Potsdam (dpa / bb) – Shortly before the start of the drastic easing of the Corona rules in Thuringia, Brandenburg also set the course for this. From next Monday – around three months after the first restrictions – the focus will no longer be on bans, but on distance and hygiene rules, announced Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) on Friday in Potsdam. The contact restriction for two households or up to ten people is no longer applicable. There are further relaxations for demonstrations, gatherings and hospital visits. “It is a big step that we are taking here,” said the head of government. This step was urgently expected by the population, but it brings new responsibility.
IT’S EASIER AGAIN:
Public and private events can again take place from June 15 with up to 1000 people. These include church services and concerts. There is no longer an upper limit for demonstrations, but the minimum distance must be maintained and access controlled. In closed rooms, attention must be paid to fresh air, participants must be recorded. There is no curfew in restaurants and cafés between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. In hospitals and nursing homes, two visitors instead of just one are possible until July 15. Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) said: “Now we are as good as back to normal.” But the danger has not yet been averted.
As announced, the daycare centers are to open for all children from Monday, while the schools will return to normal classes from August 10th after the summer holidays. In schools and daycare centers, the minimum distance does not apply, just not between teachers. For this, hygiene rules such as hand washing must be observed. Up until now, day-care centers and schools have been visited at least on a daily basis.
The new regulation, which initially applies until August 16, has a new motto: Instead of bans, it is primarily about the minimum distance of 1.5 meters – except for partners and members of the own household – and hygiene rules. There is also a risk of fines between 50 and 10,000 euros.
THAT IS EXPANDED: The obligation to wear mouth and nose protection from the age of six is extended from public buses and trains and retail to hospitals, nursing homes, coaches and boat trips.
THAT’S NOT YET: Large events with more than 1000 people are initially banned until the end of August. Clubs, discos, steam saunas and brothels are currently still closed.
CORONA TESTS: Health Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) announced the offer for teachers and educators to be tested every two weeks for three months. One percent of all schoolchildren and daycare children should be examined in random samples at the same rate. In nursing homes, one percent of employees and residents are to be randomly tested every two weeks for three months. The goal: to identify infected people without symptoms, protect vulnerable groups and prevent major restrictions. Regular tests for symptoms and direct contact with infected people continue.
REACTIONS: The League of Independent Welfare Care welcomed the fact that visits to nursing homes in Brandenburg are being made easier, but at the same time expressed concern. The facilities would have to provide distance and hygiene rules, the specific access depends on staff and rooms.
THURINGIA: The state government in Erfurt decided on Tuesday to replace the bans with recommendations. It is important that “people’s private living environment should normalize as much as possible,” argued Health Minister Heike Werner (Linke). The contact limit there falls on Saturday, but there are still recommendations. Brandenburg and Thuringia – like the other eastern states too – have significantly fewer proven corona infected people in terms of population than Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg, for example.
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