quarantine

Martina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants.From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

A quarantine strictly isolates people who (possibly) have contracted a dangerous infectious disease. Officially, authorities such as the health department order such isolation. However, some people also voluntarily choose quarantine or self-isolation. Here you can find out what a (voluntary) quarantine or self-isolation means, how to endure being "locked in" and what the legal situation regarding quarantine looks like!

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. U07A98A20

What is a quarantine?

Quarantine is the immediate, strict and temporary isolation of people who have (potentially) become infected with a disease that can be transmitted from person to person. This is to prevent the spread of a dangerous infectious disease.

Health authorities or other competent authorities usually order a quarantine. The legal basis for this in Germany is the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). How long a quarantine lasts usually depends on the incubation period. This is the time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms.

Quarantine is often carried out in a hospital (e.g. in its own quarantine station) or in a facility suitable for the disease. Mobile isolation wards (e.g. quarantine tents) are sometimes used in emergency and crisis situations. The medical staff who care for and look after those affected must protect themselves from infection through strict protective measures - such as wearing a quarantine suit.

In the event of a local disease outbreak, for example, an entire district or a valley can be quarantined. All people in this quarantine zone must then adhere to the officially ordered measures and rules.

Quarantine: for which diseases?

According to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), quarantine in the event of pneumonic plague as well as hemorrhagic fever that can be transmitted from person to person (such as Ebola) is provided - both with a confirmed diagnosis and with a mere suspicion of disease.

But also in the case of other highly contagious and directly transmitted infectious diseases such as Covid-19, the isolation of (potentially) contagious people can be officially ordered. The IfSG also speaks of segregation here. It is possible with sick people, people who are suspected of being infected or infected, as well as germs. However, the latter are only separated out if they do not follow, cannot or would not follow other protective measures. Then germ separators are a danger to others.

According to the IfSG, excretors are people who excrete pathogens without being sick or suspected of being sick themselves. Some do this during the incubation period (incubation eliminators), others during recovery (convalescent eliminators) and still others more than three months after their healing and sometimes even for life (permanent eliminators).

Quarantine on animals or plants

There are also quarantine regulations for animals and plants. They count as preventive measures along with other regulations. These rules are intended to prevent a certain disease (e.g. rabies) or a plant pest from being introduced into a country.

So if you want to enter a country with a dog, for example, a rabies vaccination and, if necessary, a rabies antibody test (blood test) may be required for the animal. The same can apply if you want to bring a dog from a non-EU country to the European Union or if you want to re-enter the European Union (e.g. Germany) after a vacation trip with your dog to another EU country.

Find out in advance exactly the necessary entry requirements for animals you are taking with you (e.g. at the customs office). If these are not met, it can happen that your animal is quarantined for several months - at your expense. In other cases, if the entry requirements are not met, the animal may be sent back to its country of origin (if it is to be newly imported into the EU) or the animal may even be euthanized. You would then have to pay for that too.

Domestic quarantine

In some cases, the competent authorities can also order quarantine or isolation in your own home or other non-medical buildings. A well-known example: the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Domestic quarantine for Covid-19

You have to go into quarantine at home (more precisely: domestic isolation) if you have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, but have no or only minor symptoms and therefore do not need any hospital treatment. Secretion at home is also ordered if there is a high risk that you have become infected with the pathogen. This applies, for example, if you have had close contact with a person in the last 14 days who can be shown to be infected with Sars-CoV-2. "Close contact" means, for example, that you have spoken to this person personally for at least 15 minutes (face-to-face contact) or have been coughed or sneezed on by them.

This is how home quarantine or isolation works:

Do not leave your home or receive visitors.
You and the other members of your household should wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap for at least 20 seconds. In addition, adhere to the coughing and sneezing rules (i.e. use a disposable handkerchief or cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow and turn away from others, then wash your hands).
It is best to use disposable cloths to dry your hands.
In individual cases, after consulting a doctor, the use of a hand disinfectant can also be useful.
Do not put your hands around your face, especially your nose, mouth, or eyes.
Regularly ventilate all kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living rooms.
Do not share dishes and laundry with other people in the same household until they have been cleaned as usual.
Avoid close physical contact and keep other household members at least 1.5 to two meters away.
You and the rest of your household should stay in different rooms or, if possible, only use the same room at different times (e.g. for meals).
Wear a face-to-face mask if you have to be in the same room with other members of the household. They should also put on a mask.
Regularly clean surfaces and objects with which you come into contact (door handles, light switches, etc.) - after consultation with a doctor, possibly also with a surface disinfectant.
Use your own garbage bag, which you keep in the hospital room until disposal.
Wash your clothes, bed linen and bath linen at at least 60 degrees Celsius and with a normal household detergent
If you live alone: Let neighbors, friends or relatives get you groceries and other necessary items and leave them in front of your door. If necessary, you can also ask the fire brigade, the technical relief organization or volunteers in your community for support.
If you urgently need medication or medical treatment because of another illness (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure), contact your general practitioner or treating specialist.
Do you have a dog? Then ask neighbors, relatives or friends to take him for a walk on a regular basis.
Measure your body temperature twice a day and note down any symptoms of the illness. Also write down who you have had personal contact with recently.
Inform the health department if you develop a cough, fever, difficulty breathing, or feel very sick.
Follow the further instructions of the health department.

How long does the domestic quarantine or isolation last?

The health department will inform you when your quarantine or isolation will be lifted again. Usually:

If you tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 and also had symptoms, your domestic secretion will not be lifted until 14 after the onset of the illness at the earliest. Prerequisite: There have been no more signs of illness for at least 48 hours or these have improved over the long term. In addition, an up-to-date rapid antigen test (better a PCR test if the disease is severe) must be negative.
You were Sars-CoV-2 positive at the beginning of the isolation, but did not develop any symptoms during the entire period of isolation? Then discharge is possible no earlier than 14 days after the first detection of the pathogen - here too, provided that an acute rapid antigen test is negative.
Close contacts of an infected person must also be in quarantine at home for 14 days, calculated from the last day on which they had contact with the infected person. Again, a current negative antigen rapid test is a prerequisite for release from quarantine.

In individual cases, the responsible health authority may deviate from these general guidelines. In addition, special regulations apply to certain groups of people with regard to the duration of quarantine or isolation at home - for example for people with immune disorders and residents of elderly care facilities.

You can also be infected with the novel coronavirus and be contagious to others if you have no symptoms of illness (asymptomatic infection)!

Self-quarantine

Often you have closer contact with people who may, but not for sure, have Covid-19 or another contagious disease. For example, if you have sat next to someone for a long time or have hugged and kissed someone who develops coughing, breathing difficulties and other symptoms of infection in the hours afterwards, you could possibly have infected yourself with the novel coronavirus. In order to protect your fellow human beings, it can then make sense that you put yourself in self-quarantine.

Avoid direct contact with other people during this time if possible (with the exception of people who live in your household if they have also been quarantined). For example, ask friends, relatives, neighbors or volunteers to buy everything you need and to leave them in front of your door. And consistently adhere to the recommended hygiene rules (hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing rules).

If the potential Covid-19 patient with whom you have had close contact can give you the all-clear thanks to a negative corona test, you can of course end the self-quarantine. If the test of your friend / acquaintance is positive, you are considered the contact person - the competent authority can then order your home quarantine.

If you develop possible signs of Covid-19 during the self-quarantine, report your suspicions immediately to the responsible authorities (family doctor, health department) and remain in isolation until further instructions are given.

Quarantine upon entry

In some cases, authorities order a quarantine for returnees and travelers, in other cases it is only a recommendation to self-quarantine. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and the health authorities have the relevant information ready for Germany.

With regard to Sars-CoV-2, the following applies: Anyone who has stayed in a country classified as a risk area within the last ten days prior to entry must go into quarantine at home. The classification of the federal states is carried out by the Foreign Office (AA), the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs (BMI) and is regularly checked. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) provides an overview of which countries are currently considered to be Sars-CoV-2 risk areas. Currently (as of May 14, 2021) these are, for example, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Estonia and Sri Lanka.

Self-isolation

Do you have symptoms that could indicate Covid-19? Then notify your family doctor or the health department and immediately isolate yourself from other people (at least until a negative test result is available).

The recommendations are the same as for an ordered quarantine. If your symptoms worsen, get medical help quickly.

But self-isolation is not only an important means with Covid-19. In the case of other dangerous infectious diseases, too, acting responsibly in the sense of seclusion prevents the pathogens from spreading quickly.

Tips for quarantine and isolation

A (voluntary) quarantine or isolation over a longer period of time puts many people under psychological and emotional stress. If you and possibly your children are one of them, the following tips can help you to cope better with the exceptional situation:

Quarantine or isolation can be scary and challenging, especially for children. Explain the situation to your offspring in an age-appropriate manner. Try to convey calm and confidence.
Make sure you have a reliable daily structure with fixed times to get up, eat and sleep - for you and your children. Fixed times for homework are also important for schoolchildren. Don't forget to take small breaks in between.
Pay attention to (continue to) eat a healthy diet - those who have to spend day and night at home frustrated or bored often turn to sweets or greasy or salty snacks. Some also seek consolation or escape in alcohol - so keep an eye on your alcohol consumption. Even better: do without wine, beer, etc. at all!
Those who are "locked up" at home often tend to spend a large part of the time in front of the television or computer. Media consumption should, however, remain within limits - both for you and your children. Pay attention to age-appropriate, reputable media offers and sources of information (e.g. on the current Covid-19 situation) with the youngsters.
Adequate exercise is equally important for body, mind and soul - for you as well as for your children. So stay active on a regular basis within your own four walls (and possibly in your own garden), for example with the help of fitness or dance videos from the Internet or through exercise and ball games. You can also find suggestions for the latter on the Internet.
Also, keep moving mentally, especially if you cannot challenge your head in the home office. For example, try reading, (creative) writing, puzzles or (thinking) games.
Relaxation exercises are particularly recommended when there is tension and anxiety. You can find lots of suggestions and instructions on the Internet, for example for breathing exercises, meditations, autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation. (Age-appropriate) relaxation exercises can also help children.
Maintain your social relationships with relatives and friends through phone calls or social media. Make it possible for your children to keep in touch with friends and family in this way.
If you or your family have fears, worries, frustration or conflicts, then do not hesitate to seek help by telephone in quarantine - for example from relatives, the family doctor, the telephone counseling or other crisis services. You can find information on suitable contact points on the Internet (for example on the homepage of your municipality or city).

Quarantine legal information

An officially ordered quarantine must be obeyed. The competent authority controls compliance with the quarantine measures. Anyone who violates this must expect a fine or imprisonment!

If you as an employee are affected by an official measure such as an activity ban or quarantine, you may be entitled to remuneration against your employer. You can find more information on this topic on the homepage of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (see below: Further information).

Additional information

Robert Koch Institute: Information sheet for those affected (contact persons) - Coronavirus infection and quarantine at home (as of October 23, 2020)
Federal Center for Health Education: Coronavirus - Quarantine and Isolation (Status: May 12, 2021)
Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and the Federal Center for Health Education: Coronavirus Sars CoV-2 - Rules and recommendations for quarantine at home (as of: November 17, 2020)
Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs: Information on Corona - Answers to labor law questions (as of November 26, 2020)

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