Friday 5th November 2021
Update
FFP2 compulsory in local transport
Saxony will introduce the 2G rule from Monday
In Saxony, the seven-day incidence is well above the national average. In order to slow down the exploding corona numbers, the state is now introducing the 2G rule across the board. This severely restricts access for unvaccinated people.
In view of the increasing number of new infections, Saxony is introducing the 2G rule nationwide. From Monday, only those who have been vaccinated and recovered will have access to the interiors of restaurants and other indoor events, as State Social Minister Petra Köpping said in Dresden. She called the situation in Saxony “dramatic”.
According to the Corona regulation adopted by the state cabinet, which applies until November 25, the 2G model applies to indoor catering, but also for indoor events and celebrations, the cultural and leisure area, discos and bars as well as major events. Employees can continue to work with the rapid test and mask if they are not vaccinated.
So far, 2G – admission only for vaccinated and convalescent people – has been an option model in Saxony. Children and adolescents as well as people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are further exempt from the stricter 2G regulation.
Nursing and old people’s homes will also have an obligation to provide information on vaccination rates to the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. In addition, the controls of the corona measures are to be strengthened in general. According to the decree, at least three control teams must be on the road in each district – with representatives from the police, public order office and health department.
Schools and daycare centers remain open
In the future, FFP2 masks will have to be worn in local public transport and in taxis. Exceptions apply for schoolchildren, they can still wear a medical mask. The aim of the measures is to prevent a lockdown, said Köpping. “We haven’t actually managed to build a protective wall out of vaccinated people in the last few weeks and months.”
In Saxony, the seven-day incidence is currently 385.7 and thus well above the national average of just under 170. Only Thuringia has a slightly higher incidence. In addition, Saxony brings up the rear when it comes to vaccination rates. According to the Robert Koch Institute, 68.5 percent of adults in the Free State are currently vaccinated once and 66.3 percent are fully vaccinated. Nationwide, almost 78 percent of adults received two doses of vaccine.
Regardless of the tightened corona measures, schools and daycare centers should remain open. There is no longer any connection to the congestion in hospitals. “During the pandemic, children repeatedly showed solidarity and had to endure school and daycare closings,” said Minister of Education Christian Piwarz. Now it is “time for adults to show solidarity,” he added. Previously, when the overload level was reached, the pupils of all secondary schools had to automatically switch to alternate classes.
Overload level expected next week
Köpping expects that the overload level will already be reached on November 10th or 11th – when 1,300 normal beds or 420 intensive care beds are occupied with corona patients in hospitals or a hospitalization value of 12.0 is reached. The value indicates how many corona patients per 100,000 inhabitants were admitted to the hospital within a week.
The regional tourism association had previously criticized a mandatory 2G rule and instead called for the 3G rule to be retained with an option for 2G. The tourism experts warned of a new slump in sales in the hospitality industry and a further escalation of the already tense workforce and skilled labor situation.
In view of the rapidly increasing number of infections, according to a report, the introduction of a 2G rule is also being discussed in Berlin. State Secretary for Health Martin Matz said on Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg that this would be an option to get the pandemic under control. In the coming days it must be discussed “whether we can, for example, only open events to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered”.