Federal Council agrees!
Contacts, quarantine and Co. – these are the new Corona rules
© Michael Bihlmayer / Shutterstock
The new omicron variant has also gained the upper hand in Germany – the incidence is currently 470 (as of January 14). The federal and state governments had discussed new corona measures last week – the Bundesrat has now approved the new rules.
In London, soldiers have to help out in the clinics, in New York the subway only runs irregularly. The contagious Omicron variant hits without mercy. In order to maintain basic services in Germany, the federal and state governments discussed new measures in the corona pandemic together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The new rules will apply from the point in time when the federal states have integrated it into their respective state law. The plan was to implement the rules from January 15, 2022.
quarantine
So far, an infection with the omicron variant was subject to a strict quarantine of 14 days, which could not be ended prematurely by a negative test. The federal and state governments have now agreed on new, shortened rules for isolation (of sick people) and quarantine (of contact persons).
Contacts who are either boosted, “freshly” double-vaccinated, vaccinated and recovered, or “freshly” recovered are excluded from quarantine. “Fresh” in this context means that the disease or vaccination must not have been less than three months ago.
For everyone else, the isolation or quarantine ends after ten days without a test. Quarantine and isolation can be ended early after seven days at the earliest – either with a negative PCR or rapid test.
Employees of hospitals, nursing homes and integration assistance facilities must be in quarantine or isolation for seven days. Important: After this time, they must submit a PCR test, and they must be symptom-free for at least 48 hours.
For schoolchildren and children in childcare offers, the quarantine as a contact person can be ended after five days with a rapid PCR or antigen test. Infected people have to be isolated for seven days.
These measures apply regardless of the virus variant that the affected person is suffering from.
contact restrictions
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach had called for stricter rules before the federal-state conference, but the ministers agreed that the existing regulations were sufficient. If everyone is vaccinated, a total of ten people can meet – this regulation applies indoors and outdoors. An unvaccinated person may only meet with their own household and two other people.
gastronomy
The 2G Plus rule will apply across the board in the entire catering industry in Germany. Accordingly, only vaccinated or recovered people with a current test have access. Those who have been boosted are exempt from the test requirement – the rule applies regardless of the incidence.
The financial aid, especially for the gastronomy, will be extended again. The bridging aid IV is now being adjusted again in order to absorb the additional work and costs incurred through stricter controls.
compulsory vaccination
Chancellor Olaf Scholz continued to advocate general vaccination. He got a tailwind from the 16 country heads. There is currently no timetable for how to proceed in this regard. The Bundestag will discuss this in a timely manner, said Scholz.
epidemic situation
The federal states led by the Union had called for the epidemic situation to be determined again in order to be able to implement measures nationwide more quickly. They could not prevail – the epidemic situation of national importance will not be determined again.
masks
At the press conference, it was once again requested that, if possible, only FFP2 masks should be worn in retail and public transport. In the resolution of the federal and state governments, the home office obligation was reminded so that unnecessary journeys in public transport can be prevented.
Sources used: press conference of the federal-state conference, zeit.de, ndr.de, tagesschau.de