Corona pandemic: sick leave by phone extended

To minimize the risk of infection, employees can continue to take sick leave by phone or video switch without visiting a doctor. A corresponding special regulation will run until March 31, 2021.

In view of the large number of corona infections, patients with mild colds can sign up for sick leave over the phone without visiting the clinic until well into the new year. The special regulation will run until March 31, 2021, as decided by the Federal Joint Committee of Doctors, Health Insurance Companies and Hospitals. This is to reduce contacts and the risk of infection.

However, doctors would have to personally convince themselves of the state of health “through a detailed telephone interview” and see if a physical examination might be necessary. Sick leave by phone is possible for up to seven days and can be extended by phone for another seven calendar days. Previously, the special regulation was limited to the end of the year.

Fear of contagion

Many patients still avoid going to the doctor because they don’t want to get infected in the waiting room. In this way, infections in the waiting room should be avoided, especially in simple cases of illness. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians had campaigned for the regulation to be extended in winter. The instrument had already considerably eased practice in March and April, during the first wave.