Despite the increasing number of corona infections, Saxony is planning to make major events easier and exceptions for Christmas markets and mountain parades.
The mask in class should also fall from November 8th.
The cabinet still has to approve the plans.
Dresden - Saxony is planning exceptions for Christmas markets and mountain parades in the corona pandemic. This is provided for in a key issues paper that Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) presented on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. If the number of infections and bed occupancy allow, certain restrictions can be dispensed with. In addition, the government is planning a protection week with stricter measures at the schools after the autumn break. The new state ordinance is to be adopted after hearings next Tuesday and will apply from October 21 to November 17. These are the planned changes:
CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND PARADES: Although the rules for major events apply in principle, health authorities can allow exceptions for mountain parades and Christmas markets: Until the so-called warning level is reached, rules such as 3G (vaccinated, recovered, tested), contact recording and maximum visitor limits can be waived. What is required, however, is an approved hygiene concept, which is also used for the controls. Köpping spoke of more responsibility for the municipalities. The warning level takes effect when 650 beds in the normal wards or 180 beds in the intensive care units are occupied by Covid-19 patients.
If this critical threshold is exceeded, the markets can be divided into strolling and lingering areas.
If access to the lingering areas - where people eat or drink - is limited to a maximum of 1000 visitors, the mask requirement, contact recording and the 3G rule can also be dispensed with.
BED OCCUPANCY: Bed occupancy is to play a bigger role in the new ordinance and is sufficient as a critical threshold value to introduce stricter measures.
The Free State wants to be able to react more quickly in the event of an increase in the number of infections.
EVENTS: For the 2G option model - that is, recovered or vaccinated - the restriction to a maximum of 5000 visitors at events should not apply.
This is planned for indoor and outdoor use.
MASK IN CLASS: Saxony wants to continue to rely on regular tests in schools.
It remains a central pillar in the pandemic, emphasized Minister of Education Christian Piwarz (CDU).
Currently, three of around 1,400 public schools are closed due to the corona.
There are no nationwide school closings, emphasized Piwarz.
After the autumn vacation, Saxony wants to prevent an increase in infections from vacationers with a “protection week”.
During this time, a mask is compulsory in class, it is tested more intensively.
After that - from November 8th - pupils from the 5th grade no longer have to wear a mask in class.
Mouth and nose protection is currently compulsory in secondary schools.
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Organizers can only open to vaccinated and convalescent people
Hessen is relaxing the corona rules for vaccinated and convalescent people with a new 2G option model.
In restaurants, cafés, cinemas or at hairdressers who use this principle, there is no longer a mask requirement and no more distance rules.
Organizers can only open to vaccinated and convalescent people
No entry without vaccination: Brandenburg introduces 2G option
Like Berlin, Brandenburg also grants operators of restaurants or events the option of only admitting those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered during the corona pandemic.
For children under twelve years of age, however, different rules apply in both countries.
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CURRENT INFECTION NUMBERS: There are currently 199 beds in normal wards with Covid 19 patients, and 96 beds in intensive care units.
According to the Ministry of Health, this is doubling compared to the beginning of October.
Köpping therefore urged caution and referred to the situation in hospitals exactly a year ago with significantly fewer sick people: At that time there were 116 patients on the regular wards, 24 people were on the ITS.
VACCINATIONS: 55.5 percent of the people in Saxony are fully vaccinated - so the Free State is still in last place in a nationwide comparison.
According to Köpping, there are more than 300,000 over 60-year-olds who have not yet been vaccinated and are therefore particularly at risk.
"There is a threat of a pandemic for the unvaccinated," said Köpping.
dpa
