2G and contact restrictions
It is getting tight for the unvaccinated: Baden-Württemberg tightens corona rules – other federal states want to follow
Baden-Württemberg is tightening the corona containment measures for unvaccinated people – contact restrictions are also coming back into force
© Moritz Frankenberg / Picture Alliance
If you have not yet decided on a corona vaccination, it will be more uncomfortable for you in Baden-Württemberg from Wednesday. Other countries are also planning to tighten containment measures.
In view of the tense corona situation, some federal states are tightening the measures to contain the pandemic. In Baden-Württemberg, stricter rules for people without a corona vaccination will apply from Wednesday. In Bavaria, the cabinet advises on tightening on Wednesday. Saxony wants to introduce the 2G rule (access only vaccinated or recovered) for restaurants and events indoors, for example. This provides for the cornerstones that the cabinet discussed on Tuesday. After a shortened hearing phase, the Saxon cabinet wants to make a final decision on Friday.
2G as the new standard requirement
In Bavaria, among other things, the mask requirement for schoolchildren in class is to be reintroduced and the hospital traffic light as an indicator of the occupancy of the clinics – previously only available nationwide – is to be regionalized. In addition, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has proposed that access to public events in the hotspots should only be allowed for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered (2G). However, the particularly affected municipalities of the state government already came before him.
In Baden-Württemberg, the following applies: Anyone who has not been vaccinated or recovered must now show an expensive PCR test for numerous leisure activities in closed rooms – for example in the restaurant, cinema, swimming pool, museum or in the canteen. The contact restrictions are also returning, at least for the unvaccinated. From now on, meetings are limited to one household and five other people. The reason is the increase in the number of Covid patients in intensive care units.
Discussion about booster vaccination is gaining momentum
The acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) wants to comment on the Corona situation this Wednesday, in particular on the subject of booster vaccinations. The President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, is also expected at a press conference.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) has so far recommended so-called “booster” vaccinations especially for people over 70 and risk groups. The Stiko and doctors’ representatives had advocated on Tuesday that, in accordance with this recommendation, certain groups should first be re-vaccinated to avoid serious and fatal courses. Spahn is in favor of inviting people over 60 to be vaccinated again. He also pointed out that according to the Vaccination Ordinance, everyone is entitled to a booster vaccination.
The Marburger Bund called for booster vaccinations to be offered faster. “We have to speed up the booster vaccinations,” said chairwoman Susanne Johna of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (Wednesday). “The health ministries of the federal states should now inform all people over 70 by letter specifically about the possibility of booster vaccinations,” she said. “You can’t just assume that people already know.”
Prime Minister’s Conference: Necessary or Not?
Meanwhile, several prime ministers rejected the proposal for a new conference of the states with the federal government. Schleswig-Holstein’s head of government Daniel Günther (CDU) told the editorial network Germany (RND / Wednesday): “From a Schleswig-Holstein perspective, I see no need for a federal-state meeting.” The countries have all the necessary instruments in the fight against Corona.
The chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK), Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) from North Rhine-Westphalia, told the German Press Agency on Tuesday that a meeting next week was appropriate. The increase in infection requires “vigilance and decisive action by everyone in the vaccination strategy”.
But Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) also told the RND: “I don’t need a Prime Minister’s Conference because the last one in Bonn made a clear decision.” Based on this, the Federal Ministry of Health should make a recommendation by Wednesday. In addition, it is necessary to wait for the health ministers’ conference that will take place on Thursday and Friday.
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) let the dpa announce via a spokeswoman: “We last talked about the further course of action in the matter of Corona ten days ago.” Since then, there has not been any significant new knowledge. He does not refuse to exchange content, “but then there should also be results”.