Reunification Day on October 3rd
Germany will celebrate Reunification or Unity Day on Saturday, October 3rd, marking 30 years since east and west came together.
This is a public holiday in Germany so the majority of shops will be closed (like what usually happens on Sundays). However, in many parts of the country, shops will be open this Sunday, October 4th instead.
Note that a holiday isn't transferred to a weekday because it falls on a Saturday. Unfortunately, Germany doesn't do that with holidays that fall on weekend days, unlike some other countries.
READ ALSO: What and when are Germany's 2020 public holidays?
Families to get second instalment of the Kinderbonus
In September, an initial payment of €200 per child was paid out to families across Germany. Now the last payment of €100 will be paid out in October.Â
Families with smaller and medium-sized incomes are to benefit from the payment. Importantly, the bonus is not offset against other family or social benefits. The exact date of payment depends on the final digit of the child benefit number.
The government estimates that the Kinderbonus initiative will cost about €4.3 billion in total. The aim is to boost spending in Germany as the economy has taken a major hit in the pandemic. Families were particularly affected due to having to look after and home-school children.
READ ALSO: Germany's Kinderbonus payout begins today: What you need to know
Clocks go back (but you get extra sleep!)
Well, it's that time of year again. During the night from Saturday October 24th to Sunday October 25th, clocks in Germany will be set to winter time. At 3am the clock will go back one hour, back to Central European Time (CET).
The good news is that we all get an extra hour of sleep. But it will get darker earlier in the evening.
READ ALSO: More Germans 'suffer health problems after clock changes'
Blanket worldwide travel warning ends – but restrictions remain
Germany is getting rid of its blanket worldwide travel warning from October 1st, but don't get too excited.
The classification of a country as a coronavirus risk area (which includes most regions in the world right now including the US and India) will automatically result in a travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office from October onwards. This is provided for in the new regulations for travel warnings and advice. That means:
- For countries designated as risk areas, the travel warning for unnecessary tourist travel will continue to apply in principle
- For countries not designated as risk areas, it is not advisable to carry out unnecessary tourist travel if entry restrictions to Germany apply to these countries or these countries have adopted entry restrictions from Germany. The overall situation in the respective country (e.g. equipment of the health system, previous handling of sources of infection) is also taken into account
Digital registration for risk arrivals
For people entering Germany from risk areas, there will also be a compulsory digital registration system in place from October 15th.
People who enter their details on the portal will receive a confirmation which they will be asked to show at a check point – for example at the airport by police.
The data will also be sent to the relevant health authority. Those who do not comply with their obligation to register risk being fined. Exceptions will continue to be made for commuters and other travellers in so-called local border traffic.
Times up on some coronavirus test centres
Coronavirus test centres on the Autobahn network and at railway stations are set to close by October 1st. At airports they are to remain in place.
READ ALSO: Explained - How Germany plans to step up measures to control coronavirus spread
New quarantine rules
New quarantine measures will apply to people arriving from risk areas from this month.
Affected travellers returning to Germany from a risk area will be ordered to go into a 14-day quarantine period. This can be ended with a negative coronavirus test. However, that can only be carried out after the fifth day of returning to Germany at the earliest.
Germany's 16 states are responsible for implementing and enforcing the rules. There may be slight differences in state procedures due to the federal system.
This system could be in force already in some areas. Other states are looking to implement the system by October 15th, while others will aim for November.
READ ALSO: 'I was scared to get fined': What it's like to be tested and quarantine after arriving in Germany
Photo: DPA
Train travel discount
In October, the Bahncard 25 for second class travel will cost just €24.90 during the month instead of €54.60. It is then valid for one year. The card gives travellers a 25 percent discount off the normal fare.Â
Deutsche Bahn has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. Passenger numbers slumped by up to 90 percent at the peak of the pandemic in April. As connections were maintained, empty trains often ran through the country.
Passenger numbers are now slowly recovering. However, they are still far from the normal level. Therefore, the Bahn is trying to counter the corona-related decline in passenger numbers with new special offers like this one.
READ ALSO: How the coronavirus pandemic is changing train travel in Germany
Bonus for dental patients
Anyone covered by public health insurance companies in Germany who goes to the dentist for a check-up at least once a year can get a 'bonus booklet'.
This bonus pays off even more from October 1st: for five years of regular visits without interruption, insurance firms will pay 70 instead of 60 percent in subsidies for dental work such as crowns, implants or bridges. For 10 years it will rise to 75 instead of 65 percent. Those who have not gone for regular check-ups will receive a 60 percent subsidy.
In future, it will also be possible to receive the highest subsidy of 75 percent in exceptional cases, even if there is a gap in the bonus booklet – but in return, there will have to be a conclusive explanation as to why it was not possible to have a check-up in one year.
READ ALSO: German healthcare - everything you need to know
Meanwhile, the fixed subsidy for dental fixtures will increase by 10 percent. Until now, the subsidy paid for by health insurance organisations has been 50 percent of the total price. But from October 2020, the fixed subsidy will be increased to 60 percent – this is based on the extent of the care, but at least on the statutory standard care.
Wage boost for workers
Those who work in waste management, including winter road clearance and street cleaning, will receive a little more money from October 1st: the minimum wage will rise from €10 to €10.25 per hour and then further to €10.45 in 2021.
Train travel has changed during the pandemic. Photo: DPA
Improvement in home nursing
There are to be improvements to home care for patients in Germany. From October 1st a new form prescribing home care will have a separate field for specifying the "type of wound" so that nurses can better understand the patients they're treating.Â
The new form also contains fields for differentiating between acute and chronic wound care. This is aimed at improving the care of patients with chronic and difficult-to-heal wounds.
Better care for patients
Specialised intensive care for people should be improved, according to new legislation.
In future, only specially qualified doctors will be able to order out-of-hospital intensive care.
It means care at home will continue to be possible – but under strict quality standards. Outpatient nursing services are obliged to cooperate with specialists. The quality of care is to be checked by medical services on behalf of the health insurance organisations.
Changes to the Telemedia Act
This law means that providers of audiovisual media services and video sharing platforms on which programmes are uploaded by users or user-generated videos are offered, must regulate the handling of user complaints. In particular, they must develop procedures to investigate and take action when there are reports of illegal content.
Service providers will have to ensure that the commercial processing of user data collected or otherwise obtained for the protection of minors is prohibited.
Changes to the law are to enter into force this October.
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