Corona Summit with Merkel: some more points of contention



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At the start of the Crown’s summit at the Chancellery there are still some points of contention. For example, the question of stricter requirements for retailers or relaxation on New Year’s Eve. Bavaria has clear ideas here.

In principle, the course of the crown has been set by the federal and state governments for the winter months, but there are still some controversial points, which probably could not be resolved in advance. This applies, for example, to additional requirements for retail stores, the start of the Christmas holidays, and the use of schools at hotspots. The question of whether the planned relaxation for Christmas should apply to New Year’s Eve as well is controversial.

However, what is clear is that people in Germany will have to be prepared for stricter requirements in December, especially when it comes to the number of contacts. Merkel and the heads of country have been arguing by videoconference since 2 pm The discussions are expected to last into the evening. At the summit, “there was no thought” of relaxation, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet said in the morning in view of the continued high number of infections.

Relaxation also on New Year’s Eve?

The upper round is presented with a draft resolution that was agreed the night before between Chancellor Helge Braun and the state chancelleries of the federal states. It is indisputable that the current partial lockdown will last until at least December 20. Contact restrictions are also likely to be tightened: only a maximum of five people from two households should be allowed to gather; Children under the age of 14 are not counted. Only Schleswig-Holstein wants to withdraw and stick to the currently applicable contact rules.

Some more personal encounters should be allowed across the country on Christmas days. With a maximum of ten people, it should be done. To what extent that relaxation also applies on New Year’s Eve is still a matter of controversy. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder came out in favor of strict contact restrictions, even on New Year’s Eve, unlike most countries striving. “Because Christmas is the family holiday, New Year’s Eve is, of course, more the friend’s holiday,” he said. ARD morning magazine. I would rather be more consistent at the turn of the year than at Christmas.

It is also unclear whether restaurants and hotels will be allowed to reopen during the holidays and the turn of the year. However, presumably they should remain closed: the bill states that “comprehensive restrictions will also be required beyond the turn of the year.”

Previous Christmas holidays

The start of the Christmas holidays will be largely uniformly regulated this year due to the corona pandemic. They are supposed to start on December 19. By starting the holidays the weekend before the holidays, contacts before Christmas should be reduced as much as possible, according to the draft. Only Bremen and Thuringia want to establish individual regulations for the start of the holidays.

Bavaria wants a “hotspot strategy”

Bavaria is also pushing for stricter measures for critical points in the crown. For areas that are particularly affected, there must be “clearer rules.” “We need a hotspot strategy,” he demanded. “We need masks in schools, for students, but also for teachers.” Additionally, at critical points, especially in earlier grades, there should be a transition to an alternative teaching model to reduce the density of school operations.

The Chancellery also called for stricter requirements for schools in hotspot regions. However, Merkel was initially unable to enforce this proposal at the previous meeting on November 16. School policy is a state matter, the federal government can only make suggestions.

NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet again promoted classroom instruction. “The kitchen table at home in a two- or three-bedroom apartment is not the best place to learn. The best place to learn is school,” said the CDU politician.

The subject of schools should be the subject of debate again today.


The ARD morning magazine reported on this topic on November 25, 2020 at 8:32 am


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