By Sebastian Geisler and Soren Haberlandt
After around two and a half years in the pandemic, the federal government is surprisingly and officially giving the all-clear for Corona!
On Friday afternoon, this message popped up on the website of the Federal Office for Population Assistance and Disaster Management: “This is the all-clear for the ‘Coronavirus: Information from the Federal Ministry of Health’ warning of April 7th, 2022 12:30:12 sent by the National Warning Center (DEU, Bund, Bonn1). The warning has been lifted.”
This is “important information” from the Federal Ministry of Health.
But it goes on to say: “The corona virus continues to be a serious threat to your health (…). Even if the nationwide warning is hereby lifted, please continue to observe the recommendations for action given.”
Means: Although there is an all-clear for the warning, we should continue to follow the AHA rules (keep your distance, hygiene, wear an everyday mask). And: We should continue to find out about “the current corona rules and incidences” in the future. Precisely those incidences that no longer play a role in political decisions and measures.
Nevertheless: New Corona regulations come in winter
Last week, the federal government again launched stricter state intervention options for an expected corona wave in autumn and winter!
No more lockdowns and no more curfews – that’s the promise of the traffic light government. And above all the FDP. But the promise can apparently be broken.
Here are the plans approved on August 24:
► A nationwide FFP2 mask requirement on airplanes and long-distance trains. Children between the ages of six and 14 and staff should be able to wear medical masks.
► In clinics and nursing homes, a mask requirement should apply nationwide, where you should also have to prove a negative corona test before entering.
From October 1st until April 7th, the federal states should also be able to order further protection requirements depending on the infection situation. These include:
► Masks are compulsory on local buses and trains and in other publicly accessible indoor areas.
► The federal states should be able to independently impose a test requirement in schools and daycare centers, even a mask requirement for students from class 5 would be possible – although Corona is harmless for most children.
► The countries can decide for themselves whether they allow exemptions from the mask requirement for newly vaccinated and recently recovered people or not.
The federal states could also “ignite” the second stage if the pandemic situation “makes it necessary,” said Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) just under a week ago.
► This makes it possible: upper limits for people in restaurants, pubs and cinemas (if the situation “deteriorates”) or distance requirements (1.5 meters). In addition, the mask requirement could then apply “in principle”, without exceptions.
