From Friday, the drastic rules of the crown will apply in Frankfurt

The number of corona infections is skyrocketing. The new restrictions for Frankfurt residents will initially apply for ten days.

10pm curfew, alcohol ban in public places and parks, as well as a mask requirement on busy shopping streets like Zeil or Neue Kräme – Frankfurt is trying to cope with the growing number of infections with hard cuts. First, they are running from next Friday until Sunday next week, Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) said Tuesday afternoon when presenting the package that the crisis team had decided that morning.

The curfew affects restaurants, bars, pubs. But not cinemas, private gatherings or public events like the book fair. The alcohol ban is primarily intended to curb open-air parties, in which most young people tend to be careless from a certain level, the mayor explained. On Thursday it will be decided where exactly the mask requirement should be applied in public spaces, as well as other details about the new rules.

A mask requirement in high schools has yet to be decided. “I could well imagine that,” Feldmann said. One thing is already for sure: the chin visor, which is becoming more and more popular but completely ineffective in terms of protection against infections, should not replace the protection of the mouth and nose.

In the crisis team’s opinion, it is also necessary to review the hygiene concept for the “Autumn in the city” event. If this is unsuccessful, it may need to be postponed, Feldmann said. The restrictions are “very tightly in sync” with neighboring cities, especially Offenbach. Not least, the uniform rules strengthened public acceptance, added health department chief Stefan Majer (Greens), who also briefed state personnel on the decisions. The police and law enforcement office are responsible for verifying the new rules.

The decision to cut back was not easy

The cut decision was not easy for everyone involved, Majer said. “These are measures that clearly intervene in the lives of many Frankfurt citizens.” But the current infection situation leaves decision makers with no other option, Feldmann said. “We don’t get popular with him, but there is no other way.” Without them, there would be the risk that nurseries and schools would have to close again, and that economic and public life would once again be paralyzed. “That is the price we pay to avoid a lockdown.” It’s at least about slowing down the numbers. Also so that there are no capacity bottlenecks in healthcare, from which Frankfurt is currently a long way off. The head of the health department, René Gottschalk, confirmed that it was possible to protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the chronically ill.

Unlike spring, current infections are usually mild. Only seven patients would have to be treated in intensive care units, said the infectologist and deputy director of the health department, Antoni Walczok. Authorities employees are busy seven days a week following up the contact persons of people who tested positive as soon as possible. “This is a huge challenge and we are continually training new staff.”

Majer remembered how the infection process moved slowly. Last weekend, shared accommodation for refugees, the homeless and Eastern Europeans was the hotspot. Two-thirds of infections now fall in the “general population.” The infections occurred in sports clubs, restaurants, and hygiene regulations were ignored when transporting employees. After a second outbreak in a religious community, the city is forced to enforce the mask requirement there by regulation. “Volunteer work doesn’t work in all areas.” Majer praised the football clubs Eintracht and FSV. Its concept of hygiene is “very sophisticated”.

The new rules are not a surprise. By Monday, the numbers had soared to 48.5 new infections per 100,000 residents in seven consecutive days. Frankfurt is located shortly before the warning level 4 (red) of the Hesse climbing concept, the city reports and immediately announced the first restrictions: an upper limit of 25 guests applies for private parties in rented rooms, a maximum of ten for private parties.