New measures, including on catering, quarantine and mask use in Germany, are expected to be decided during Chancellor Olaf Soltz’s meeting today with the state prime ministers.
According to the Handelsblatt newspaper, which cites draft decisions of today’s conference, the 2G + rule, which provides for access to restaurants for vaccinated and sick people only after the demonstration of a negative Rapid test 24, is expected to be applied throughout the country from January 15. hours.
To date, 40% of the population in Germany has received a supportive dose.
“We have to limit the contacts again and this concerns especially the interior of the restaurants. “We want more security there (…) Focusing is a problem area, where one sits for a long time without a mask,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach explained to RTL last night.
Reactions are already coming from the opposition, with the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) calling the decision “incomprehensible” and pointing out that in areas ruled by the Social Democrats (SPD), such as Hamburg, there is not enough supply for support. dose of vaccine.
“This is how Olaf Solz kills our restaurants,” said Christoph Plos, a member of the CDU presidency.
On the part of restaurant businessmen, however, Moritz Ludorf, owner of a traditional tavern in Munster, Westphalia, told the Bild newspaper that the 2G + rule is a logical consequence of the current situation with the Omicron variant. “We the restaurants were waiting for it. “Most customers will adapt quickly,” he said.
At the same time, contact restrictions remain in force, with a limit of 10 people for those vaccinated and those admitted to private gatherings. Unvaccinated people are allowed to meet members of one household with up to two people from another household. In both cases, children under the age of 14 are excluded. The 2G rule for cultural and entertainment activities (cinemas, theaters, etc.) and for retail trade remains in force throughout the country, with the exception of shops with basic necessities. The nightclubs are closed from December 28 and no review of the decision is expected.
As far as quarantine is concerned, from now on those who have been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus will be excluded if they have received a booster dose or even a second one recently. The same goes for those who have recovered.
It remains unclear how long those vaccinated with two doses and those who are ill are treated as those who have received the booster dose. For everyone else, quarantine is likely to last ten days.
There is a special arrangement for healthcare workers: quarantine can last for seven days and end with a negative molecular diagnostic test, as long as there are no symptoms for at least 48 hours. “This will be done to maintain the operation of critical infrastructure,” the draft decisions said, noting, among other things, that the Omicron variant would soon be dominant in Germany, which would mean a significant increase in the number of cases and a possible burden on the health system, but also possible serious staff shortages in key areas due to illness or quarantine.
Students in schools and kindergartens can limit quarantine to five days with a molecular test or rapid antigen test, which will be part of the regular check. Exceptions to the rule can only be made if increased measures are applied, such as general use of a protective mask, daily tests, etc.
The draft also mentions the obligation to work from home, where this is possible, and the general recommendation for the use of an FFP-2 type mask in shops and public transport, while it is emphasized that the booster dose offers the best protection against the Omicron variant.
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