Lockdown 2.0: These rules apply from December 16th

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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The "lockdown light" has not brought the hoped-for turnaround - the number of corona cases is even increasing again. Now, even before Christmas, tougher measures will be necessary. Read here what the federal and state governments have decided.

To break the wave, from Wednesday 16.12. close shops nationwide. There are exceptions for grocery stores, drug stores and other shops for everyday needs. Service companies in the field of personal care such as hairdressing salons and cosmetic studios will also be closed. Medically necessary treatments such as physiotherapy remain possible.

From December 16 to January 10, contacts in schools are also to be significantly restricted - whether in the form of closings, digital lessons or switching support.

Long-term strategy required

Opposition politicians and some experts are calling again to quickly develop a strategy for dealing with the pandemic in the long term.The Hamburg virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit said on Sunday evening in an ARD "Extra": "A lockdown is of course not a sustainable strategy." He primarily advocates sustainable concepts for schools and childcare End January 10th.

Politicians also warned against a run on the shopping streets on Monday and Tuesday - the last two days with open shops. The corona infection numbers are too high for that, warned Chancellery Minister Helge Braun on Sunday evening on ARD.

The measures at a glance

The recommendations were discussed and approved by the federal government and the federal states on Sunday. How the exact implementation takes place remains a matter for the country.

Schools and day-care centers: The draft recommends significant contact restrictions at schools and day-care centers. “During this time, children should be cared for at home whenever possible. For this reason, the schools are generally closed during this period or the compulsory attendance is suspended. Emergency care is guaranteed and distance learning is offered, ”it says.

If possible, additional opportunities should be created for parents to be able to take paid leave to look after their children during the period mentioned.

Work: Employers are generally asked to “check” whether either company holidays or generous home office solutions are possible during the lockdown period.

Retail: Food retailers, weekly markets and direct marketers for groceries, pick-up and delivery services, beverage stores, health food stores, pharmacies, medical supply stores, drug stores, opticians, hearing aid acousticians, petrol stations, car and bicycle workshops, banks and savings banks, post offices, dry cleaners, laundromats should be left open , Newspaper outlets, pet stores, feed markets, wholesale and Christmas tree sales.

The sale of non-food products in food retailing that cannot be allocated to daily needs can also be restricted and may not be expanded under any circumstances.

The sale of fireworks before New Year's Eve should remain generally prohibited this year.

Contact restrictions: Private get-togethers with friends, relatives and acquaintances are still possible, but should be further restricted according to the draft. Accordingly, you should limit yourself to your own household and one other household, and a maximum of 5 people in total. Children up to 14 years of age are still exempt from this.

Curfews: If the incidence is high, night curfews are planned. In the evening and at night, you should only be out and about with good reason. This includes professionally necessary walks, walking, emergency care by a doctor or veterinarian, accompanying minors and those in need of help. In Baden-Württemberg this already applies across the board from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., in Bavaria from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Christmas: For the days from December 24th to 26th, as an exception to the otherwise applicable contact restrictions, the federal states should be able to allow meetings with 5 people plus children aged up to 14 years. This will remove the actually planned easing for Christmas, which provided for up to 10 people.

However, there is a relaxation compared to the otherwise applicable contact restrictions: The five people may come from more than two households. However, the meetings should be limited to the closest family circle.

This includes spouses and other life partners as well as direct relatives such as siblings, siblings and their respective household members.

Preventive quarantine: Anyone visiting relatives should reduce contacts to an absolute minimum five to seven days before family get-togethers.

Church services: Meetings in churches, synagogues and mosques as well as meetings of other religious communities are only allowed if the minimum distance of 1.5 meters between the participants can be ensured. A mask requirement should also apply at the square, singing should be prohibited. A registration requirement must be introduced where a particularly large number of people are expected.

New Year's Eve: For New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve (January 1), a nationwide ban on arrival and assembly is to apply. The municipalities are to define public places.

Firecrackers and fireworks should not be sold this year. The ignition of fireworks is strongly discouraged - also because of the high risk of injury that would further burden health care.

Personal care, physiotherapy & Co: Hairdressing salons, cosmetic studios, massage practices, tattoo studios and similar businesses are also to be closed according to the draft, "because physical closeness is essential in this area." Medically necessary treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and logotherapy as well as podiatry / foot care, but remain possible.

Gastronomy and alcohol: It is recommended to introduce a nationwide ban on alcohol consumption in public places. The catering should remain closed, only delivery and collection of meals for consumption at home should remain possible.

Travel: Throughout the entire period, the paper recommends “refraining from traveling in Germany and abroad that is not absolutely necessary”. Anyone entering Germany from abroad must go into quarantine, which can only be ended after five days at the earliest with a negative test.

Economic aid: According to the draft, companies affected by the lockdown can hope for more money from the state. In the so-called Bridging Aid III, the maximum amount is to be increased from EUR 200,000 to EUR 500,000, with the maximum grant for companies directly and indirectly affected by closures.

For these companies there should also be advance payments similar to those for November and December aid. Losses in the value of goods and other assets associated with the closings are also to be absorbed.

Nursing: Medical protective masks financed by the federal government and free antigen rapid tests are to become the norm for employees in old people's and nursing homes and mobile care services.

To this end, the federal states should order mandatory testing several times a week for staff in the elderly and care facilities and mobile care teams. In hotspots, there should also be an obligation for visitors to submit a current negative corona test.

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