Friday, January 07, 2022
The 2G-plus rule comes into play in gastronomy
Federal and state governments defuse quarantine rules
The federal-state summit agrees on new corona measures. For example, 2G-plus rules are to apply in restaurants and pubs in the future. In addition, the regulations for quarantine and isolation are being renewed – this also includes protecting the critical infrastructure.
The federal and state governments want to prepare Germany for the expected spread of the Omikron variant with new corona measures. Omikron will keep Germany busy for a long time, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz after a video conference with the 16 prime ministers of the federal states. The all-clear cannot yet be given. The number of infections would continue to rise, also with an increasing number of patients in the hospitals, said the SPD politician. The next federal-state summit is planned for the end of January.
The heads of government therefore agreed to ease the rules for corona quarantine. Accordingly, the quarantine for contact persons and the isolation of infected people should be shortened and simplified. So far, quarantine and isolation can apply for up to 14 days, depending on the virus variant, vaccination and recovery status. When it comes to omicrons, for example, there are no exceptions for those who have been vaccinated.
In the future, contact persons who already have a booster should be exempt from quarantine. For all others, isolation or quarantine should generally end after ten days.
Infected and contact persons should be able to “test themselves” after seven days by means of a PCR test or a certified rapid antigen test with evidence. This should also ensure the ability to work in the critical infrastructure, for example in the health sector, police or fire department.
In addition, a 2G-plus rule should apply nationwide in restaurants, cafes and pubs in the future, regardless of the Corona numbers. According to a federal-state decision, vaccinated and convalescent people must present a daily negative corona test or a booster vaccination in order to gain access. This does not apply to people with a booster vaccination.
Criticism from Bavaria
Chancellor Scholz defends the project. “It’s a strict rule,” he says. “But it is necessary that helps (…) that we can control the infections better than we are now.”
Criticism of the 2G-Plus regulation in the catering trade came from Bavaria. Prime Minister Markus Söder was “skeptical” as to whether the rule makes sense. In Bavaria, unlike in other federal states, bars, pubs and discos have been closed for a long time, said the CSU boss in Munich after the Prime Minister’s Conference. During the deliberations, he had unsuccessfully pushed for such a more consistent regulation.
He asked himself whether 2G-Plus would make sense in normal gastronomy beyond discos and bars. “We are very, very cautious and skeptical,” said Söder. The Bavarian Minister of Health will examine whether this regulation is necessary in the Free State. Söder called the federal-state consultations an “interim report”. There are still many scientific questions unanswered, especially about the Omicron variant. It is a matter of making decisions based on scientific knowledge and “legally appropriate”.