The Prime Minister started consultations with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Friday in order to coordinate stricter measures to contain the highly contagious Corona variant Omikron. A preliminary draft resolution is on the table, which among other things provides for a joint regulation on 2G plus in the core area of gastronomy. The discussion paper also contains an urgent recommendation to wear FFP2 masks in local public transport and retail.
The Bund-Länder-Round meets for the first time this year. The chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU), expects nationwide uniform regulations against the Omikron wave. He also urges the planned corona vaccination to be implemented quickly.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported an increase in the official nationwide seven-day incidence this morning. It stated the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week as 303.4. The value has been increasing from day to day since the end of December, although the RKI continues to assume that new infections will be under-recorded due to fewer tests and reports during the holidays and vacations.
According to the responsible state authorities, Omikron is now the predominant virus variant in several federal states. Corona requirements are already being tightened regionally.
Advice is given, among other things, about higher access thresholds for gastronomy: those who have recovered or have been vaccinated who have not yet had a booster vaccination will therefore need an additional current test for the restaurant or café in the future, if the submission is so decided. According to the paper, such a step could be implemented nationwide regardless of the incidence.
In addition, a loosening of the quarantine rules is up for debate in order to avoid too many staff absences – especially in important supply areas. (dpa)