Lockdown extended until March 28: these are the new Corona rules

DThe yearning for more freedom in the Corona crisis is great. The path is shorter for some than for others. How fast it progresses depends on the development of infections in the corresponding country or region.

The federal government and the federal states have defined criteria according to which the federal states must decide on further opening steps. Several countries expressly reserve the right to deviate. When the federal and state governments have not agreed to new regulations, the old resolutions should be used. until March 28 continue applying.

TESTS: Corona’s testing options will be significantly expanded in early April. Everyone should be able to take a free quick trial at least once a week. Those who test positive should be isolated and run a more reliable PCR test. Both tests should be free.

HOME OFFICE: Employers’ obligation to allow their employees to work at home whenever possible will run until April 30.

VACCINES: From the second week of March there should be regulations so that individual doctors in private practice can also vaccinate people against Corona. From the end of March / beginning of April, GPs and specialists must participate and decide the prioritization on site.

What should change when

CONTACTS: Starting March 8, a maximum of five people from two households must be allowed to gather. Couples generally must count as one household. If the incidence falls below 35, gatherings of up to ten people from three households can be allowed. Children up to 14 years are added.

If the 7-day incidence is greater than 100 for three consecutive days, an emergency brake is applied. Then, as of the second following business day, the rules in force until March 7 apply again. That means in this case: a household and another person can meet, excluding children up to 14 years.

LEVEL TWO: After schools and hair salons were opened as of March 1, bookstores, florists and garden centers will now be allowed to open, as well as retail stores for daily necessities (as of March 8). If the store space is larger, more customers are allowed. Such openings already exist in some federal states.

So-called body hugging services, such as massages, will again be allowed. What exactly is meant may differ from country to country. Lessons in driving and flying schools should also start over. Clients must submit a daily rapid test or self-test if they cannot keep the mask at their appointment (for example, for cosmetics or shaving).

Federal states decide on new opening steps

STAGE THREE (from March 8 at the earliest):

– Stable incidence in 7 days of less than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants: Possibility of more openings at the national or regional level in retail stores, museums, galleries, zoos, botanical gardens and memorials. A maximum of 10 people should be allowed to play sports together outdoors without contact.

– Incidence in three consecutive days with more than 50 new infections or stable or declining incidence below 100: Retailers, as well as museums, galleries, zoos, botanical gardens and memorials can schedule appointments for purchases or visits. A maximum of five people from two households can play sports together outdoors. A group of up to twenty is allowed for children up to 14 years old.

+++ Read the full decision here +++

LEVEL FOUR (from March 22 at least): The prerequisite is a 7-day incident that has not deteriorated in the third stage for 14 days.

– Stable incidence below 50 new infections: opening of open-air restaurants, theaters, concert and opera theaters and cinemas. Indoor contactless sport, outdoor contact sport allowed.

– Incidence in three consecutive days with more than 50 or stable incidence or below 100 new infections: opening of open-air restaurants by appointment. A daily Covid-19 test is necessary if multiple households share a table, to visit theaters, concert halls, opera houses and cinemas. The same is true for non-contact indoor sports or outdoor contact sports.

LEVEL FIVE (from April 5 at least): The prerequisite is a 7-day incident that has not deteriorated in stage four for 14 days.

– Stable incidence below 50 new infections: leisure events with up to 50 participants outdoors, contact sports indoors.

– Incidence in three consecutive days if it is higher than 50 or stable or declining incidence below 100 new infections: More opening of retail stores with customer restrictions, indoor non-contact sports, contact sports without mandatory outdoor testing.

There is one for levels three to five, similar to touch control EMERGENCY BREAK: If the 7-day incidence is greater than 100 for three consecutive days, the rules in effect until March 7 apply again from the second business day.

Merkel sees “justified hopes”

Angela Merkel (CDU) sees Germany once again on the threshold of a new phase of the crown pandemic. This phase could not be entered carelessly, “but with justified hopes,” Merkel said after her nine-hour consultations with the heads of state governments in Berlin. Much has been achieved in Germany in recent months. “The spring of 2021 will be different from the spring of a year ago,” Merkel said.

On March 22, Merkel and the prime ministers want to discuss how to proceed. Then it should be about gastronomy, culture, events, travel and hotels.