Once curfew, once contact relaxation: After the Corona summit, the federal states are partly going their own way.
But now there are signs of a tightening.
After the Prime Minister's Conference, German politicians are looking for the right way out of the crisis.
Some federal states are planning to relax, others are about to tighten.
Winfried Kretschmann suggests that talks between the federal and state governments will be in the
near future (March 27, 11:02 p.m.)
.
This news ticker is updated regularly.
Update from March 27, 11:02 p.m.:
Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann
promises
further talks between the federal government and the states about a hard lockdown at the beginning of the week.
"First of all we think about such things," said Kretschmann in Stuttgart.
“We also have to discuss this with other countries in advance, with the Federal Chancellery.
We see, the numbers are literally racing up. "
In the talks on Monday and Tuesday you have to “come to terms”.
The Green did not say whether the next conference of the Prime Ministers with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), which is actually only planned for April 12, should be brought forward.
Regarding the proposal by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) to shut down social life properly for ten to 14 days because of the rapidly increasing number of infections, Kretschmann said: “From a pandemic point of view, that would be best.” However, one must carefully weigh up whether it makes sense and whether it is feasible be to close everything.
Corona: Spahn calls for a hard lockdown beyond Easter - Kretschmann criticizes easing in Saarland
Update from March 27, 4:08 p.m.:
Jens Spahn agrees the population for more weeks in lockdown.
"If we take the numbers, including the developments today, we actually need another ten or 14 days at least to properly shut down our contacts, our mobility," said the Minister of Health on Saturday at an online discussion event organized by the federal government where citizens asked questions could ask.
A lockdown is necessary, similar to that at Easter last year, said Spahn.
He said he would rather have Easter with his family himself.
"But it just won't work this year." If this wave can be broken before it gets too big in April, then opening steps are also possible afterwards, as in cities and regions with low infection rates such as Tübingen.
Meanwhile, Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann criticizes the large-scale easing that has been announced in the Saarland for the period after Easter.
"I don't quite see through what my colleague Tobias Hans is up to," said the Green politician at the German Press Agency in Stuttgart.
The decision of the federal and state governments provides that some regions could be declared model areas with openings and a test concept.
“But I mean, the whole Saarland was not meant by that.
Even if that is small. "
Corona: Kretschmann calls for strict enforcement of the emergency brake in hotspot regions
Update from March 27th, 2.30 p.m.:
The emergency brake is being enforced, Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann has decided.
He does not want to allow any more delays in enforcing the Corona emergency brake in hotspot regions.
“That is strictly enforced.
There is no longer any mistake, ”said the Green Prime Minister on Saturday to the
German Press Agency
in Stuttgart.
In the state government, there is apparently growing anger about urban and rural districts that initially do not apply the emergency brake consistently, although they have exceeded the limit of 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in one week for more than three days.
Corona: Federal states are weaving an Easter patchwork quilt - Ramelow sharply criticizes the summit format
Update from March 27, 12.30 p.m.:
In view of the increasing number of new corona infections, SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach is promptly calling for renewed corona consultations.
"We have to renegotiate again quickly," Lauterbach told
Tagesspiegel
.
"It won't work without a sharp lockdown." He defended his call for nationwide curfews: "Exit restrictions from 8 p.m. for two weeks would take effect - we've seen it in France, Great Britain and Portugal."
"There is generally too little talk about the dangers in political Berlin," criticized the SPD politician. "Far too little is talked about the strength of the third wave, which age groups it affects and how dangerous the mutations are for the middle age groups."
After the Corona summit: Bodo Ramelow calls for a change in the previous format
Update from March 27, 8:45 a.m.:
The format has not only been shaken since the failed Corona summit last Monday.
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has already spoken out in favor of rethinking the MPK in its current form.
Now Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) is pushing for changes: “Firstly: compulsory attendance - everyone comes to the Chancellery.
Second: The conference must be prepared in such a way that the conference only deals with two or three legally verified alternatives. ”This is how Die
Welt
quotes him
on Saturday.
Ramelow also complained that he first read the drafts of the Chancellery and the SPD countries in the media before receiving them himself.
“That is dangerous because we simply cannot consult with our experts - and they cannot then say: Stop, you haven't thought that through,” says Ramelow.
He himself only found out about the plan for an “Easter rest” late one night in the conference.
During the Corona summit, Ramelow caused a stir because he tweeted a tweet consisting of "ÄÄÄÄ" s *.
He also stated that he had not known for hours where the Chancellor and some of the country leaders were.
The summit was interrupted for hours on Monday.
The Thuringian Prime Minister added that there was “not even a hint” of the idea of an Easter silence, although “there have obviously been negotiations for hours”.
He regrets that the measure was not feasible, it "should have interrupted the over-dynamic increase in infections," he told the
mirror
.
The negotiations would have had to be interrupted and the Easter silence had to be legally processed the next day.
Corona: once curfew, once contact relaxation - federal states weave on Easter patchwork quilts
Update from March 26, 8:25 p.m.:
Brandenburg is facing a tightening of the corona rules in the private sphere.
During the Easter period from April 1 to April 6, there should be an exit restriction from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. with a 7-day incidence of 100 on three days in a row, said the State Chancellery in Potsdam.
Exceptions for valid reasons are possible.
The cabinet agreed on Friday, but the decision should not be made until Tuesday.
If the incidence is significantly above 100 for a longer period of time, districts and urban districts should take further steps.
Relaxation for culture and tourism should be possible regionally from mid-April through model projects.
An app for tracking contacts is planned.
Corona policy in Germany: Kretschmann's state government wants to relax contact rules over Easter
Update from March 26, 6:25 p.m.:
The state government of Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) in Baden-Württemberg wants to relax the rules for private gatherings in areas with a higher incidence over the Easter days.
Meetings of two households with up to five people should also be allowed in areas with more than 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the coming days, as a government spokesman for the dpa announced.
Children up to 14 years are not counted.
Stricter rules would apply to high-incidence regions such as Schwäbisch Hall.
The Schwäbisch Hall district still has by far the highest number of cases in the state with an incidence of 396.4 (as of Thursday).
The corresponding adjustment of the Corona regulation still has to be decided in the circulation procedure and should be announced on Saturday, said the spokesman.
It is a concession towards the citizens.
The stricter contact rules of the so-called emergency brake would not apply over the holidays.
They actually stipulate that in circles with more than 100 new infections for every 100,000 inhabitants, only one household with one other person may meet in a week.
Corona: New border rules for France, the Czech Republic and Tyrol
Update from March 26th, 5:50 p.m.:
Due to the sharp rise in the number of corona infections, France will be classified by the federal government as a high incidence area with mandatory testing upon entry from Sunday.
Anyone entering Germany from these areas must have a negative corona test with them upon entry.
The respective federal states usually have special regulations for commuters.
The Austrian state of Tyrol, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be removed from the list of virus variant areas at the same time, so that a significant part of the entry restrictions for these countries and regions will be lifted, as the Robert Koch Institute announced on Friday.
From Sunday, Tyrol will only be considered a "normal" risk area - the lowest of three corona risk levels.
Like France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are classified as high-incidence areas and thus downgraded from the highest to the second-highest risk category.
Corona dispute: Spahn is now addressing regional leaders and colleagues - "key witnesses of the criticism of joint decisions"
+
Jens Spahn and RKI President Lothar Wieler comment on the corona situation.
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Update from March 26th, 1:48 p.m.:
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has strongly criticized some Prime Ministers and members of the federal government.
"Since the beginning of the year, some of the rulers in the federal and state governments have made themselves key witnesses of the criticism of the joint decisions for tactical reasons," Spahn told
Spiegel
.
“That costs a lot of acceptance.” All ministers supported the decision on the Easter rest period, which has now been stopped.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the Chancellor took the blame for the withdrawn Easter regulations.
“We made this mistake together,” said Jens Spahn.
He also called out: "It's about doing the last part of the route together again."
According to information from the
German Press Agency, the
Federal Government has called on
its citizens to hold out the Corona crisis together.
"That is not another year, there are months left before the situation is really much better," said government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Friday in Berlin.
It has always been important that citizens participate and adapt their behavior to the corona pandemic.
"And you can't say enough how grateful you are to the overwhelming majority of citizens for having been able to hold out since last spring." It is important to hold out together again in the remaining months.
Update from March 26, 12:05 p.m.:
From Monday, NRW will not pull a nationwide Corona emergency brake.
Shops, sports facilities and cultural institutions, among other things, only have to close in municipalities with a high incidence.
This emerges from the Corona Protection Ordinance published on Friday.
The municipalities may allow exceptions for people with a daily negative Corona test.
Corona in Germany: Weil (SPD) emphasizes the need for curfews in Lower Saxony
Update from March 26th, 10.45
a.m.: Pull the emergency brake, tighten contact restrictions, introduce exit restrictions: These are essentially the measures that can still take effect after the Easter rest period from the Corona summit resolution has been overturned to get the infection process under control.
Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) now emphasized the necessity of the impending curfews in Lower Saxony: “We are in the middle of the third wave.
The number of infections is increasing day by day - nationwide and also here in Lower Saxony, "said Weil in the state parliament in Hanover.
"If we do not contain the spread of the virus, many people in Lower Saxony will still die from or with the virus." The previous measures were no longer sufficient.
The new Corona regulation therefore provides for more intensive checking of night curfews in hotspots.
"On this basis, I expect that we will experience significantly more curfews in our country in the future, especially in the hotspots," said Weil.
"They are everywhere in the country and a large part of the infections we have to fight against come from them again and again."
In addition, the Prime Minister called for the contacts to be reduced significantly during the Easter break.
The draft of the country's new Corona regulation does not provide for a ban on day trips over Easter, but Weil reads that he welcomes municipal bans in this direction.
“For example, the city of Cuxhaven will stop national day tourism in order not to attract tourists.
Any further support in this regard is also very welcome. "
+
Stephan Weil (SPD), Prime Minister Lower Saxony
© Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
“We are at the beginning of the third wave.
There are clear signals that this wave can get even worse than the other two, ”warned RKI boss Lothar Wieler in a joint press conference with Jens Spahn on Friday.
Corona in Germany: Merkel comments on tests and border controls in high-incidence areas
Update from March 26, 6:50
a.m.: All of France soon to be a high incidence area?
After the first day of the EU summit on Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) was asked about it.
She then stated that such decisions depend on the incidence figures.
“And if the incidences in this particular case are sustainable over 200, then the classification as a risk area takes place.” It is an “almost automated process”.
Merkel used the term "risk area" in her answer, but apparently meant "high incidence area" because she was referring to the value 200.
Such a classification does not mean that it is also about border controls, stressed Merkel.
“Whoever has to produce tests, how often, will be discussed with France.
There are also the necessary transition times, ”she assured us.
There are already well-established procedures for the Moselle region and its commuters.
Travelers from high-incidence areas must show a negative Corona test.
Here, as in high-risk areas, there is usually a quarantine requirement.
Corona: all of France in high incidence area?
Update from March 25,
8:10 p.m.: Will all of France soon be considered a corona high incidence area?
The federal government is apparently considering such a classification.
As the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
reports, the RKI could readjust accordingly after consulting the cabinet on Friday.
The co-chairs of the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly, Christophe Arend and Andreas Jung (CDU), called on their respective governments to convene bilateral consultations before a possible decision is made.
At a special meeting of the Franco-German committee for cross-border cooperation, the practical implementation of such a decision should be discussed via video conference, Arend and Jung declared in a joint statement.
This could contribute to “a coordinated approach in the border region” between Germany and France.
As reported in Paris, Secretary of State for Europe Clément Beaune tried to prevent the borders from being closed in negotiations.
France is currently experiencing a third wave of corona.
The situation is particularly tense in the greater Paris area.
The seven-day incidence there is currently over 600 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.
At the end of February, the federal government had already declared the French administrative district Moselle, which borders the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, to be a virus variant area.
The Robert Koch Institute and the federal government differentiate between risk areas, virus variant areas and high incidence areas.
The latter are states and regions in which the risk of corona infection is rated as particularly high.
In Europe, among others, Poland, Bulgaria, Sweden, Serbia, Slovakia, Cyprus and Albania are currently considered high-incidence areas.
For travelers from high incidence or virus variant areas, they must present a negative corona test, which must not be older than 48 hours, before entering Germany.
This also applies if someone has been in such an area in the ten days prior to entry.
In addition, there is a ten-day quarantine obligation.
In addition, further entry restrictions or bans can be imposed.
Conversely, there are some exceptions, particularly for EU countries, for example for commuters or freight transport.
Corona in Germany: Lauterbach calls for a curfew from 8 p.m.
Update from March 25, 4.40 p.m.:
Karl Lauterbach (SPD) calls for a quick tightening of the corona containment measures.
"We have to get a stability in and we don't get this stability without us now significantly tightening the lockdown," said the SPD health expert on Thursday in the ARD "Mittagsmagazin".
In addition, he demanded: "You have to be honest, I see no other way than to work here with a curfew from 8 p.m., at least for a limited time for two weeks."
Corona in Germany: After the Corona summit, new plans to deal with the pandemic in federal states
Update from March 25, 3:15 p.m.:
After the Corona summit, new plans are springing up in the federal states to deal with the corona pandemic.
The Saarland is starting a model project.
Berlin wants to crack down on the topic of home office
(see first report)
.
Now Schleswig-Holstein is coming around the corner with tourist model projects in areas with low corona numbers.
From April 19, the state wants to make this possible.
"After a successful summer 2020, Schleswig-Holstein, as an innovative tourist region, is using specific model projects to show that holidays in pandemic
times are
possible in a responsible manner with requirements and intelligent concepts," is written in the concept paper of the
State Ministry
of Economics, which is available to the
German Press Agency
.
Municipalities, counties, independent cities and regional tourism organizations can therefore apply for demarcated projects by April 7th.
If so, they could start on April 19th.
The prerequisite for this is: In the relevant area, less than 100 new infections with the coronavirus per 100,000 inhabitants must have been reported within the past seven days.
The offers should relate, among other things, to holiday apartments, hotels and restaurants.
This also includes strict protection and hygiene concepts.
Update from March 25, 2:50 p.m.:
After the Corona summit, the federal states are now partly going their own way - at least in the case of the Saarland, this causes displeasure.
"I have no understanding for that," said Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) on Thursday about the announced corona easing in Saarland
(see initial report)
.
"Solidarity is not a one-way street."
The state will receive 80,000 additional vaccine doses because there is the South African corona mutation.
In terms of the number of inhabitants, that is a large amount.
"How should other countries explain to their citizens that they are not receiving any additional vaccine and cannot take these opening steps?"
Germany tired of the summit: Berlin wants new hard corona rule - and the Tübingen model becomes a hit
First report from March 25th, 1.30 p.m.:
Berlin / Munich - The latest Corona summit did not bring much besides confusion - now the individual initiatives from the parties, parliaments and governments are overturning.
Perhaps the most striking: Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder wants to thoroughly reform the summit.
But the very practical Corona rules are also in focus before the Easter weekend.
Some federal states want to introduce stricter rules.
In the course of the pandemic so far, the countries had tended to slow down the measures.
Meanwhile, more and more municipalities in Germany want to try out model projects - and so do an entire federal state.
There was now also criticism of the "unimaginative" regulations * from the Prime Minister * side.
Merkel's Corona summit disappointed: Berlin is planning tough home office rules - other countries also want to step up
The capital, among others, wants to crack down on it.
In Berlin, the home office requirement that has long been demanded by parts of the opposition could become a reality.
"We want to make a commitment when it comes to the home office," said Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) in a government statement in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The previous appeals have not had the desired effect.
Employers should also be required to offer their employees test offers.
"We have opportunities to intervene in the area of economic life," said Müller.
He could not understand how a matter of course about alternating lessons for schoolchildren is discussed, and how little is talked about of course about requiring alternating shifts in the companies.
Other countries may also go beyond the summit rules.
The Brandenburg state government, for example, wants to decide on possible stricter corona restrictions over Easter on Friday.
Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) said in the state parliament on Wednesday that the withdrawal of the most recent easing “will not be enough for the coming weeks”.
In Bremen, the so-called appointment shopping is suspended, the recently opened museums would have to close again, said state chief Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) on Thursday.
Corona in Germany: Schools continue to be in focus - Spahn's ministry drafts travel rules
SPD parliamentary group vice Katja Mast has meanwhile called for daily corona tests for children and adults at schools and daycare centers in Germany.
Schools and daycare centers would increasingly become hotspots if nothing was changed, said Mast on Thursday in the Bundestag.
Daycare children would have to be tested mandatory.
The goal now must be a more ambitious test strategy.
"I want to have daily tests for children and adults at schools and daycare centers so that we can fill our promise of“ schools and daycare centers first ”with life," said Mast.
"Corona tests are a bridging technology until everyone is vaccinated."
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt also called for improvements to the schools - but expressed less clear ideas.
"After Easter we also need appropriate concepts in schools, they are not yet sufficient," he explained.
“It's about the missing air filters, it's about the tests that are not yet taking place.
If you don't want to close the schools, you also have to protect them better. ”Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had previously spoken about the Corona policy in the plenum.
But the federal government also wants to step up: For all travelers who want to travel to Germany by plane, a corona test should apply from Friday before departure.
Those affected would have to “submit proof to the carrier before leaving abroad”, says the
AFP
on Thursday for a corresponding regulation from Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU).
However, the draft is still being coordinated by departments.
Corona lockdown: Saarland announces "model" relaxation - cities in the southwest want to emulate Tübingen
The hope of many cities and municipalities - and now also of an entire country - rests in the meantime on special paths that should arise from local practice.
The Saarland wants to loosen the corona measures to a large extent in a model project after Easter: From April 6th - the Tuesday after Easter - cinemas, theaters, fitness studios and outdoor restaurants are to reopen.
The prerequisite is a negative rapid test, which must not be older than 24 hours, said Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) on Thursday.
Hans gave a swipe towards the summit results.
"After a year of the corona pandemic, we have to think of more than just closing and restricting," said the head of government.
In Baden-Württemberg, more and more cities are showing interest in adopting the so-called Tübingen model in corona lockdown, as the
dpa
reported.
Calw has also officially applied to the state as a Corona model commune, as has Neckarsulm, Singen, Böblingen and others.
The municipalities refer to a resolution of the federal-state conference, according to which the states can open individual areas of public life under strict conditions as part of model projects.
In Bavaria, Prime Minister Markus Söder * (CSU) has already made the model municipalities a top priority and announced the start of these projects in eight municipalities from April 12th.
After the Corona summit: The local politician's idea becomes Schlager - Tübingen fears a rush and draws a positive balance
Tübingen itself fears a rush due to the special rule in force - and responded on Thursday.
Anyone who does not live or work in the Tübingen district should only be allowed to take a quick test at three stations from Saturday, a city spokeswoman said on Thursday.
In addition, the number of tests on Saturday for non-residents will be limited to 3,000.
The model project is developing "positively".
Even 16 days after the reopening of the shops in Tübingen, the seven-day incidence in the city is 30.
Other European countries are also more creative in the Corona crisis.
However, the situation in the states is completely different - and in some cases precarious.
(
dpa / fn
) *
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