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Countries fight Merkel with compromise in school dispute: exception rule for Christmas
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What countries demand at the Corona Summit
Extension of the partial blockade and relaxation during Christmas: this is the crown course of the federal and state governments foreseeable for the next few weeks. Heads of country are discussing more crown measures with Chancellor Merkel today.
Private gatherings must be more strictly limited in order to control the corona pandemic. However, the federal and state governments agree on a special practice for Christmas. Merkel makes concessions in the class change debate.
reThe federal states have rejected the federal government’s far-reaching demands for strong equalization of teaching in schools. Based on information from participant groups, the federal-state group determines that hybrid lessons or alternate lessons at Corona hotspots should be possible beginning in the eighth year, but not nationwide.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CD) had urged students and teachers to take more action due to the infections. Some countries insisted on their responsibilities on the video link, which has been running since 2 p.m. They also doubted that schools are a crucial access point or cited organizational difficulties, such as class divisions. North German minister-presidents also point to a drop in the number of infections in their countries.
The federal and state governments also agreed to a new level in pandemic restraint, from which, for example, alternate lessons could be applied. From an incidence of more than 200 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in a week, more stringent restrictions will be introduced. So far, corona measurements have tightened from a seven-day incidence of 35 and 50.
New guidelines for retail
There could be long lines in front of supermarkets before Christmas. Prime ministers and the federal government have also agreed to im retail trade apply a staggered procedure. In stores with more than 800 square meters of sales area, only one person should be allowed for every 20 square meters in the future. Until now it was one person for every 10 square meters. This is reported by various media that cite groups of participants.
For shops with less than 800 square meters of sales area, the previous regulations will be maintained. In detail, the following is planned: up to an area of 800 square meters, there should be no more than one person for every 10 square meters; In the area that exceeds 800 square meters, no more than one person for every 20 square meters.
A general prohibition of New year fireworks should not exist. As reported, federal states and municipalities should ban firecrackers “in busy squares and streets” to avoid larger groups. There is also talk of a recommendation to avoid New Year’s Eve fireworks. Nor should there be public fireworks like at the Brandenburg Gate.
Tighter contact restrictions, exceptions for Christmas
Private meetings must, according to information from the German Press Agency, in December on their own and another household, but in any case to a maximum five people be limited. Children up to 14 years old should be exempt from this. Schleswig-Holstein wants to adhere to its own contact restrictions. Until now, meetings between members of up to two households with a maximum of ten people have been allowed.
about Christmas restrictions will be relaxed, as has already been known. As of December 23, meetings “with the closest family or friends” should be possible, up to a maximum ten people all in all. Associated children up to 14 years of age should be exempt from this.
According to the information of the participants, the exemption should apply “at the latest” until January 1. If this wording is retained, it would not initially be clear whether the easing will eventually apply everywhere on New Year’s Eve.
The start of the Christmas holidays remains controversial
A nationwide extension of the Christmas holidays. The countries propose the beginning of the holidays in the 19. December preferable when this is not the case. Some federal states such as Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia have already anticipated the start of their Christmas holidays. The Chancellor, however, is now ready to begin the national vacation. December 16. The goal: the greatest possible reduction of contacts before the holidays, to prevent infections as much as possible at Christmas. Prime ministers speak of a “self-quarantine”.
Overall, the Chancellor would like to see more changes in school operations in regions with particularly high numbers of infections. For example, a permanent mask requirement should apply there from the seventh grade, including in class. Also, lessons should start staggered in time to equalize the trip to schools.
In keeping with the ideas of the federal government, a more generous testing option for cold symptoms should also be offered before Christmas so that Christmas time encounters are as safe as possible.
