Kretschmann lives by the Corona resolutions – SWR Aktuell

After the marathon meeting of the country’s leaders with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) until late at night, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) did not comment on the resolutions. On Tuesday morning, Kretschmann first wants to discuss the next steps with his cabinet. At 12 noon he wants to comment on the results of the conference together with the Minister of Health, Manfred Lucha (Greens).

In joint deliberations, the federal and state governments decided to send the country into the sharpest blockade since the pandemic began a year ago. From April 1 to 5 inclusive, that is, from Holy Thursday to Easter Monday, public, economic and private life will be largely closed. The blockade will last until April 18. So far, the restrictions apply until March 29.

The rest day rule should apply

The rest day regulation must be applied between Holy Thursday and Easter Monday: that means there is no work and supermarkets are also closed, except on Holy Saturday. From April 1 to 5 there is a so-called “extended rest period”: Thursday is also free. Other than grocery stores, everything is supposed to close on Holy Saturday.

Easter: no family gatherings, only virtual church services

For private meetings, a maximum of five people from two households can meet; children up to 14 years old are excluded. Chancellor Merkel justified the decision with the growing number of infections, the third wave must be broken.

Gatherings in public space are generally prohibited during this time, churches should be asked to only conduct Easter services virtually. Ulm dean Ernst-Wilhelm Gohl of the Evangelical Church in Württemberg told SWR on Tuesday that he assumed Easter services would be possible contrary to policy guidelines. Churches weren’t hot spots on Christmas either, Gohl said.

Additional financial aid for companies

Testing is becoming more and more important in schools and daycare centers. Two tests a week for everyone, at employee daycare centers, should soon become the norm. Companies are encouraged to act in a similar way. Businesses have the prospect of additional financial assistance, especially those that are particularly hard hit and affected by prolonged shutdowns. Chancellor Merkel said after deliberations that all of this was necessary because we were in a new pandemic due to genetic changes in the virus.

The emergency brake must be implemented consistently

The deliberations lasted more than eleven hours. It was also decided that if the incidence is greater than 100, the so-called emergency brake should be implemented consistently, with the withdrawal of the flex. There should also be additional measures. Depending on the decision, these may be exit restrictions or stricter regulations for contacts.

Kretschmann for egress restrictions in access point regions

Baden-Württemberg Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) had already discussed exit restrictions for hotspot regions before the conference. It has also questioned whether urban and rural districts could independently decide on openings depending on the incidence or whether this would have to be regulated again at the national level.

According to the resolutions of the federal states, there are no restrictions on daycare centers and

In addition: In the document of the federal and state governments, the adjustments initially foreseen for schools and daycare centers were once again eliminated. Kretschmann had already considered last Friday, in view of the many infections in kindergartens and schools, to change something here as well. It had been discussed that if the incidence exceeded 200 schools and nurseries they would have to be closed. We must also hope that things will turn back and harden, the head of government had said. He wants to comment on the resolutions of the federal and state governments on Tuesday lunchtime.

Baden-Württemberg hoteliers and restaurateurs are not very enthusiastic

Vacations are generally not recommended. When traveling abroad, airlines should be required to test passengers before their flight back to Germany. The airlines want to implement this on a voluntary basis, for example for returnees from Mallorca, even before the corresponding legal regulations.

Hotels and holiday apartments are also closed at Easter. The president of the Schwäbisch Gmünd trade and commerce association, Christof Morawitz, criticized that too little thought has been given to alternatives to closures. In addition, resolutions such as the extended shutdown and the Easter closings are the result of too few vaccinations and testing. He hopes there are prospects for the time after closing: “I would like to see everyone making all the stops in the meantime,” Morawitz told SWR. Martin Hald of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in the Ostalb district said the lack of perspective and the constant wait for the next federal-state meeting was causing problems for hoteliers and restaurateurs.

A rigid blockade, without attendance at religious services: the federal and state governments have decided to impose strict restrictions on Easter days. But there was no agreement on all the measures. In …
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