After widespread criticism: the Berlin Senate decides an exception for children under 12 years of age

After widespread criticism of the 2G option model, the Berlin Senate added an exception for children under the age of 12. As the Senate Health Administration announced on Wednesday afternoon, children can now also take part in events that are otherwise only intended for people who have been vaccinated against Corona and have recovered.

Health Senator Dilek Kalayci (SPD) tweeted on Wednesday: “We have taken the concerns brought to us very seriously and acted quickly.” Children from the age of six must therefore show a negative corona test, unless they are tested regularly while attending school. This can be the case during the holidays, for example.

It was only on Tuesday that the Senate decided that, starting next Saturday, operators in a number of areas will be able to decide for themselves whether they will allow access to interior rooms like those who have been vaccinated, recovered and tested (3G) or, for example, eliminating the mask requirement and with more participants only vaccinated and tested (2G). There is still no exception to the 2G rule for people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

The 2G rule with more freedom for vaccinated and recovered people should not apply to essential things in everyday life. Basic supply areas such as retail, the right of assembly, but also elections and church services are excluded from the 2G model, emphasized Kalayci.

Kalayci had emphasized in a press conference on Tuesday that there would be no exceptions to the 2G regulation for children under 12 years of age. No vaccine has yet been approved for this age group. Objections came from the coalition partners and from their own party, among others. For example, SPD top candidate Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs Ramona Pop (Greens) and Senator for Culture Klaus Leder (left) called for a change.

2G as an option is in principle okay, but children under twelve and their families should not be massively disadvantaged in their participation in social life, they argued. Coalition circles said that the Senate had not formally voted on the issue. Rather – and this is common with many topics – the Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) summarized the debate in the round, which was supported.

The opposition assesses the 2G option model differently. CDU top candidate and country chief Kai Wegner considers the model to be “fundamentally desirable in order to further curb the infection process.

AfD parliamentary group leader Georg Pazdersk rejects the 2G option decision. “The price is paid by the city’s citizens with further economic restrictions, confusing and complicated regulations and the associated ongoing curtailment of their freedom,” he said.

The FDP health specialist Florian Kluckert noted: “We cannot prevent a bar owner or restaurant operator from only granting access to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.” But it looks as if the Senate is striving for a “mandatory vaccination through the back door”.

Broadcast: evening show, September 15, 2021, 7:30 p.m.