Further restrictions are also possible for regional “hotspots” beyond March 20th.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Despite the extremely high number of infections, including a record incidence on Saturday, the first nationwide corona protection requirements will no longer apply this Sunday. The Bundestag decided on Friday to make corresponding changes to the Infection Protection Act.
Passengers can again use local and long-distance public transport without 3G proof (vaccinated, recovered or tested). However, masks are still compulsory on buses and trains. The 3G rule also applies to on-board catering. The legal obligation for 3G access proofs at the workplace has now also been lifted. In the future, companies should be able to assess the risk situation themselves and define protective measures in company hygiene concepts. There are also no longer upper limits for participants for events and contact restrictions.
The federal states can maintain some rules for a transitional period of two weeks. By April 2nd at the latest, most of the other measures will also cease to apply, including the obligation to wear a mask in shops and schools and access rules such as 2G and 3G.
The new regulations implemented by the traffic light coalition have met with broad, cross-party criticism from the federal states and local authorities. Because they will soon only allow the countries a few general specifications for masks and tests in facilities for vulnerable groups such as clinics and nursing homes.
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The renewed Infection Protection Act also allows for more extensive restrictions for regional “hotspots”, but the state parliament must specifically determine the particularly critical corona situation on site.
Most access restrictions fall on Sunday.
(Photo: dpa)
Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) also complains that the new law is not practicable. It is not clear how it can be applied and what standards and parameters apply to “hotspots”, he told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. North Rhine-Westphalia’s department head Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) called the easing at WDR 5 “irresponsible”. A mask requirement indoors beyond April 2 would be “absolutely right”.
City Day President Markus Lewe expects a patchwork of regulations. “It is quite likely that the law will have to be corrected again soon,” he also told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
>>Read also: Home office, mask requirement, 3G – which measures will apply after March 20th and which will not
The virologist Melanie Brinkmann said on Deutschlandfunk that you suddenly had “a toothless tiger” in front of you. There is currently a very high incidence of infection in the population. Therefore, it was exactly “the wrong time to take tools out of the toolbox.” Brinkmann expressed “complete incomprehension” that one of the most important and least stressful measures – wearing a mask – was being significantly restricted.
FDP leader Christian Lindner defended the law again. It is “responsible” and finds the right balance between individual and state health protection, said the Federal Finance Minister of the “Augsburger Allgemeine”.
“However, there cannot be a mask requirement forever”
There are calls for a nationwide mask requirement, especially for shops. In the future, however, this will only be possible if countries specify it regionally for hotspot areas. The general manager of the German trade association, Stefan Genth, told the “Passauer Neue Presse” when asked whether the industry could live with the continuation of the obligation to wear a mask: “Whoever puts it on protects themselves and others.” Many would have liked them used to, even when shopping. “However, there cannot be a mask requirement forever.”
Several countries in Europe have largely abolished corona rules. Austria is tightening the reins again due to the sharp increase in the number of infections. From the middle of next week, FFP2 masks will have to be worn in public interiors again, as Health Minister Johannes Rauch announced on Friday evening. In the neighboring country, the seven-day incidence is about twice as high as in Germany.
In Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), it continued to rise to the highest value of 1735.0 on Saturday – but on Sunday it fell again for the first time after a long increase. The vaccination rate continues to decrease. According to the RKI, at least 60,000 doses were injected on Friday, compared to 94,334 vaccinations on Friday last week.
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