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A sign indicates that a mask is required in Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate
Photo: via www.imago-images.de / imago images / Manngold
Almost every fourth person is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the seven-day incidence nationwide is 18.6 according to the Robert Koch Institute.
The federal government will nevertheless continue to receive special powers in the context of the "epidemic situation of national scope".
That was decided by the Bundestag.
Accordingly, the rights will be extended for a further three months until the end of September.
According to the Infection Protection Act, the Bundestag can determine such an "epidemic situation" and then remove it again.
The established situation gives the federal government the right to issue ordinances directly without the consent of the Bundesrat, for example on tests, vaccinations, occupational health and safety or entry.
Ordinances of the government usually require the approval of the regional chamber, but unlike laws, they do not require the approval of the Bundestag.
The parliamentary groups of CDU / CSU and SPD voted in favor of the extension, members of the FDP and AfD as well as the left opposed it.
Despite criticism, the Greens agreed.
The Bundestag first determined the "epidemic situation of national scope" on March 25, 2020.
An "epidemic situation" exists "if there is a serious risk to public health in the entire Federal Republic of Germany," says the Infection Protection Act.
It was last extended at the beginning of March.
It ends automatically if the Bundestag does not extend it again after three months - as has now happened.
In September there is to be another Bundestag session before the general election.
Advice should be given about the expected end of the pandemic emergency, as it was called in parliamentary groups.
"In the race with vaccination"
The Union and the SPD agreed last week to extend the "epidemic situation" again. From the SPD side it was said that an extension until the end of the year was not planned. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert had previously stated that Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) considered it sensible that the "epidemic situation of national importance" should be extended.
On Thursday, after a meeting with the prime ministers, Merkel warned that the efforts of the past months would have been worthwhile, but "Corona has not disappeared." In particular, the so-called delta variant, which first appeared in India, causes her concern . “We're basically in a race to vaccinate. Every day that we have a low traceability of this variant is a good day. «During the summer one should» not be careless, but keep watching the situation very, very closely, «emphasized Merkel.
In addition to the special powers, the federal emergency brake also applies in Germany.
This was subsequently written into the Infection Protection Act and is due to expire on June 30th.
The emergency brake is specific, nationwide measures that must be taken at district level if the corona infection numbers exceed certain values, such as exit and contact restrictions, requirements for schools, trade and leisure.
It has nothing to do with the prolongation of the "epidemic situation".
mrc / dpa