Catalog of measures: These corona rules could come

3G in trains, home office obligation – and contact restrictions for unvaccinated people: the traffic light parties want to improve the corona measures. What is planned, what is not coming? An overview.

What is the starting position?

The corona numbers are increasing rapidly. The total number of infections has passed the five million mark. The seven-day incidence is now more than 300. Nevertheless, the traffic light groups of the SPD, Greens and FDP want to decide that the epidemic emergency should end on November 25th. This legal basis for corona restrictions is to be replaced by a changed Infection Protection Act – with a smaller catalog of corona measures. Further regulations are also planned.

But it was not just since the debate in the Bundestag last week that there has been massive criticism of deciding to end the emergency at precisely these times. At the weekend, among others, three green state health ministers expressed a lack of understanding.

The traffic light parties in Berlin reject the criticism. They justify their approach by saying that they would create legal certainty for all future measures. The traffic light parties now want to improve the individual measures. A draft is available, the SPD, Greens and FDP are now wrestling with formulations.

Which restrictions should remain possible?

The federal states may retain certain restrictions if the relevant state parliament so decides. Such regulations already exist in the Infection Protection Act. The traffic light parties originally wanted to delete this from the new draft law – this is no longer planned. Leisure, cultural and sporting events as Gatherings can be prohibited or restricted, the public alcohol consumption prohibited and Universities getting closed.

Scientists and politicians have repeatedly called for a restriction of contacts. The new agreement now states that Contact restrictions should be included in addition. How this will be implemented in detail is still unclear. However, it should mainly affect the unvaccinated. Greens boss Robert Habeck already spoke of a “lockdown for the unvaccinated”.

What should no longer be possible in the future?

Exit restrictions and Company closures in the hotel and hospitality industry, for example, will no longer be possible, according to the agreement. According to Habeck, there should also not be a comprehensive lockdown without differentiation for vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Is there a compulsory vaccination?

A general compulsory vaccination is apparently not currently planned. However, advise the traffic light parties – according to information from the Green parliamentary group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt – on the introduction of a Compulsory vaccination in certain areas. The move is not part of the reform of the Infection Protection Act, which is to be passed this week, but a separate legislative process. The parties are apparently not in agreement – contrary to what Göring-Eckardt initially said on Monday.

What new rules are there for trains and buses?

In the future, in addition to the mask requirement, in local and long-distance public transport 3G rule apply: “Anyone who uses public transport must either be vaccinated, recovered or tested,” it says. At the beginning of October, the federal government had rejected a 3G rule in buses, trains and long-distance trains. This was “neither legally possible nor practicable,” it said at the time. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said today that the “urgency of the situation” has changed. How this is to be implemented and controlled is still unclear.

However, Deutsche Bahn has already signaled support. The railway will do everything possible to play a constructive role in containing the pandemic in the increasingly worsening corona situation, company circles said. “We will try to work out a solution that can be implemented under the given framework conditions,” said Oliver Wolff, General Manager of the Association of German Transport Companies. However, it must be taken into account that seamless controls are not possible in the open system with millions of passengers.

And what about the obligation to work from home?

Also the Home office compulsory for employees should come back again. The FDP was already open to it. Also one 3G scheme in the workplace should come. How this should look like is still unclear. The Ministry of Labor has not yet been able to elicit any details. If workers had to reveal their vaccination status, there could be data protection conflicts. The unions put the brakes on. And employers are demanding: Those who do not submit a test or proof of vaccination should forego wages. That would be a profound consequence for the unvaccinated.

How long should the measures be limited in time?

So far, March 19 has been the date for the end of the measures. There is now a one-time extension option for a maximum of three months from March.

Is that enough?

The physicist and modeler Viola Priesemann is skeptical that these measures will be sufficient. “What is currently planned, only 2G, 3G in the public sector, that will not be enough to bring the number of cases down,” she said in an expert hearing in the Bundestag. This is due, for example, to the fact that most of the contacts take place in private and that there are connections between vaccinated and unvaccinated people through schools and workplaces. Vaccinations and booster vaccinations are “the sustainable way out of this wave, everything else are transitional measures,” said Priesemann.

What’s next?

The change to the Infection Protection Act was discussed in the Bundestag last Thursday. The change requests must now be introduced. On Thursday of this week it should then be put into the vote. The Federal Council finally meets on Friday.