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As of October 15, 2020 10:08 am
The country’s leaders agreed to more uniform crown rules in Berlin. In Lower Saxony that means more restrictions when there are a large number of cases. No solution: the accommodation ban.
The “resolutions largely confirm Lower Saxony’s course in fighting pandemics,” Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) said after the federal-state summit with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). The country’s 16 leaders agreed on Wednesday more uniform rules for the incidence figures of 35 and 50 new corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants in a week. In essence, it is about the mask requirement, contact restrictions, events and gastronomy. A joint regulation on the accommodation ban for travelers from German risk areas was postponed until November 8. At noon, Weil and his deputy, Economy Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU), want to comment on the Berlin resolutions. NDR.de will broadcast the press conference live on video feed starting at 12.30 pm
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Accommodation ban: FDP and Dehoga fear for the industry
The FDP in the state parliament criticizes this: “Unfortunately, the prime ministers today missed the opportunity to lift the accommodation ban,” said parliamentary group leader Stefan Birkner on Wednesday night. He warned against the measure “which exposes an entire industry to the risk of economic ruin.” The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) also sees the ban as an unjustified radical blow. Supports a hotelier’s standards control complaint to the Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg, as stated by state manager Rainer Balke NDR 1 Lower Saxony. The economy minister, Althusmann, had already announced before the Berlin summit that after the end of the autumn break he would check to what extent the ban had had an effect in the country and if it would still make sense.
Mask requirement also in public, only small celebrations
The Prime Ministers also agreed to the following rules for seven-day incidents of 35 or more or 50 or more infections per 100,000 inhabitants:
- Mask requirement: Mouth and nose protection should also be worn in public places when people are together or huddled together. With an incidence of 50 years or more, the mask requirement could be extended further.
- Contact restrictions and celebrations: Dem According to the resolution, private meetings in apartments should be limited to 15 people in the first stage and 25 people in public spaces. With increasing incidence, only ten party participants should be allowed in both public and private rooms, and guests in private rooms can only come from two households. It is not yet clear whether and how the distance requirement should be met. The state of Lower Saxony wants to work on this in cooperation with municipalities, as a spokeswoman for the state chancellery NDR.de said on Thursday.
- Events: The number of participants should be restricted, from an incidence of 50 to 100 participants.
- Curfew: First, there should be a curfew for restaurants and pubs in the affected district or city, and if the number continues to rise, the curfew should apply from 11pm, including a ban on the sale of alcohol.
The restaurant association hopes to have a “sense of proportion” in the curfew
Especially with a view to a possible curfew, the Dehoga hopes the authorities will understand. “I hope the local authorities act with a sense of proportion,” State Administrator Balke told the NDR. Especially in the phase between 9 pm and midnight, the sale of drinks generates more income for restaurateurs. “If an hour is cut, it will be even more difficult for them to survive,” Balke continued.
How far can contact restrictions go?
Several countries have concerns about contact restrictions. While North Rhine-Westphalia is only planning recommendations here, Lower Saxony wants to examine a regulation first. There are legal concerns about interference with the inviolability of the home.
Weil hopes for a convincing course
Lower Saxony Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) had said before the meeting that he hoped the result would be a course that would convince citizens. “To curb the infection, we rely primarily on citizen participation,” Weil emphasized. Political guidelines and rules cannot replace careful and prudent behavior.
Braunschweig expert warns of loss of control
Michael Meyer-Hermann, head of the system immunology department at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in Braunschweig, had urgently warned against the loss of control over corona infections at the start of the Prime Minister’s Conference at the Federal Chancellery, according to the German Press Agency (dpa). “It’s not five minutes to twelve, but twelve to turn the boat around,” Meyer-Hermann said, according to participants. Germany is on the threshold of exponential growth. Therefore, Meyer-Hermann called on heads of country and Chancellor Merkel to adhere to the mask requirement and enforce it with fines. He also warned against discussions of major events and a shortening of the quarantine period.
Lower Saxony promises aid for artists
Faced with the threat of restrictions, the federal government wants to improve aid measures for sectors particularly affected by the corona pandemic. Meanwhile, Lower Saxony announced on Wednesday that it will support artists and cultural institutions with another ten million euros. The funds will go to cultural workers who also want to apply for financial aid through the federal government’s Corona package of measures, as announced by the Ministry of Science. “Our goal is for small and medium-sized cultural institutions and artists in particular to find their way back to cultural life,” said Science Minister Björn Thümler (CDU).
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Crown in Lower Saxony – current reports
