Germany is loosening up. With the highly controversial Infection Protection Act passed on Friday, almost all corona restrictions will fall from this Sunday – actually. Because even before the vote in the Bundestag, the Bavarian state government had announced that it would continue to maintain numerous corona regulations such as the obligation to wear masks indoors and 2-G regulations or 2-G plus regulations. For many in the district of Munich, too, the measures decided in Berlin go too far, but there are also voices, even from medicine, who are happy about it and are calling for an end to all measures. The SZ asked around.
Eva-Maria Stadler, head of the Champini day care center in Unterschleißheim: “I very much welcome the easing, because I see it from our children’s point of view. They have lost a lot in the last two years. It is important that in future they can scurry through the daycare center more freely and do not have to remain rigid in their groups and with that always meeting the same kids at set times. The kids have gotten so used to the rules by now that if one of the kids doesn’t wash their hands after coming in from outside, they’ll accuse each other. To be honest, I think that’s terrible. As for the implementation When it comes to the easing, it will be stressful for us again. We usually only get new regulations on Friday afternoon, and this was the case this time too. Together with our sponsors, we then have to write everything down over the weekend, plan it and answer questions. I hope that Documentary madness is finally over and I can do what I’m employed to do again: take care of children.”
Ayinger landlady Angela Inselkammer demands as much entrepreneurial freedom as possible.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
Angela Inselkammer, innkeeper from Aying and President of the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Association: “I don’t think the two weeks are decisive. It is important that we now find a permanent way out of the pandemic. In terms of regulations, Bavaria must not be an island within Germany and Germany must not be an island within Europe. Everyone knows how he can protect himself. There are also enough vaccination offers. Now it is finally time to strengthen our personal responsibility again. Only virologists or aerosol researchers can judge to what extent the mask requirement is still proportionate and appropriate. For us as restaurateurs, the most important thing is the permanent reduction in VAT on food, including drinks. This allows the companies to gradually free themselves from the crisis on their own. Otherwise, my wish would be for as many entrepreneurial freedoms as possible to be given back to us as quickly as possible.”
Jan Steinbach, head of the Lore Malsch retirement home in Hohenbrunn: “We already had a strong omicron wave here. Despite all protective measures and all attempts to contain the virus. Based on this experience, I think it is thin ice to loosen at a peak of this wave. We have to remain cautious. But that doesn’t mean “I like these restrictions. The situation is totally ambivalent. We’re tired and we’re all tired of restricting ourselves – including me. But the virus doesn’t care what we want. We have to manage the balancing act to relax and still not be careless For our nursing home, this means that masks and tests remain mandatory. And we will continue to make sure that there are not five people in one room at once – even if that is no longer a requirement.”
Gerhard Bieber, Head of Communications at Johanniter Unfallhilfe in the district of Munich: “We are still in high demand with our test sites in the Munich district. When the tests became chargeable last year, it was predicted that capacities would collapse, but that was not the case. Nevertheless, it is very difficult for us to predict what it will be will have an impact if the requirements are lifted. We are nevertheless expanding our offers and will, for example, also be offering so-called NAT tests, i.e. nucleic acid tests, for 20 days in April in our test station in Ottobrunn near the Phönixbad we as Johanniter don’t want to position ourselves there. I can only say that we have been using FFP2 masks in our rescue service for years and have always had very good experiences with them. FFFP2 masks are simply very, very good protection against infection.”
Entrepreneur Christoph Höhler urges caution.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
Christoph Höhler, entrepreneur from Kirchheim and head of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for the district of Munich: “Basically, I say that you need an exit strategy, a clear plan for finding your way back to normal life. But I miss this plan. At the moment I think the picture is too indifferent to open up completely. In my company we will like many other colleagues, I continue to look at it more conservatively. My employees are tested every day before they come to the company. But with the new regulations, I should no longer be able to ask an employee whether they have been vaccinated. But measures such as keeping your distance, wearing a mask and testing is so important. And I also have employees who are still brutally scared. They need to be protected, as well as colleagues with elderly family members and young children. It’s about the vulnerable.”
For an end to the mask requirement: the Unterschleißheim doctor Friedrich Kiener.
(Photo: Florian Peljak)
Friedrich Kiener, general practitioner from Unterschleißheim: “Yes, the number of infections is higher than ever before, and that would have caused the greatest panic earlier. But we also see that the course of the disease is now very mild. That’s why I very much regret that Bayern is again unable to make a decision I think we should now do without a tool like the mask requirement. If we look to England, we see that the abolition has not led to new waves there. The majority of people want to lead a normal life again. And Covid no longer leads to great physical stress, but more to mental ones. We don’t have a ban on getting sick in Germany. That’s why we should rely more on people’s personal responsibility again.”