Lockdown light in Lower Saxony: This applies from Christmas to New Year's Eve

Created: 12/21/2021, 3:57 PM

From: Jens Kiffmeier

FFP2 mask requirement, warning level 3 and contact restrictions: Lower Saxony tightened the corona rules for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

And it can get worse.

Hanover / Berlin - FFP2 mask requirement in retail, personal limits for private parties from Christmas and closed discos: Shortly before the Christmas rest with warning level 3 in Lower Saxony came into effect, Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) defended the harsh corona rules in his state.

You only have to look at the dramatic situation in neighboring European countries, the head of government warned, according to the dpa news agency.

He could only urgently advise every citizen to take the measures and resolutions for the lockdown light seriously, said Weil.

Corona regulation: Lower Saxony with strict corona rules and warning level 3 for the Lockdown Light over Christmas and New Year's Eve

Whether in Lower Saxony or nationwide - everywhere the rapid spread of the Omikron virus variant puts politicians on alert.

According to projections by the federal government, all Germans will come into contact with the Omikron variant in one way or another by February at the latest.

According to previous knowledge, the course of the disease is considered to be milder compared to the delta variant.

Nevertheless, there are millions of quarantine instructions threatening, which can lead to loss of work - even in the critical infrastructure.

Lower Saxony decrees a Christmas rest: Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD).

(Kreiszeitung.de-Montage) © Julian Stratenschulte / dpa

Emergency scenarios are already being run through in the federal government and disaster plans are being prepared.

On Tuesday, the Prime Ministers will also meet with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for another Corona summit to discuss the next steps and appropriate measures.

According to the proposed resolution, restrictions for vaccinated people are also up for debate.

Corona rules in Lower Saxony: Warning level 3 applies to the Christmas rest period from Christmas to New Year's Eve

Lower Saxony itself is currently considered a pioneer in the corona rules.

Last week, Weil ordered a Christmas break for his state.

For this, the state government has issued warning level 3, on the basis of which the measures will then be tightened from December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022.

But what exactly applies from the festive season to the New Year.

The following overview provides an answer:

Corona rules: contact restrictions and FFP2 mask requirement - these corona rules apply in Lower Saxony

• Strict contact restrictions for unvaccinated persons:

   one household plus two other people from another household.

• Restrictions for vaccinated and convalescent people at Christmas

  : In Lower Saxony, up to 25 people should be allowed to meet inside or up to 50 people outside. Prerequisite: You are all vaccinated or have recovered. For ten or more participants, the 2G-plus rule applies, i.e. an additional test requirement. In addition, the contact details must be recorded and FFP2 masks must be worn - unless it is a private Christmas party at home. If unvaccinated people are present, their restrictions apply.

• Visits

  to restaurants: Not possible for those who have not been vaccinated.

  For everyone else, the 2G-plus rule applies indoors and outdoors (with mandatory testing).

  Restaurateurs can bypass the obligation to test by reducing their capacity to 70 percent.

  Then 2G applies (without compulsory testing).

  The same applies to

  cinemas

  ,

  theaters

  and

  zoos

  .

• Events

  : Are allowed on a small scale under the 2G-plus rule.

  Large events with more than 500 participants, however, are prohibited.

  Clubs and discos also have to close.

• FFP2 mask requirement in retail

  : The originally planned 2G rule no longer applies when shopping in stores in Lower Saxony.

  A court overturned the plan.

  As a result, however, the mask requirement was tightened: If you want to exchange a gift or redeem a voucher between years, you have to wear an FFP2 mask in the shop.

  This also applies from Tuesday to everyday shops such as

  supermarkets

  and

  drug stores

  .

• Hairdressers and body-hugging services

  *: The operators of the salons are allowed to open.

  Originally from 2G, the 3G rule applies at the hairdresser.

  Unvaccinated people are not excluded as long as they can present a current negative test.

  Inside, however, an FFP2 mask must be worn.

• New Year's Eve party

  : The same rules should apply as at Christmas, i.e.: With the 2G rule, up to 25 participants are allowed inside or up to 50 participants outside, with a test requirement for ten or more participants.

  Unvaccinated people, on the other hand, are only allowed to meet two people from another household.

• Fireworks, firecrackers and rockets

  : A sales ban applies nationwide.

  Small fireworks such as sparklers are excluded.

  Other fireworks may only be set off in a small, private setting.

  Firecrackers in public places are prohibited.

Lockdown light: Lower Saxony wants to tighten the corona rules after the federal-state summit

There seems to be no alternative to the tough measures for Prime Minister Weil.

Depending on the further developments and the federal-state resolutions, he did not rule out further tightening.

In the run-up to the Prime Minister's Conference, he called on his counterparts to adopt the Lower Saxony requirements.

"However, more extensive contact restrictions are also conceivable," said Weil.

Hamburg has already followed suit and also tightened its rules *.

Warning level 3 - what does that mean for Lower Saxony?

Lower Saxony has introduced a system with warning levels. Depending on the level, different measures to contain the corona pandemic are derived. Warning level 3 is usually called out if the hospitalization value is more than 9, the regional seven-day incidence is more than 200 and the intensive care beds are more than 15 percent full. The indicators must be reached on five consecutive working days.

From the point of view of the state government of Lower Saxony, it would be possible to reduce the personal limit for vaccinated people from 25 to ten.

This upper limit is under discussion at the federal level and could apply from December 28th.

It must also be discussed whether the Christmas break may have to be extended beyond January 2nd.

"In Lower Saxony we have a very good framework with the current regulation," said Health Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, the infection process must continue to be monitored very closely and, if necessary, readjusted.

Corona regulation in Lower Saxony: Christmas rest with warning level - Klingbeil believes in a hard Omikron wave

Time is running out. Although the number of infections has recently fallen again, they are still at a high level. In Lower Saxony, for example, there is a hotspot in the Verden district. However, according to the experts from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), who plead for strict contact restrictions for everyone, the trend reversal will soon follow everywhere and the corona numbers will skyrocket again. According to SPD boss Lars Klingbeil, Germany may be worse affected than other countries because of the comparatively low corona vaccination rate of Omikron, which has a special symptom.

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“In Germany we have the problem that only 70 percent of the population is vaccinated.

That's why it can hit us harder than other countries, ”warned the Lower Saxony member of the Bundestag in an interview with the editorial network Germany (RND).

* Kreiszeitung.de and 24hamburg.de are offered by IPPEN.MEDIA.