If you intend to visit the BSBI campus, for classes or administrative purposes, then you must adhere to the rules outlined in BSBI’s hygiene and protection policy. Failure to adhere to the COVID-19 regulations on the campus will result in being asked to leave the campus.
In line with the regulations set out by the Berlin Senate, the following rules additional apply on the BSBI campus:
Mandatory classes that cannot be carried out digitally, such as laboratory or workshop internships, practical sports exercises or artistic lessons at art and music colleges as well as practical lessons in medical-clinical courses.
Presence (face-to-face) teaching for introducing new students / freshmen and international students who are starting their studies in Berlin for the first time.
COVID-19 regulations in Berlin
The Berlin Senate, in coordination with the German government has extended the lockdown until 9th May 2021 and has introduced some new measures to combat rising COVID-19 cases numbers.
The German federal government enacted changed to the infection protection law
(Infektionsschutzgesetz) which now means that any state in the Federal Republic of Germany must enforce the COVID emergency break if incidence numbers exceed 100 cases per 100,000 people.
This is the case for Berlin therefore the emergency is being enforced
In order to control the spread of the virus, every person needs to reduce their contact with members outside of their own household to an absolute minimum.
Here is an overview of the most up-to-date regulations you need to follow in Berlin to keep yourself and others safe.
General Social Distancing and Masks
The only acceptable face mask is the FFP2 mask. Fabric masks, scarves, and even surgical masks are no longer acceptable on public transport and in indoor spaces.
Keep social distancing of at least 1.5 metres from anyone outside your own household, and practice basic hygiene like hand washing.
Wearing an FFP2 mask is compulsory in all enclosed spaces. This includes shops, on public transport and in taxis, in schools, in offices, in medical practices, retail outlets, salons, and cultural institutions.
Socialising
• Outdoors, a maximum of five people from two households can meet during the day.
Commercial events are capped at 20 attendees indoors and 50 people outdoors.
Masks have to be worn at open-air events attended by 20 people or more
At any event in an enclosed space with more than five people, all participants must present a negative corona test
Workplace
Employers must offer their employees who work in the office at least twice a week the opportunity to take a free weekly corona test. Employees who have physical contact with customers or other third parties are obliged to take advantage of this offer twice a week. Referrals to Berlin’s free rapid testing centre do not count.
Employers must allow office workers to work from home and occupancy of offices may not exceed 50%.
Those who continue work in an office or administrative building, wearing a medical mask is compulsory at all times, except when sitting at your desk.
If social distancing cannot be maintained all staff must wear a medical mask and companies must provide masks in this circumstance.
Offices must be regularly ventilated (windows opened)
Shopping and retail
FFP2 face masks must be worn at all times in any retail premises and in their car parks and/or outdoor spaces.
Supermarkets, food markets, pharmacies, medical supply stores and drug stores, hearing aid acousticians, opticians, book shops, petrol stations, mechanics, bicycle workshops, pet food shops, post offices, banks, florists, garden centres and hardware stores are open.
Bars and restaurants
Sports
Culture, leisure, and nightlife
Hairdressers are open but customers must provide a negative COVID-19 test, taken that same day.
Contact-based professions, such as massage parlours and beauty studios, are also open but customers must provide a negative COVID-19 test, taken that same day.
Theatres, operas, concert halls, museums, exhibitions and memorials must close in accordance with the emergency brake.
Berlin Zoo and Tierpark are open but only the outdoor enclosures and visitors must wear medical masks at all times.
Discos and night clubs remain closed.
Cinemas, amusement parks, amusement arcades, casinos, betting shops and similar facilities remain closed.
Primary/Secondary Schools and Kindergartens
School pupils will have a mixture of face-to-face and digital classes with smaller groups.
Kindergardens and daycare centres are restricting services to only the children of essential workers and single-parent households will qualify for emergency childcare.
Vaccinations
Travel from abroad to Germany
All travellers must present to German border control proof of a negative COVID-19 test, taken in their home country no more than 48 hours prior to their departure to Germany.
New arrivals from virus variant areas must be quarantined for 14 days after entry.
New arrivals must self-quarantine for 10 days after entry.
New arrivals can request a test only from day five of their quarantine. If the test result is negative, their quarantine en
Travel within Germany
Everyone should refrain from all non-essential domestic and international travel (note: tourist holidays and/or visiting family in non-emergent situations within Germany are not considered essential).
Ban on overnight stays for tourists: Hotels and accommodation providers are not allowed to offer overnight stays to tourists.
Fines
In the case of repeated violations will result in severe fines.
Yes! In fact, we hope to welcome you to our Berlin campus very soon.
Although the coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption to the way we live our daily lives, the situation in Germany is improving and has been handled positively. In 2020, the German economy only fell by 5% in comparison to the UK’s economy which fell by 10%. In addition, the country has also started vaccinating its population which will hopefully bring an end to COVID-19 measures soon.
BSBI also takes various measures to make sure Campus, Staff and Students are safe while being on BSBI campus. Following measures are taken in consideration in line with Government rules and regulations:
For students/visitors:
For Staff:
If you are studying at our university and have tested positive for Covid-19, please take the following measures immediately:
If you have any questions related to COVID-19, please contact us by e-mail at corona@berlinsbi.com or studentservices@berlinsbi.com
Covid-19: What do I do if I think I might be infected?
If are displaying symptoms and think you may potentially have become infected with COVID-19, please follow the steps below
If you have any questions related to COVID-19, please contact us by e-mail at corona@berlinsbi.com or studentservices@berlinsbi.com
Click below to read about our Protection and Hygiene Concept
Travel to Berlin from abroad
From 8th of November all travellers arriving in Berlin from a location on the Robert Koch Institute’s risk area list must:
1. Inform their local health authority (Gesundheitsamt) of their arrival
2. Quarantine for 10 days minimum
You can request a COVID-19 test from the fifth day of your quarantine. If the test result is negative, their quarantine ends.
To request a test, you will need to contact your local health authority again.
Travel within Germany
• All but non-essential travel is advised against, this includes for touristic purposes.
• Ban on overnight stays for tourists: Hotels and accommodation providers are not allowed to offer overnight stays to tourists, both domestic and international.
‘Corona Warning’ app launched
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s public health institute, has launched the Corona Warning app for Germany. The app will help the country in the fight against COVID-19, much like social distancing, hygiene measures and face masks. The aim is to quickly track and break through potential infection chains.
How does the app work?
The app remembers your encounters with others and sends you a notification when you have had contact with anyone who is infected. However, at no time does it collect information on the identity of its users. User privacy is absolutely protected - who you are and where you are remains anonymous.
Download the app
Travel updates
The EU has named 14 countries whose citizens will be permitted to travel to the EU from Wednesday 1 July - these include: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
China may be added to this list, but this is dependent on confirmation of reciprocity. This list of ‘safe’ countries will be reviewed and updated every two weeks by the German government.
Travel within EU member states and Schengen countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway* and Switzerland) as well as to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City is possible.
All non-essential travel to/from a non-EU country is strongly advised against until Monday 31 August 2020. For anyone who must travel prior to this date, it is highly likely that there will be quarantine measures you must adhere to upon arrival at your destination. BSBI strongly recommends that you check with both the Foreign Ministry of Germany and your country of destination/departure before booking any travel.
BSBI is fully operational and able to service students both in their home country and in Germany. You can join any of our three 2021 intakes: February, May, and October.
BSBI recognises that many countries have been impacted by lockdowns and restricted services to prevent the spread of the virus. This might mean you will not be able to obtain your visa or to fly to Germany. As such, our hybrid learning plan offers students the chance to start their studies online and fly to Germany at a later date once they have obtained their visa.
Alternatively, we offer all students the option to defer to a later intake if they are unable to obtain a visa due to the crisis.
BSBI is still encouraging prospective students to apply to courses as seats numbers are limited for the upcoming intakes. We have several measures in place including intake deferrals and the possibility to start the intake online with our live webinars and academic content. Once the borders are open again we will deliver face-to-face classes as usual.
BSBI regularly updates all students about COVID-19 measures on both the BSBI campus and in berlin via email and via our website to ensure everyone is aware of the actions we are taking. You can visit our website to keep up to date: https://www.berlinsbi.com/information-on-coronavirus-for-students/
BSBI trains its consultants and commercial partners in such as way that we always recommend you communicate with them first. In case further information is needed please contact info@berlinsbi.com.