Lockdown light: Extension with a holiday bonus

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 stricter rules have been in force since December 1st. What does this mean in concrete terms and what can you do yourself to make the holidays more virus-proof?

Among other things, only five people from two households are allowed to meet instead of ten. In areas with a particularly high incidence, additional tightening should be added, such as alternating lessons with divided school classes and curfews.

The effect of the previous measures was nowhere near as strong as expected. The death rate hit a sad, if expected, record of 430 deaths in one day.

Exceptions for Christmas and New Year's Eve

On Christmas and New Year's Eve, specifically from December 23rd to January 1st, people get a break and can celebrate in larger and mixed groups. This can be up to ten people from the closest family or friends, even from more than two households. Children under 14 are not counted.

Virus transfer under the Christmas tree?

From a virological point of view, the holiday concept appears counterproductive. People meet under the Christmas tree in order to pass the virus on to other people during the potential incubation period of the infection. At least in less frequented places, fireworks are also possible at this turn of the year. A time when many infected people do not yet feel any symptoms, but are highly contagious.

But just as the summer vacation was sacrosanct, and afterwards the second wave was pushed, politicians do not want to overtax pandemic-weary minds on the high holidays either.

Voluntary quarantine before the festival

Christmas as a super spreading event? To prevent this from happening, urgent appeals are being made to the population to celebrate in a small group despite the relaxation, not to travel if possible and, if necessary, to voluntarily subject themselves to radical contact restrictions in advance. To make this possible, the schools' Christmas holidays will start on December 19 this year in most countries.

By the way, the virologist Kekulé lets his loved ones check whether they are harmless just before the goose is carved. This option is not open to everyone.

The rules at a glance

The prime ministers of the federal states negotiated with the representatives of the federal government for around seven hours in order to come to an agreement. "We need another effort," said Chancellor Angela Merkel at the end.

The measures that were agreed after a tough struggle now look like this:

Contact restrictions

Private get-togethers with friends, relatives and acquaintances are to be limited to your own household and to another household, but in any case to a maximum of five people, with the exception of children up to 14 years of age. Also excluded, as described above, is the period from December 23, 2020 to January 1, 2021, during which up to ten adults from different households are allowed to meet.

Hot spots

From an incidence value of 200 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within one day, further tightening of the currently valid contact restrictions should be ordered at the discretion of the federal states and districts. Including measures such as in the spring such as curfews, which only allow shopping, the way to work, to school, to the doctor or for sporting activities.

Schools and daycare centers

Schools and childcare facilities (daycare centers, crèches, kindergartens, day care centers, after-school care centers, etc.) remain open. However, the federal and state governments have agreed on a change model in hotspots when there is an increased incidence of infections. With this hybrid model, half of a school class is to take part in the class and the other half to take part in lessons via video.

In such cases, it was agreed that a mask must be worn in class from the 7th grade onwards. The paper mentions “significantly more” than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants as a fuzzy border. However, in most federal states it has long been compulsory to wear a mask in class from the 5th grade, in Bavaria even in elementary schools.

Mask requirement

A mask requirement is to apply nationwide "in closed rooms that are accessible to the public or as part of visitors or customers". It also applies to inner cities and other places "where people are either confined or not only temporarily." The exact places and times should be determined by the local authorities.

A mask requirement should also apply at the workplace - except at the place, if a distance of 1.5 meters from other people is maintained.

Universities

Colleges and universities should switch to digital courses as much as possible. Laboratory activities, internships, practical and artistic training phases and exams are excluded.

Gastronomy, culture and leisure facilities

The gastronomy as well as cultural and leisure facilities are to remain closed at least up to and including December 20th - but probably also beyond that. At least for December there should be compensation payments again.

Wholesale and retail

There should be stricter requirements for larger businesses such as department stores. For areas up to 800 square meters, there may be a maximum of one person per 10 square meters of sales area in the shop. For larger shops, a maximum of one person per 20 square meters is allowed for the area that exceeds 800 square meters.

travel

All unnecessary trips should be avoided as far as possible, even during the festive season. The railway is supposed to use longer trains in the future and not allow the reservation of some seats in order to allow more distance. Ski tourism could be completely canceled until January 10th. Bavaria also imposes a subsequent quarantine for day tourists abroad.

Home office

Employers are encouraged to enable non-bureaucratic home office solutions.

New Year fireworks

Citizens should avoid the New Year's Eve fireworks this year if possible. Firecrackers and rockets should be completely prohibited in busy squares and streets in order to avoid larger groups.

(cf / dpa)

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