These are the new Corona rules

The Bundestag passed the new Infection Protection Act on Thursday in the face of massive criticism from the opposition.
Here is an overview of the new regulations.

The mask remains an indispensable companion in Germany. Although they want “harmonization with Europe”, this only applies to flights.

Boris Roessler / DPA

While all measures have been lifted in Switzerland, Germany is starting the third Corona autumn with a new infection protection law. It was decided by the Bundestag on Thursday. The previous law expires at the end of the month, so that the new regulation must be in place by then. Time was of the essence, because the Federal Council still has to agree, which is expected to happen on September 16th.

The decision was preceded by weeks of dispute, since the liberals in the traffic light coalition in particular wanted as few measures as possible. The Social Democratic Health Minister Karl Lauterbach was satisfied on Thursday: “I think we have never been so well prepared for an autumn as this time,” said Lauterbach, who was pretty much the only one wearing a mask in the plenum. The opposition was expectedly dissatisfied with the draft law, but not only they, but also individual members of the Liberals had announced that they would refuse to vote for the draft.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, the incidence in Germany was 223 on Thursday. In Switzerland it was 167 and in Sweden 45, even though both countries behave dangerously according to German logic: they no longer have any measures. Below is an overview of the new rules in Germany.

What will apply from October regarding the mask requirement?

Masks are no longer compulsory on airplanes, but the federal government is authorized to introduce them by ordinance if the situation worsens. Masks are still compulsory on trains. All persons over the age of 14 must wear FFP-2 on buses and trains, for younger children a simple surgical mask is sufficient. Many in the plenum doubted that the air circulation in airplanes was actually better than on the train, and it was also speculated that the lifting of the mask requirement was a consequence of the unfortunate event maskless Canada flight of the Federal Chancellor. Lauterbach admitted: “Some flights had to be canceled because the flight attendants could not enforce the mask requirement.”

School lessons will initially take place without masks. However, the federal states can make masks compulsory from the fifth grade if they consider it necessary to maintain face-to-face operations. This is mainly thanks to the FDP, which would have preferred to have completely freed the students from masks. “If there is one group that has suffered particularly during the pandemic, it is the schoolchildren,” said Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann during the 70-minute debate in Parliament.

In addition, there is a nationwide obligation until April 7th to wear an FFP-2 mask in clinics, nursing homes and medical practices. “We’re going from the surgical mask to the FFP-2 mask, does that make sense?” Lauterbach asked rhetorically and answered himself: “Yes, because with the more harmless variants such as BA 2.75 or BA 5 only the FFP-2 are effective – Masks are safe because these variants are more contagious. »

What about corona tests?

Tests remain mandatory in addition to masks for everyone entering care homes and clinics. The federal states may create their own regulations on mandatory tests, including in schools.

What about vaccinations?

The coronavirus vaccination regulation will be extended until the end of the year. This means that citizens are still entitled to be vaccinated free of charge. With an intensified vaccination campaign, the aim is to get as many people as possible to do so. Pharmacists, dentists and veterinarians may administer vaccinations until April 30, 2023; this period was extended with the new law.

Employees in clinics and nursing homes must continue to be vaccinated. Union and AfD unsuccessfully demanded the abolition of this obligation.

Germany has so far taken measures without a reliable data basis. Has anything changed?

In the third year of the pandemic, Germany still does not have the right data. Test behavior, late registrations and transmission problems make any evaluation difficult. The deficit has been recognized for a long time and should be remedied.

All PCR test results will be recorded in the future, including negative ones. The “positive rate” determined in this way provides an important indicator for assessing the epidemic situation, on the basis of which recommendations for measures and political decisions can be made, according to the justification for the draft law.

A new recording method should not only record the number of corona cases on a daily basis, but also the bed capacities in the hospitals. In addition, the viral load is to be monitored more closely via wastewater monitoring in order to identify swelling waves of disease at an early stage. “In the past we had little data, but fixed values, this time we have a lot of data, but work without fixed values, that will be better,” said Lauterbach in the plenary session.

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