(New: Lauterbach, 1st/3rd/6th/10th paragraph)
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Despite the high number of infections, the first nationwide corona protection requirements for millions of people have ended. You no longer need 3G proof that you have been vaccinated, recovered or tested to travel by train with Deutsche Bahn. However, the mask requirement in local and long-distance public transport continues to apply. The obligation to provide 3G access proofs at the workplace has also been abolished – in future companies will be able to define their own protection concepts. There is still broad criticism of the easing course of the traffic light coalition. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) called on the federal states to implement the new legal framework, which allows for stricter requirements, at least regionally, in critical situations.
The 3G rules at work and in transport had been in effect for almost four months. They are now omitted after changes to the Infection Protection Act, which the Bundestag passed on Friday under protest from the federal states. You are still able to set a few general protective requirements in everyday life, such as masks and tests in facilities for vulnerable groups such as nursing homes and clinics. There may be further restrictions for regional “hotspots” if the state parliament determines a particularly critical corona situation for them. All countries want to use a transitional period and maintain the current rules until April 2nd at the latest.
Lauterbach defended the new regulations again. “We cannot continue to limit the liberties of the entire population just because ten percent of those over 60 are not ready to be vaccinated,” he said on Sunday on ARD. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Drr said: “Two years after the start of the first lockdown, we are now returning to normality.” The number of new infections is high. Fortunately, however, there is no risk of the healthcare system being overburdened. This would eliminate the basis for state restrictions on freedom.
The virologist Melanie Brinkmann referred to a currently very high rate of infection in the population on Deutschlandfunk on Saturday. It was exactly “the wrong time to take tools out of the toolbox.” You suddenly have “a toothless tiger” in front of you.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the seven-day incidence fell slightly again on Sunday for the first time after a long increase to 1708.7 – after the record value of 1735.0 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days the previous day. However, the virus continues to spread rapidly in Germany. The health authorities reported 131,792 new cases in one day, and 49 deaths were registered.
Lauterbach admitted that the federal government had made the law for the first time without involving the federal states – but he appealed to them not to react coldly. “Now nobody can, let me say, play the offended liverwurst and don’t make themselves a hotspot where it’s necessary.” In further crisis management, the countries now have to clarify the next steps under time pressure – and resentment is great.
During the transitional period of two weeks, regulations such as further mask requirements in other areas such as shops or schools as well as access rules such as 2G and 3G can remain in place until April 2nd at the latest – but with the exception of contact restrictions or upper limits for participants for events.
During the transitional period, regulations for the time after that must also be in place. And a tricky question is how the countries deal with hotspot regulations. To do this, coalitions must then bring about speedy state parliament resolutions. Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) complained in the “Augsburger Allgemeine” that the law was not practicable. It is not clear how it can be applied and what standards and parameters apply to “hotspots”.
In fact, the federal law makes only vague specifications. Threshold values for when a region is a hotspot are not quantified. The general prerequisite is either that a dangerous virus variant is circulating there – or that there is a risk that the clinic capacities will be overloaded due to a particularly high number of cases. But what does that mean exactly? The seven-day incidence is currently over 1000 in all federal states and over 2000 in five states.
The traffic light coalition also sent different signals about how large hotspot areas can be. FDP parliamentary group leader Drr spoke of the legally secure possibility of adopting more measures “in affected municipalities and districts”. Lauterbach emphasized on ARD that an entire federal state could also be a hotspot. That is not in dispute with Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).
After 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 the new week, FFP2 masks will have to be worn again in public interiors. In the neighboring country, the seven-day incidence is about twice as high as in Germany. In this country, the next step should also follow with another sensitive topic. This Monday, a hearing in the Bundestag will deal with the drafts submitted for general corona vaccination./sam/dot/bg/maa/shy/dul/DP/mis