch Institute (in German)
• Check if you live in a Coronavirus hotspot (in German)

How to get tested for Coronavirus in Berlin

Testing for travellers

• If you travel from Berlin...
  Your destination country could require a test. If you need to get tested, ask your family doctor (Hausarzt). If you don't have a Hausarzt, you can go to one of these clinics. If you don't have coronavirus symptoms, you must pay for the test.
  
• If you travel to Berlin...
  • ...and were not in a risk area in the last 14 days
    You do not need to get tested, unless you have coronavirus symptoms. If you don't have symptoms, and you want to get tested, you must pay for the test^{1, 2}.
  • ...and you were in a risk area outside of Germany in the last 14 days
    You must get tested within 48 hours. It doesn't matter if you come by plane, train, bus or car; you must get tested¹. The test is free, even if you are not a German resident^{1, 2}. You must self-quarantine until you get the results¹. If you can't get a test, you must self-quarantine for 14 days. You must also report to your local Gesundheitsamt¹. This is why you need to fill a form when you arrive¹.
  • ...and you were in a risk area inside Germany, in the last 14 days
    You don't need to quarantine, and you don't need to get tested^{1, 2, 3}. There are not special rules. If you don't have symptoms, and you want to get tested, you must pay for the test^{1, 2}.
  • ...and you have a negative test that is less than 48 hours old
    You do not need to get tested again, and you do not need to quarantine¹.
    
• If you transit in Berlin...
  You must leave Berlin immediately¹. You do not need to quarantine, and you do not need to get tested¹.
  

To get tested, you must go to a testing centre for travellers:

• Schönefeld airport (SXF)
  The testing centre is in terminal D¹.
• Berlin Hauptbahnhof
  Testing from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 23:00, and Sunday from 8:00 to 23:00¹. The testing centre is in the basement¹.
• Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof Berlin (ZOB)
  Testing from 6:00 to 23:00¹.
• Clinics that offer coronavirus tests (in German)
  See the "List of testing options" section below. You might have to pay for your test.

Testing for Berliners

Official page: What to do if you suspect you have symptoms

• If you have coronavirus symptoms, or if you were in contact with an infected person, call the Coronavirus hotline, your local Gesundheitsamt, or 116 117^{1, 2}. They will decide if you need a test, and tell you where to go:
  • If they decide you need a test, you must self-quarantine until you get tested¹. The test will be free^{1, 2}.
  • If they decide you don't need a test, you can get tested through your family doctor (Hausarzt), your employer, or a medical clinic. You might have to pay for the test. See the "List of testing options" section below.
• If you do not have symptoms, it's hard to get tested, even if you were in contact with an infected person¹. You might need to go to a clinic, and pay for your test. See the "List of testing options" section below.
• If you work in a school, a healthcare facility or a Kita, you can get tested at a Vivantes clinic, even if you don't have symptoms^{1, 2}. You need an appointment first.

List of testing options

• Your family doctor (Hausarzt)
  If you have Coronavirus symptoms, you can get a test from your family doctor (Hausarzt)¹. If your doctor decides that you need a test, your health insurance pays for it¹.
  
• Your employer
  Some employers offer in-house testing for their employees¹.
• Official corona testing centres
  There are long queues at the testing centres^{1, 2, 3}. Some require an appointment¹. They speak English¹. You might need to queue for a few hours. Bring food, snacks, warm clothes and an umbrella.
• Clinics that offer coronavirus tests (in German)
  Appointment finder
  This is only for people without a family doctor (Hausarzt), and who can't visit a testing centre¹. If you don't qualify for a free test, you must pay 140€ to 180€¹.
  
  • Dr. Sybille Katzenstein, Bürknerstraße 11, Neukölln
    Monday to Friday, from 8:30. No appointment required. You must have coronavirus symptoms, or have been in contact with infected people. There will be a long queue.
  • Praxis Kosova, Karl-Marx-Straße 118, Neukölln
    Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00. No appointment required. There will be a long queue¹, so you should arrive early. Some of the staff speaks English¹.
    
  • Vivantes, Prenzlauer Berg, Spandau or Tempelhof
    Test for education and healthcare employees, returning travellers, and Vivantes employees.
    
  • BCRT, Friedrichstraße 134, Mitte
    Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 19:00, and Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00. Online appointment required. Testing possible even without symptoms. Test results in 2-3 days¹. The test costs 123€¹.
    
  • Quicktest.berlin, Masurenallee, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
    Outdoor testing. Test results in 1 working day. The test costs 159€¹. Online appointments. Payment in advance.
  • Other clinics
    
• Coronavirus test kit
  You can buy a coronavirus test kit from Amazon (79€) and Cerascreen (149€). You can use the kit yourself at home.
  

How much does a test cost?

• If you have coronavirus symptoms, the test is free.
• If you travel from a risk area, the test is free^{1, 2}.
• If your family doctor prescribes a test, your health insurance pays for it¹.
• If you do not travel from a risk area, and you do not have coronavirus symptoms, you must pay for your test¹. The Coronavirus test costs 59€¹ at the official testing centres. It costs 140€ to 180€ at the doctor¹.

When will I get test results?

The results will arrive in 3 to 5 days^{1, 2, 3}. You can see your test results on the MDI website (click COVID-19 Testergebnisse MDI-Limbach), or in the Corona-Warn-App. The app does not always shows the results quickly¹. You can also receive the results by phone, email and post¹.

If you test positive, you must stay in quarantine. The Gesundheitsamt decides how long you must quarantine¹. They will contact you and tell you what to do¹. Some people say the Gesundheitsamt never contacted them¹.

Contact tracing app for Germany

Germany has a contact tracing app. It's called Corona-Warn-App. It shows you if you have been in contact with infected people. It's very easy to use.

• Install the Android app
• Install the iOS app
  
• Official app website
  

If you can't install the app, change your app store country to Germany (Android instructions, iOS instructions).

Corona hotlines for Berlin

If you have coronavirus symptoms, or questions about getting tested, call one of the coronavirus hotlines.

• Coronavirus hotline for all of Berlin
  Every day from 8:00 to 20:00
  030 / 9028 2828
  The hotline is open from 8:00 to 20:00. The phone number is +49 30 9028 2828. The phone menu is in German, but they speak English¹. The line is very busy^{1, 2, 3, 4}. You might need to call dozens of times.
• Medical call service (ärztliche Bereitschaftsdienst)
  116 117
  They can answer your questions, and help you get tested¹. They also have a coronavirus test appointment service on their website.

You can also call your local Gesundheitsamt:

• Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
  Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00
  030 / 9029 16662
  hygiene@charlottenburg-wilmersdorf.de
• Friedrichshain- Kreuzberg
  Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00
  030 / 90 298 8000
  coronakontakt@ba-fk.berlin.de
• Lichtenberg
  pandemie@lichtenberg.berlin.de or HygieneGes.BALichtenberg@lichtenberg.berlin.de
• Marzahn-Hellersdorf
  030 / 90293 3629
  hygiene-mh@ba-mh.berlin.de
• Mitte
  Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00
  030 / 9018 41000
  corona@ba-mitte.berlin.de
• Neukölln
  030 / 90239 4040
  geshyg@bezirksamt-neukoelln.de
• Pankow
  Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00, and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.
  030 / 90295 3000
  corona@ba-pankow.berlin.de
• Reinickendorf
  030 / 90294 5500
  coronavirus@reinickendorf.berlin.de
• Spandau
  Every day from 8:00 to 16:00
  030 / 90279 4012
  ges2@ba-spandau.berlin.de
• Steglitz-Zehlendorf
  Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00
  030 / 90299 3670
  corona@ba-sz.berlin.de
• Tempelhof-Schöneberg
  030 / 90277 7351
  hygiene@ba-ts.berlin.de
• Treptow-Köpenick
  Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00
  030 / 90297 4773
  covid19@ba-tk.berlin.de