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READER QUESTIONS

Reader question: Do I still need Covid apps in Germany?

Proof of Covid vaccination is no longer needed in Germany - so can people delete the health apps?

Published: 3 January 2023 16:20 CET
Updated: 4 January 2023 08:57 CET
A digital Covid certificate.
A digital Covid certificate. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Armin Weigel

A year ago Germany looked a lot different. To get into many public venues people needed to show proof of Covid vaccination, recovery from Covid, or a negative test (known as the 3G rule). In some cases only vaccinated and recovered people were allowed entry (2G). 

These requirements were dropped months ago. And since January 1st 2023, the vaccination requirement for healthcare workers has also been abolished.

Nevertheless, many people in Germany still have apps for displaying vaccination certificates on their smartphones: the Corona warning app and the CovPass app. So do we still need them, or can people safely uninstall them?

Proof still needed for the USA and some other destinations

It depends a little on what you are planning to do: in Germany, proof of vaccination no longer plays a role. But abroad, things are sometimes different – especially in America.

If you want to travel to the United States as a non-US citizen, you still have to show proof of vaccination when entering the country. Even in some popular destinations in the USA, such as New York City, proof of vaccination is still required in some cases, for example to attend certain events or plays.

Those wishing to travel to the USA can also use other forms of proof of vaccination for this purpose – however, the apps make it particularly easy to access the required QR code and a vaccination certificate in PDF form.

Internationally, however, the US is pretty much on its own. Almost all nations have phased out their vaccination requirements over the course of 2022. Only Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Hong Kong still require proof of vaccination for entry at the moment.

Some other nations still have provisions equivalent to the 3G rule, including Kenya, Nepal, and Venezuela.

Will there be a return of vaccination certificates in Europe?

In Germany and the EU, a return of vaccination certificates is currently very unlikely. Recently, restrictions continue to be removed throughout Germany, including the mandatory public transport masking in Bavaria and other German states. Despite the wintry weather, a return of 2G and 3G provisions is therefore not in sight.

One thing to keep in mind is the Covid situation in China. Lawmakers and health experts across Europe are currently discussing if Covid restrictions should be brought in across the board for people travelling from China due to the Covid wave there. That would likely involve testing on arrival, though, rather than showing proof of vaccination. 

READ ALSO: German doctors call for Covid restrictions for China arrivals

Should I get rid of the Corona warning app, or Luca app?

The Corona-Warn app is a special case: it not only serves as a repository for vaccination records, but also for contact tracking. Currently, the operation of the Corona warning app is state funded until May 31st 2023, when it would have to be extended again. So anyone who wants to use this feature of the app can continue to do so until May.

Furthermore, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach recently said that the app will be developed furthermore.

The situation is different for the Luca app. Last year, it was discontinued by the federal states and turned into an app for mobile payments. It therefore no longer has anything to do with Covid-19.

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FAMILY

How to find mental health resources in Germany for children

As mental illnesses and behavioural disorders among children and teenagers continue to rise, it can be difficult for international parents in Germany to know where to find resources.

Published: 19 April 2024 16:17 CEST
How to find mental health resources in Germany for children

Whether it’s school stress, adjusting to a move abroad, low self esteem, a personal crisis, hormonal changes or family issues, there are plenty of things that may make it hard for young people to cope with everyday life. 

A survey screening child anxiety disorders, found children in Germany ages 11 to 17 with symptoms of anxiety more than doubled over the course of the pandemic from under 15 percent before the pandemic to nearly a third of children surveyed exhibiting symptoms in January 2021. 

And social media has only added to the problem. According to a recent DAK study, media addiction among children and young people in Germany has nearly tripled from numbers before the pandemic. 

Girls and boys with heavy social media use reported more depressive symptoms, anxiety and a higher level of stress than children with less media usage. The parents of the affected children and young people also reported more dissatisfaction with communication within the families.

While Germany has a large capacity to care for mental healthcare patients, it can still be tough to find resources for children, especially if there’s a language barrier. Here’s a guide to finding mental healthcare for children and youth in Germany:

Is mental health care covered by insurance in Germany?

Yes, Germany’s state health care system covers mental healthcare. Statutory health insurance currently covers nearly 90 percent of the population. This insurance gives residents access to consultation with a psychiatrist, therapy, in- and outpatient care, emergency mental health services and medication. 

READ ALSO: How to receive help for a mental health issue in Germany 

Where should you start?

Parents should start by reaching out to their children’s paediatrician or family doctor. After explaining how your child is doing, they will likely refer you to a child psychiatrist to further evaluate treatment options. Treatment can include prescribing mediation, talking therapy, or a combination of both. You can also directly set up a consultation with a mental health professional for your child.

Insurance type, public or private, can also impact the type and availability of services. Public insurance covers fewer practitioners, meaning you may have to cover the cost of therapy for your child upfront and wait to be reimbursed.  

Whether you have public or private insurance can impact the type and availability of services. Public insurance covers outpatient psychotherapy, but patients must meet specific requirements for coverage. Doctors can also write a letter that parents can submit to their health insurance to access up to six therapy sessions, with the possibility of extension. 

Families using public insurance may also have longer wait times. Nearly half of all patients must wait three to nine months before receiving care, according to Germany’s Federal Chamber of Psychotherapy. 

A school girl at a Leipzig school. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hendrik Schmidt

This problem is worsened because public insurance does not cover all mental health professionals. Practitioners must have a ‘Kassensitz’ licence to bill public health insurance. These licences are regulated by the government and are limited. The cost of this licence, along with the waiting time for it, is often a deterrent to some practitioners. 

Another option could be to talk to your child’s school. Some schools employ social workers and psychologists who can screen and provide resources to children. These professionals can screen young people who exhibit symptoms of mental and emotional distress or hyperactivity in the classroom. They can also refer you to additional resources for more specialised treatment. 

What mental health resources are available?

As of 2022 there were more than 55,000 child and adolescent psychologists working across the country, according to data from the German society for psychiatry and psychotherapy, psychosomatics and neurology (DGPPN). The majority of these health professionals work in outpatient facilities, and the remaining 15 percent work in inpatient or day-care facilities. 

Germany has 274 mental health hospitals, 401 psychiatric units across general hospitals and 63 mental health outpatient facilities, according to the UN’s 2020 Mental Health Atlas. The country also started granting more specialist titles, including in child and adolescent psychiatry, in 2022.

Germany has also launched a helpline called “Nummer gegen Kummer” (number against grief) to support children facing mental health issues, whether it’s to do with getting bad grades or dealing with unrequited love.

READ ALSO: ‘Being honest helps’: How expats have overcome loneliness

The free help line – which is accessed by calling 116 111 – is active Monday to Saturday from 2pm to 8pm daily. Children can anonymously speak with volunteer consultants who range from the elderly to students ages 16 to 21. It is important to note that this resource is intended for children comfortable speaking German at an elementary level.

Other resources to consider include:

  • Online directory Therapy Route features English-speaking psychologists and social workers across Germany
  • It’s Complicated connects users to in-person or virtual therapeutic care based on your language and insurance type
  • Online directory Therapie.de lists around 600 English-speaking therapists currently working in Berlin, 150 in Frankfurt, around 230 in Hamburg, and 240 in Munich
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