Quarantine and contact requirements: The federal and state governments have decided

Friday, January 07, 2022

Quarantine and contact requirements
The federal and state governments have decided

The federal and state governments are adapting the existing rules in the fight against the pandemic in a more homoeopathic manner. The biggest change is the tightening of visits to restaurants. Otherwise they want to wait for the further development.

The federal and state governments have agreed on readjustments in the fight against the corona pandemic. The focus of the recent deliberations was the ever-expanding Omikron variant. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the heads of government of the federal states attested that the measures that have been in effect so far are effective “because the citizens behave responsibly”, as stated in the decision paper. Therefore, “the Omikron variant has not spread as quickly in Germany in the past few weeks” as “was to be expected based on experience in other countries”.

However, the government’s Corona Expert Council is assuming that the “Omikron variant will also prevail in Germany and will soon be dominant across the board,” the paper continues. The seven-day incidence will increase. And even if “infections with the Omikron variant, based on the number of cases, are likely to lead to severe disease courses less often”, a high burden on the hospitals must be assumed due to the simultaneous occurrence of a large number of infected people.

The federal and state governments renewed their goal of having a further 30 million vaccinations by the end of January. Federal Chancellor Scholz of the SPD assured: “If something needs to be done, we act immediately.” Everything that is necessary is done. “There will be no delay.”

The heads of government also reached an agreement following steps:

• Because of the high transferability of the new variant, it is important to wear FFP2 masks in closed rooms and when meeting other people. The use of FFP2 masks is strongly recommended when shopping and in local and long-distance public transport.
• The existing rule that private get-togethers for vaccinated and convalescents with a maximum of ten people is still in place. Unvaccinated and unrecovered people in one household may still meet with a maximum of two people in another household. Children up to the age of 14 are excluded.
• In cultural and leisure facilities (cinemas, theaters, etc.) as well as in retail – except in shops for daily needs – the 2G rule (vaccinated and convalescent) still applies. There are exceptions for people who cannot be vaccinated, for whom there is no vaccination recommendation, and for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age.
• In future, access to gastronomy (restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs, etc.) will only be granted to those who have been vaccinated and recovered with a daily test or who have been boosted. The federal and state governments will strictly control this.
• Indoor clubs and discos remain closed and dance events are prohibited.
• The obligation to work from home remains and should be used more intensively.
• The federal and state governments will ensure a balanced concept for isolating the sick and for quarantining contact persons.
• Fully vaccinated or boosted people are exempt from quarantine, as are those who have recently been vaccinated and those who have recovered. For everyone else, isolation or quarantine ends after ten days. After a proven infection or as a contact person after seven days, you can test yourself free with a PCR or certified antigen rapid test (with evidence).
• Infected employees in hospitals, care facilities and integration assistance facilities can end isolation after seven days with a mandatory PCR test with a negative result if they were previously symptom-free for 48 hours.
• As contact persons, schoolchildren and children in childcare can end the quarantine after five days with a PCR or rapid antigen test, as they are involved in serial test strategies. Exceptions to the quarantine are possible if there is a high level of protection (e.g. daily tests, mask requirement, etc.).

• The vaccination campaign is being continued at full speed.
• The federal and state governments continue to consider a general vaccination requirement to be necessary. The federal states assume that a timetable for the relevant legislation will soon be available.
• The federal government and the federal states continue to pay close attention to the operability of the operators of the critical infrastructures and will regularly exchange information on this.
• The federal and state health ministers should prepare recommendations for hospitals in view of the expected high numbers of infections.
• The federal and state governments emphasize the special importance of art and culture. The federal states are therefore required to give special reasons for any restrictions on the cultural sector.
• Bridging aid IV is coming. It primarily takes material and personnel costs into account in the fixed costs.
• All measures are based on the agreement of uniform national minimum standards; further measures in the federal states remain possible.
• The Federal Chancellor and the heads of government of the federal states will discuss the situation again on January 24th.

Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt also issued protocol statements. The Free State asserts that the resolutions largely lag behind the legal situation that is already in force in Bavaria and some other countries. In addition, the benefits of the 2G plus rule must be carefully examined in the entire catering trade. This has not yet happened. In addition, the Expert Council attached further restrictions to developments that have not yet been met. Saxony-Anhalt also points out that the Expert Council has neither recommended specific measures to restrict contact or access nor given medically reliable advice on shortening isolation or quarantine times.