Monday 15th November 2021
Contact restrictions possible
Traffic light adds to the Infection Protection Act
The epidemic expires on November 25th, but what comes after that? There is criticism of the future plans of the future traffic light government to combat pandemics. Now the coalitionists are sharpening. Among other things, the 3G rule is to be introduced in public transport.
The possible coalition partners SPD, Greens and FDP have agreed on a significant tightening of the planned amendment to the Infection Protection Act. In view of the dramatically increasing number of corona infections, it should now also be possible to order contact restrictions, as can be seen from an agreement between representatives of the three parliamentary groups that is available to the German Press Agency. It is about unvaccinated people, as Greens boss Robert Habeck had previously indicated in the ARD. In addition, unvaccinated people should no longer be allowed to use buses and trains without a negative test – regardless of the mask requirement that continues to apply.
“The possibility of being able to order contact restrictions in private and in public space is to be added to the catalog of measures,” agreed the partners who want to form a government in the future. Without this tightening of the previous plans, contact restrictions would no longer be possible after the legal status of the national epidemic situation expired on November 25th.
However, the three coalition-forming parties are sticking to the plan to end this special status. However, by resolution of their respective Landtag, the federal states should be able to retain certain individual measures, including, for example: the prohibition or restriction of leisure, cultural and sporting events as well as assemblies, entry bans in health facilities, alcohol bans and the closure of universities, for example.
There should no longer be exit restrictions
The states should no longer be able to impose exit or travel restrictions. They are also deprived of the opportunity to restrict or prohibit the practice of sports as well as the operation of trade, commerce, restaurants and hotels.
“In this way, on the one hand, regionally different infection processes can be combated in a very targeted manner, on the other hand, we are shifting responsibility there from the executive back to the parliaments,” it was said to explain. In the future, in addition to the mask requirement, a 3G rule will apply in local and long-distance public transport: “Anyone who uses public transport must either be vaccinated, recovered or tested,” says the agreement.
As previously planned, the measures are to apply until March 19, 2022. In addition, there is now a one-time extension option: “The Bundestag is authorized to extend the validity of the regulations by a maximum of three months by March 19, 2022 by means of a resolution.”
The amendment to the Infection Protection Act has already been introduced in the Bundestag. The hearing of experts, which is part of the legislative process, is scheduled for this Monday. Parliament is due to vote on Thursday. Numerous critics, especially from science, but also state health ministers of the potential coalition partner Greens had criticized in the last few days that the traffic light partners had planned to completely exclude contact restrictions.