In order to break the fourth wave of pandemics, the federal government and the prime ministers decided yesterday to tighten corona measures. Now it is time to implement it: some countries have already adopted the new rules.
Berlin
In Berlin, dancing in the clubs will be banned from the middle of next week due to the sharp increase in the number of new corona infections. The clubs are not yet closed due to legal issues, “but dancing is no longer allowed,” said the head of the Senate Chancellery, Christian Gaebler of the SPD, after a special session of the Senate.
The federal government decided to close clubs with high incidence values above 350, but the legal process is still ongoing, said Gaebler. If the federal government adjusts the laws next week, they will also be discussed again in Berlin. Restaurants and pubs are also allowed to stay open, but there should be new spacing rules and fewer tables.
The new regulations coming into force on Wednesday include contact restrictions for unvaccinated people. Accordingly, the number of participants in private meetings is reduced to two households as soon as an unvaccinated person is there. A lower upper limit for major events was also decided. Only a maximum of 5,000 participants are allowed outdoors, 2,500 in closed rooms. This should also reduce contacts in the vicinity of such events, for example in local transport. A supplementary 3G rule for local public transport was also newly decided, according to which the mask requirement then also applies on platforms. The 2G rule in retail already applies in Berlin.
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia also quickly implements the federal-state resolutions. The 2G rule will apply in retail from tomorrow, Saturday. The only exceptions are shops for daily needs, such as supermarkets or pharmacies, as the State Ministry of Health announced for the updated Corona Protection Ordinance. The shops are responsible for the controls.
The number of spectators at sports, cultural and other major events must generally be reduced to 30 percent of their actual capacity from Saturday. In addition, the total number of spectators outside is capped at a maximum of 15,000, in closed rooms at 5,000. As long as this cap is not exceeded, up to 50 percent of the total capacity can be used. Here, too, only vaccinated and convalescent people have access, who also have to wear medical masks. The regulations for major supra-regional events take effect from 1,000 spectators. Christmas markets can remain open, but from Saturday only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered have access.
Bavaria
From next Wednesday, people who have not been vaccinated in Bavaria will no longer have access to retail stores. You give the companies several days to prepare for the practical implementation and the controls, said Prime Minister Markus Söder in Munich. The CSU boss added that there are exceptions for shops for daily needs, in which all citizens are still allowed. According to the cabinet decision, these include grocers, beverage stores, health food stores, baby specialty stores, pharmacies, medical supply stores, drug stores, opticians and hearing care professionals, gas stations, newspaper sellers, bookstores, flower shops, animal supply stores, animal feed markets, DIY stores and garden centers as well as wholesalers.
In addition, soccer games in Bavaria will initially take place without spectators. This already applies from this Saturday and affects the entire “professional sport for national leagues”, as Söder announced. The home games of Bundesliga soccer club FC Augsburg against VfL Bochum and second division club 1. FC Nürnberg against Holstein Kiel must therefore take place in front of empty stands on Saturday. Until when the regulation applies, Söder did not initially say.
Baden-Wuerttemberg
Those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered will also have to show a negative corona test in Baden-Württemberg in the future when they go to a restaurant. For the gastronomy, the 2G-Plus rule applies, according to government circles. For boosters, however, the test requirement should be dropped. In addition, major events are prohibited. Accordingly, a “hard upper limit” of 750 people will apply to all events such as football matches or cultural and leisure events in the future. This also applies to the Bundesliga soccer clubs VfB Stuttgart and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. All events of any kind should only be allowed to allow a maximum of 50 percent of the possible visitors in the future. The rules should come into force on Saturday. Christmas markets have already been canceled, and the 2G rule in retail is already in place in some cases.
Lower Saxony
Those who have already been boosted will be exempted from the test requirement in Lower Saxony from Saturday. People vaccinated against the coronavirus three times could then visit facilities, companies and events with the 2G-plus rule without a test, said the Ministry of Social Affairs in Hanover. Proof of vaccinations is sufficient. The new rule is intended to help “relieve the heavily used test capacities”. The test obligations for people who have been vaccinated twice will not change for the time being.
The state’s Corona regulation should be changed from next week, but the regulation should, if possible, be implemented throughout Lower Saxony from Saturday. Violations of the mandatory test according to the current ordinance by people vaccinated three times would be tolerated until the amended ordinance came into force, it said. The 2G rule for retail should come in the coming week.
Rhineland-Palatinate
From Saturday onwards, stricter corona rules apply in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the decision of the federal and state governments, 2G will then also apply in retail – i.e. access only for vaccinated and convalescent people. Supermarkets and other shops for daily needs are also excluded here. In the meantime, people who have already received the third booster vaccination are exempt from the obligation to test. This applies to restaurants and fitness studios, for example.
The Rhineland-Palatinate rules for major events are also new. These include concerts, football matches and other sporting events with at least 1000 visitors. However, only a maximum of 30 percent of the capacity may be used both indoors and outdoors. There is also a cap of a maximum of 5000 spectators indoors and 10,000 for outdoor events. The 2G regulation and mask requirement apply.
Unvaccinated people are allowed to meet members of their own household or two other people – one more than previously planned. Children up to the age of 14 are exempt from this. It was also agreed that clubs and discos must be closed if there are high numbers of corona infections due to the risk of infection. This applies at the latest from an incidence of 350. Children up to 12 years and three months are generally excluded from the regulations. For children and young people up to and including 17 years of age, 3G applies everywhere. For church services in closed rooms, the 3G regulation with distance requirement and mask requirement remains.
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt also wants to quickly implement the federal-state resolutions. Since today, Friday, the ministries have been coordinating the new state ordinance with one another, and it should come into force on Monday. In addition to the already existing 2G rules in culture and gastronomy, 2G will then also be introduced in retail – with the exception of shops for everyday needs.
The state government also agreed on contact restrictions for unvaccinated people. There should also be an upper limit for major sporting and cultural events. If the incidence value is over 350 discos should be closed. For private meetings of vaccinated and convalescent people, a participation limit of 50 people indoors and 200 people outdoors will apply in the future. In schools there is a mask requirement for all grade levels.
Brandenburg
Brandenburg faces stricter corona rules, especially at private meetings. “There will be even tougher contact restrictions for those who have not been vaccinated,” announced Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke. “If there is an unvaccinated person there, the number of people who can meet is reduced for those who are vaccinated too.” The plan is that only up to two other people from another household may be present at private indoor or outdoor meetings, when people who have not been vaccinated or who have not recovered are present, up to five previously. Children are excluded, so far in Brandenburg children up to their 12th birthday were excluded. The cabinet is expected to decide on further plans for Brandenburg next Tuesday. The new rules should come into effect by December 16 at the latest. Brandenburg has already introduced the 2G rule for restaurants, theaters and retail.
Schleswig-Holstein
From Saturday, the 2G rule in retail in Schleswig-Holstein will apply. For this group, shopping is then only possible in shops for daily needs, such as supermarkets, drugstores or pharmacies. Further restrictions in the north are to follow in mid-December. Then the number of visitors to major events such as soccer games should be reduced. For tourist overnight stays as well as in discos, clubs and bars, 2G plus should then apply. Only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered are allowed access and they must also have a negative corona test. Then new contact restrictions also apply.
Thuringia
After the federal-state summit, Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow expects only minor adjustments to the currently applicable corona measures in the Free State. The left-wing politician had already declared that a large part of the resolutions had already been implemented in Thuringia. In Thuringia, stricter corona measures have been in place since last week. These include a 2G rule in retail and closed discos, bars and clubs.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
With a clear majority, the state parliament in Schwerin on Friday determined the continued existence of the epidemiological situation and decided to take stricter protective measures to contain the corona pandemic. Public life will also be restricted in large parts if the corona virus continues to spread rapidly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. For example, cinemas, theaters, museums, Christmas markets, tourist offices, swimming pools or dance schools should be closed as soon as the state’s own Corona traffic light shows the red warning level for seven consecutive days. Events indoors and outdoors should generally be prohibited. However, day-care centers and schools should remain open, and club sports should remain possible. The affected economy is promised further aid. The 2G rule in retail has been in place since the middle of the week.
Hamburg
The measures decided by the Prime Minister’s Conference are to come into force in Hamburg from Saturday. These include, for example, the expansion of the 2G rule to include retailers, the reintroduction of the mask requirement at 2G, 2G plus in clubs and other restaurants where people dance, or the contact restriction for those who have not been vaccinated. The Senate had already discussed and decided on Tuesday. At major events, the nationwide rules should apply: a reduction in the number of participants to 30 to 50 percent with an upper limit of 5000 participants indoors and outdoors with a maximum of 15,000 spectators.
Saarland
After a transition period up to the weekend, 2G will also apply in retail from next Monday. This does not apply to grocery stores, drug stores, pharmacies or other shops for daily needs.
To break the fourth wave of corona in Germany, the federal and state governments agreed yesterday, Thursday, on significantly stricter requirements and restrictions nationwide. These range from significant contact restrictions for those who have not been vaccinated and those who have not recovered to 2G regulations for visiting restaurants, cinemas, theaters and other leisure facilities. In addition, a current test – i.e. 2G plus – can be prescribed. Even in shops – with the exception of those for daily needs such as groceries – only those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered now come. This is true regardless of the incidences. The new rules for Bremen are still to be announced.