Federal-state consultations: These are the corona rules for autumn

Everyday life becomes more complicated for the unvaccinated. The “3G rule” will apply in future – others will have to stay outside. With these rules, the federal and state governments want to increase the vaccination rate. The resolutions at a glance.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the prime ministers of the federal states have agreed on a further roadmap in the fight against the corona pandemic. The declared goal: to win more people for vaccinations – and to avert a new lockdown.

What will happen to the free trials?

Unvaccinated people have to have corona tests from October 11th usually pay yourself. For people who cannot be vaccinated and for whom there is no general vaccination recommendation, there should still be free rapid antigen tests. This applies in particular to pregnant women, children and young people under the age of 18. The federal and state governments justify the end of free tests with the fact that all citizens can now be offered a vaccination.

The federal government has been funding at least one quick test per week for all citizens since March, which cost more than three billion euros. In the future, a “reasonable price” will have to be paid by oneself, the government had previously stated. For orientation: For test providers, the remuneration was reduced to 11.50 euros for material costs and the test acceptance as of July 1st.

What is the “3G Rule”?

In certain indoor spaces, this applies at the latest from August 23 uniformly the “3G rule”: It is only allowed to go in if you have been vaccinated, recovered or have recently tested negative. Anyone who is neither fully vaccinated nor fully recovered must present a negative rapid antigen test no older than 24 hours – or a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours. This does not apply to children up to the age of six and students who are regularly tested as part of a mandatory school protection concept.

Where does the test obligation apply?

Tests should be a prerequisite for access to Hospitals, old people’s and nursing homes as well as facilities for the disabled, also for the Indoor catering, Indoor events, church services, at hair stylist also for Gyms, Swimming pools or sports halls. at Accommodations a test should be mandatory upon arrival and then twice a week.

The federal states can suspend the “3G rule” if the infection rate remains stable. Specifically: as long as the seven-day incidence in a district is stable less than 35 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants or other indicators such as hospital occupancy reflect a comparably low incidence of infections and an increase in the number of infections is not to be expected as a result of the suspension of the regulations.

What applies to those who have been vaccinated and who have recovered?

Vaccinated and convalescents are “exempted from federal or state regulations that provide for test requirements,” says the decision. Also one Quarantine obligation This is no longer required for these groups of people, even if they are returning to Germany from a high-risk area.

What about vaccinations?

The federal and state governments are urgently appealing, now easily accessible everywhere Vaccination opportunities to accept – as soon as possible. employer are called upon to support their employees in this, for example through vaccination offers from company doctors and leave for vaccination appointments. “If you want to have complete vaccination protection in autumn, you have to start vaccinating now,” says the decision. 45.8 million people or 55.1 percent of the population are fully vaccinated. However, given the more contagious Delta virus variant, that is not yet enough for basic protection for the whole of society. The promised vaccination offer for everyone in the summer is given according to the federal government – but the vaccination rate is slowing down.

Does the mask requirement remain?

Yes. The basic protection with distance, hygiene and mask requirement should remain. In public transport and at shopping Medical protective masks (OP or FFP2) should continue to be “mandatory”. This should be checked every four weeks. However, Saxony had already lifted the mask requirement when shopping with a low incidence.

What applies to celebrations and events?

Restrictions like a limited number of participants for clubs and parties are still possible, hygiene concepts must be presented. In Football stadiums and for sporting events with more than 5,000 spectators, a maximum of half of the seats in the venue or stadium should be occupied. The maximum number of spectators should be 25,000.

Does the seven-day incidence remain crucial?

In the federal-state resolution, the number of hospital admissions due to Covid-19 is described as an “important parameter for assessing the infection rate”. It is also emphasized that the federal and state governments “use all indicators, especially the Incidence, the Vaccination rate and the number of severe disease courses as well as the resulting burden on the health system “in order to adjust the corona measures if necessary. However, the heads of government did not set any binding values.

What will happen to the “epidemic emergency”?

It should stay for now. As the legal basis for the “measures to be taken” in the fight against the corona pandemic, the determination of the emergency by the Bundestag is “still necessary”, according to the federal-state resolution. The Bundestag should “the epidemic situation of national scope” extend beyond September 11, 2021. This is linked to a number of anti-corona measures that the authorities can adopt in the fight against the pandemic.

What will happen to the economic aid?

They keep flowing. The Bridging Aid III Plus, which has been running until the end of September, as well as the facilitation of access to short-time work allowance are to be implemented extended until the end of the year become. Both are central government instruments worth billions to cushion the effects of the pandemic on jobs and companies. A new feature is a “restart bonus”, with which companies can receive a higher subsidy for personnel costs – if, for example, they bring staff back from short-time work or hire new ones.