At the weekend, new extended measures apply in Lippe to lower the incidence value for the district. The measures are ordered by a general ruling. District Administrator Dr. Axel Lehmann explains: “The main goal is to avoid contacts that the virus lives on and to protect people who are particularly at risk. The Lippe district is a hotspot with an incidence rate of over 300, but the cause for this is not the one hotspot in the district, but there are many cases in combination with individual larger foci of infection in old people’s and nursing homes. We have also ordered preventive measures for daycare centers and schools and meetings of religious communities. “
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The current situation in the Lippe district
The high number of cases has so far resulted from the test strategy of the Lippe district. If there is a positive case in a family, the Lippe district has so far tested all family members in order to be able to identify further contact persons in the event of further positive cases. Many other circles know that family members, on the other hand, are not tested. This increases the number of cases shown in the statistics. “The incidence has risen over 120 points within a week. We want to come down from high numbers, our package of measures should make this possible ”, the district administrator looks at the incidence number.
Anomalies in the number of infected people occur where several people come together in one place and the necessary protection rules are not adhered to. Naturally, this is also the case where people move in a larger family group or maintain many contacts with other people. In Lippe, there is still a widely distributed infection process with around 37 affected care facilities or coronary cases in connection with over 40 schools and daycare centers. There are currently no hotspots at the schools and daycare centers; there are larger foci of infection in individual facilities of the elderly and care facility, with cases among the residents and staff.
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The extended protective measures in Lippe:
In addition to the Corona Protection Ordinance, further restrictions in the public and private areas of the district will apply in the Lippe district from Saturday, December 12th, 12 midnight:
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General restrictions, meetings, exit restrictions
Meetings and gatherings in public spaces of more than 2 people are prohibited with exceptions.
When Exit restriction it was decided that home accommodation between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (on New Year’s Eve / New Year’s Eve from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.) only with good reason, such as going to school, going out with the dog, going to work, daycare and going to Doctor, for the support of needy or the accompaniment of the dying, may be left.
The Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public space is prohibited.
From an incidence value of over 350 A maximum of 5 people (children under 14 years of age do not count) from two households may meet in the private room. Professional, official and voluntary activities in corporations and institutions under public law, in which the cooperation of several people is mandatory, are still allowed.
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Church services, meetings of religious communities
Singing along in events and gatherings for the practice of religion as well as funeral services in closed rooms should be avoided. The practice of religion through prayer or confession is still possible with an everyday mask and voice at room volume. Singing in the open air is allowed with a distance of two meters between the participants and wearing an everyday mask.
Religious communities must adapt the hygiene regulations: an area of 7 square meters per visitor, a minimum distance of 1.5 meters (except for people in a household) and the requirement to wear a mask during the entire meeting, including at the seat.
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Protection of care facilities against the entry of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, taking into account the right to participation and social contact of people in need of care
All employees of the care facility must undergo a rapid corona test at regular intervals, at least twice a week. All visitors of residents in inpatient care facilities are obliged to wear at least one protective mask of protection class FFP-2 (without valve) during their stay. An exception applies to people who are unable to wear a mask for health reasons.
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Adaptation of the regulations for the operation of the schools in the district area
The Lippe district has put the protective measures for schools in a separate general decree:
All schools are obliged to revise the existing hygiene concepts – individually tailored to local conditions – immediately, at the latest by the start of lessons after the 2020/2021 winter holidays. The district of Lippe urgently recommends including the concept presented by the district for the regulation of the classroom taking into account the local infection occurrence.
School swimming pools and sports halls will be closed. Furthermore, the implementation of swimming lessons in other swimming pools and fun pools is prohibited. This does not apply to examination-relevant courses in school-leaving classes.
3rd and 4th grade pupils in primary schools are obliged to wear an everyday mask if they are not in their seat.
Furthermore, it is mandatory to wear a face-to-face mask (everyday mask) for 3rd and 4th grade pupils who take part in all-day care outside the seat.
In addition, it is mandatory to wear a face-to-face mask (everyday mask) within a radius of 150 meters around all schools (elementary, secondary, secondary, comprehensive schools, grammar schools, vocational colleges, special needs schools, etc.) on school days from 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Those interested can find the zones mentioned on the Lippe district’s homepage.
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Timeline for the implementation of extended measures
The process of ordering the extended measures had a long lead in Lippe. “General directives must be legally watertight. The coordination of the measures with the mayors of Lippe is necessary because their public order offices have to monitor compliance with the rules. I would also have liked to have coordinated with the ministries more quickly. The extended mask requirement was an intermediate step that we took to reduce infections in the coming weeks, regardless of the 200 threshold. The results are reflected in the statistics two to three weeks later, ”explains the district administrator.
According to §16 Corona Protection Ordinance, the district administrator can order further protective measures beyond the Corona Protection Ordinance in the case of incidence values over 200. This must be done in agreement with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MAGS). The Lippe district maintains a trusting relationship with its 16 cities and municipalities. Therefore, on November 30th, the district administrator agreed with the mayors of Lippe to take further measures for Lippe. In a first step, the general decree of December 4 stipulated an expanded obligation to wear mouth and nose protection, especially in city centers.
On December 1st, the circle took up contact with MAGS. Since the incidence value of the Lippe district was below 200 at that time, the MAGS saw no need for action. On Friday, December 4, the incidence value was 206.6. A report to the MAGS was made immediately and an appointment for Wednesday was agreed on Monday to agree on the measures. From the discussion in the mayors’ conference on December 8th, coordinated proposals could be placed in the conference call. After the final vote on the general decree, the agreed protective measures will come into force on Saturday.
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