The corona measures are being tightened in some cases. This includes reducing the number of participants in private gatherings.
Angela Merkel (66) and the prime ministers have decided on new measures to contain the corona pandemic. The Chancellor emphasized that "another effort is required". Some of the existing measures will be tightened from December 1st. Special rules apply on the Christmas holidays and New Year's Eve.
Current measures will be extended
First of all, the resolution states that the measures taken on October 28, 2020 will be extended nationwide until December 20, as a trend reversal in the number of infections has not yet been achieved. The closed companies and facilities therefore remain closed. In particular, the catering industry can still not receive any guests.
Accommodation offers in Germany can also only be made available for necessary and expressly not for tourist purposes. The government particularly advises against tourist trips abroad, also with regard to the ski season. As planned, schools and kindergartens will remain open with the new resolution.
Private meetings
According to the decision paper, private get-togethers with friends, relatives and acquaintances are to be limited to one's own household and to another household, but in any case to a maximum of five people. Children up to 14 years are exempt.
Mask requirement
Furthermore, the mask requirement in public places will be expanded. It applies to all places open to the public in city centers, "where people are either in a confined space or not only temporarily." Wearing mouth and nose protection will therefore also be mandatory in front of retail stores and in parking lots.
Quarantine time
The federal and state governments have agreed on a test-based shortening of the quarantine period due to the large number of rapid antigen tests available. A shorter quarantine period relieves the affected citizens and the health authorities and mitigates the economic consequences. The quarantine time for contact persons – provided that the test result is negative (antigen rapid test) – is therefore shortened from 14 to ten days.
Special regulations on Christmas and New Year's Eve
On the Christmas holidays and also on New Year's Eve, the rules for private get-togethers are relaxed. Meetings with a maximum of ten people are then allowed, regardless of the households involved. Here, too, children up to the age of 14 are not included.
It was also decided that no general ban on fireworks and firecrackers should apply at the turn of the year. It is only "recommended to avoid the New Year's Eve fireworks." However, the use of pyrotechnics in busy squares and streets is prohibited in order to avoid larger groups.