Shopping street in Düsseldorf in mid-February: end of measures in sight.
(Photo: imago images/Michael Gstettenbauer)
Berlin Shortly before the planned relaxation of the Infection Protection Act, the number of new corona infections continues to shoot up. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported a nationwide seven-day incidence above the threshold of 1600 for the first time on Wednesday.
Nevertheless, the SPD, Greens and FDP want to discuss a slimmed-down infection protection law for the first time in the Bundestag and pass it on Friday. It is intended to significantly reduce the legally possible corona measures of the federal states. In addition, the measures for employees and employers are to be relaxed by a new occupational health and safety ordinance.
The overview of the most important changes:
Basic protection, transition and hotspot rule
The new Infection Protection Act allows the federal states to continue to take basic protection measures such as compulsory testing and masks to protect vulnerable groups. Otherwise, however, it generally provides for relaxation. However, one thing is clear: March 20th will not be a Freedom Day, because in many places even stricter rules apply for the time being.
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Stricter measures apply in federal states, for example, which are extending their current corona rules, with the exception of capacity and contact restrictions, until April 2nd at the latest. This allows the transitional rule provided for in the draft law. Most federal states want to make generous use of this. Brandenburg, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony and other states have already announced the step
>> Read more here: Countries are postponing the easing of corona – and are causing a noise in the traffic lights
Regions particularly affected by the corona situation can declare themselves a hotspot and thus also implement stricter measures beyond April 2nd (see below). There are no more precise criteria for this – such as a hospitalization rate or the number of new infections. There are also different interpretations as to whether the rule covers cities and municipalities or entire federal states. What is clear, however, is that capacity and contact restrictions, for example at major events, will be eliminated without exception.
Mask requirement
After March 20, the mask requirement should only apply in a few areas such as local and long-distance transport and to protect vulnerable groups. These include nursing homes, clinics, medical practices, day clinics and, for example, in facilities for outpatient surgery. In countries that make use of the transition or hotspot rule, the mask requirement can still apply in shops, restaurants and schools.
However, the federal states take very different approaches here. Bavaria, for example, announced that it would abolish the obligation to wear a mask in class, first in elementary schools and later for older age groups. In countries like Berlin and Baden-Württemberg, however, the mask requirement will remain in schools for the time being. North Rhine-Westphalia also wants to stick to it. Rhineland-Palatinate, on the other hand, has already abolished the obligation to wear masks in primary schools, but wants to keep them in secondary classes until the beginning of April.
testing obligation
After March 20th, compulsory testing at institutions such as schools, clinics, prisons, nursing homes and detention centers awaiting deportation is still possible. How often a test has to be presented here is handled differently by the federal states – similar to the mask requirement.
3G and 2G rule
After March 20, the basic protection measures no longer provide for access restrictions under the 2G and 3G rules. This means that restaurants, events and shops will be able to enter visitors again in the future without showing proof of vaccination, recovery or a test.
In the future, federal states will only be allowed to apply these restrictions in hotspot regions – and precisely where the applicable corona rules will be extended beyond March 20th. However, the 2G and 3G rules have already been relaxed. At the beginning of March, for example, the access restrictions for the retail trade were completely eliminated, the 3G rule currently applies in the catering trade, and clubs are also allowed to open again with the 2G plus rule.
At work
In the future, employers should assess the risk of the virus themselves and define appropriate measures in a company hygiene concept. Employers should also take regional infection rates into account.
According to a draft law, they should then check whether they offer employees a corona test per week, whether they provide protective masks and whether employees should work from home. In the future, companies should also decide for themselves on protective measures such as distance and hygiene rules or the obligation to wear a mask. The previous measures will no longer apply on March 19th.
Employers are currently still obliged to offer tests in their companies at least twice a week. Where other measures do not provide sufficient protection, there is currently also a mask requirement. In addition to these rules, company 3G regulations apply, according to which employees must carry proof of vaccinations, convalescence or test certificates. Home office offer is mandatory if it is possible due to the type of work.
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