Now states, districts and cities are obliged to adhere to the new regulations of the “Federal Emergency Brake”. This means that if the seven-day incidence exceeds the threshold of 100 on three consecutive days, stricter measures should apply there from the day after the next. These should remain in force until the seven-day incidence falls below the threshold of 100 on five consecutive days, after which the extra conditions will expire on the day after the next.
Because the seven-day incidence values are higher than 100 in many cities and counties, new restrictions now apply in many places. Here is the overview:
- Curfews: You are not allowed to leave your apartment or property between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. – with the exception of emergencies, professional practice, care and support, caring for animals or other important reasons. Jogging and walks are allowed until midnight, but only on your own.
- Contact restrictions: A maximum of one household can meet with one other person. Children up to 14 years do not count. The restriction does not apply to meetings between spouses and civil partners or to exercise custody and access rights. Up to 30 people are allowed to come together for funeral services.
- Retail: For shopping beyond the grocery, drugstore, book and flower trade, the following applies: Customers can only let in shops if they present a negative Corona test and have booked an appointment. If the value rises above 150, only the collection of ordered goods (Click & Collect) would be allowed.
- Schools: New rules also apply to schools. If the seven-day incidence is above 165 for three consecutive days, face-to-face teaching is prohibited from the day after next. Exceptions for graduating classes and special needs schools are possible.
- Culture and zoos: Theaters, operas, concert halls, stages, music clubs, cinemas (except drive-in cinemas), museums, exhibitions and memorials must close, and corresponding events are prohibited. The outdoor areas of zoos and botanical gardens should remain open to visitors with a current negative test.
- Sport: Only contactless individual sport is allowed, which you can do alone, in pairs or with members of your own household. There are exceptions for professional and competitive athletes. For children up to the age of 14, sport should continue to be possible in groups
- Gastronomy: The operation of restaurants and canteens is prohibited. However, there are exceptions, for example, for dining rooms in rehabilitation centers or nursing homes, caring for the homeless or for long-distance drivers. Pick-up of takeaway food and beverages is allowed, as is delivery
- Body-close services: Services that are physically close to the customer are prohibited. Exceptions are services “that serve medical, therapeutic, nursing or pastoral purposes as well as hairdressing and foot care”. As a rule, FFP2 masks or masks with the same protective effect must be worn. Anyone who wants to go to the hairdresser or foot care must show a negative test result that is no more than 24 hours old
- Local and long-distance transport: FFP2-level masks are compulsory for passengers on buses, trains and taxis, medical masks are required for staff with customer contact. If possible, only half of the regular passengers should travel
- Tourism: The rental of tourist accommodation is prohibited.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
–
–
–
This is what the parties criticize:
In the run-up to the entry into force, the new rules were criticized from many sides, in some cases sharply. Business associations, civil rights activists and political parties expressed criticism.
The Green health expert Janosch Dahmen described the measures as “not sufficient”. With an incidence value of 100, the emergency brake would be pulled too late and too hesitantly, and it would have to take effect from the age of 50. “The measures focus too much on private and too little on economic activities,” Dahmen told the dpa news agency.
At the workplace, mandatory tests should be carried out twice a week and this should also be documented, since FFP2 masking is required there. School closings with an incidence of 165 or more are much too late. “With this half-baked law, we will not regain control of the virus.”
The FDP also reiterated its criticism. The planned curfew is a “constitutionally more than problematic measure,” said Secretary General Volker Wissing on Deutschlandfunk. It represents a very serious interference with fundamental rights.
“The law is disproportionate and, in my opinion, therefore unconstitutional and will certainly be attacked before the Federal Constitutional Court.” The FDP will “with high probability” support such a lawsuit. His party will not work with the AfD, “I can rule that out”.
The economy criticizes:
A constitutional complaint is also planning, among other things, an initiative from the economy. After examination by the lawyers under the leadership of the Heuking law firm, nothing stands in the way of a constitutional complaint, said the dealer initiative, which includes Intersport, Rose Bikes, Ernstings Family, Tom Tailor and the ANWR shoe buying association.
A dealer initiative has declared that it wants to appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court about the new infection protection rules.
(Photo: dpa)
–
–
–
–
“The more stringent, directly applicable regulations in the amended Federal Infection Protection Act now offer the opportunity to take action against this extreme discrimination at one point,” says ANWR board member Fritz Terbuyken to the Handelsblatt. “Since many dealers are now concerned with livelihoods, we are ready to take all legal channels,” he emphasizes.
One of the dealers’ main criticisms of the Infection Protection Act is a distortion of competition, as Marcus Diekmann, managing director of Rose Bikes and one of the coordinators of the campaign, told the Handelsblatt. For example, food retailers are allowed to continue selling shoes, clothing or toys, while the relevant specialist retailers have to close.
So it goes on:
The law stipulates that the regulations are initially limited to June 30th. In addition, the federal government can issue stricter regulations by ordinance for areas with a seven-day incidence value of over 100. However, the Bundestag and Bundesrat would have to agree to this.
According to initial reports, the police found violations of exit restrictions in the countries on the first night. The responsible authorities said that fewer cases were registered in Munich than in the previous weeks. Most of the violations were found in apartments.
Even in Saarland, where the police had reported massive violations of the Corona rules last weekend, things remained calm. Even the St. Johann market in Saarbrücken remained empty according to the information. A week earlier, almost 500 people had celebrated there and pelted officials with bottles.
Meanwhile, the federal government is apparently planning to relax people who are already vaccinated against the corona virus. This emerges from a key issues paper agreed within the government on Saturday, which was prepared by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) with the heads of government of the federal states in preparation for the vaccination summit planned this Monday.
The decision-making authority here lies with the federal government. However, the amendment to the Infection Protection Act passed last week stipulated that the Bundestag and Bundesrat must approve such changes.
The paper states that, with regard to entry regulations, access to shops and certain services, people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 and those who have recovered should be given the same exemptions that are negative for the seven-day incidence of over 100 Coronavirus tested apply. However, no relief should be granted when entering from so-called virus variant areas.
According to Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD), anyone who has been vaccinated against the coronavirus should soon be able to return to more normalcy. “If it is certain that a vaccination not only protects against illness, but can also prevent the further transmission of the virus, this must be taken into account in the measures,” Lambrecht told the Handelsblatt. “This is not a privilege for vaccinated people, but a requirement of the constitution.”
More: These are the big five weaknesses of the Infection Protection Act
– .
