Countries agree wreath rules for Christmas and New Year’s Eve

State: 8:29 am | Reading time: 3 minutes

FFood, work and school, shopping and dining out: The prime ministers of the federal states agreed broad resolutions before meeting with the federal government on Wednesday.

For many people, the regulations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve are probably the most important: in the period from December 23 to January 1, meetings of a household with non-household members of the household or persons outside the household must be possible for a maximum of ten people. Children up to 14 years old are exempt from the rule.

It is also recommended that German citizens quarantine at home for several days if possible before the Christmas holidays. “This can be supported by a Christmas school vacation starting on December 19, 2020, if necessary,” the draft resolution reads. With self-quarantine, the risk of corona infections in the area around the celebrations should be kept as low as possible.

This call is combined with an appeal to employers. SYou should check if the business premises could be closed for company holidays or a generous home office fix from December 23 to January 1. The goal is to implement the “stay at home” principle across the country.

In regions with significantly more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, a mask requirement must also be applied in the classroom beginning in grade seven. In “special infection hotspots”, that is, areas where the number of infections is even higher, there should be school-specific “additional teaching measures” for the older age groups, with the exception of schools. graduating classes. For example, hybrid lessons are being considered.

Ban on selling fireworks

Prime ministers also commented on the debate over a possible New Year’s Eve fireworks ban. They want to ban the firing of pyrotechnics in public places and busy streets to avoid larger groups.

“The responsible local authorities determine the places and streets affected,” say the states. Basically, it is “recommended” to avoid the New Year’s Eve fireworks at the turn of the year; therefore, the sale is not prohibited.

On the basis of these regulations, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will be consulted on Wednesday, writes the German Press Agency, who claims to have the corresponding draft resolution.

Gastronomy must remain closed

This also includes recommendations for restaurants and retailers. Therefore, restaurants and pubs must remain closed until December 20, but with regional differences: if the so-called seven-day incidence falls below 50 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, countries can open the facilities earlier. “This applies as long as other relevant indicators, such as the utilization of intensive care capacities and the capacity of the public health service to act, do not conflict,” says the newspaper, also citing the Reuters news agency.

On the contrary, a greater adjustment should also be possible at the critical crown points. Wholesale and retail trade will remain open. The mask requirement will be expanded and will also apply in front of retail stores and in parking lots in the future.

Berlin Mayor Michael Müller was confident that the measures agreed by the prime minister to contain corona infections during Wednesday’s deliberations at the Chancellery will be largely and with great unity.

“I do believe that together we will cope very well,” the SPD politician said in the morning magazine ARD on Tuesday. However, there could be two or three changes.