NRW: Again new corona rules since January 16th - these are the changes
Created: 01/17/2022 09:29
By: Daniele Giustolis
New corona rules have been in force in NRW since January 16th.
We summarize the changes in an overview.
Düsseldorf – NRW is changing its Corona Protection Ordinance again within three days.
The country only introduced new corona rules on January 13 – such as the 2G-Plus rule in gastronomy (RUHR24 reported).
On Sunday (January 16), the measures were adjusted again.
The changes are intended to take into account the omicron variant of the corona virus, reports RUHR24.
7-day incidence in NRW | 489 (as of January 16) |
Percentage of COVID-19 patients in operable intensive care beds | 8.12 percent |
7-day hospitalization incidence | 3.04 |
Corona rules in NRW changed again from January 16th
It was already known in advance that the state of North Rhine-Westphalia would write the definition of "boosted" in its Corona Protection Ordinance.
People with three corona vaccinations are considered boosted (i.e. provided with a “refresher vaccination”).
This also applies to vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, of which initially only one was required to be considered fully vaccinated.
This definition is important because certain simplifications apply to "boosted" people in NRW.
For example, the group does not have to be in quarantine if they have had contact with a corona-positive person.
In addition to those who have been vaccinated three times, these people in NRW are also considered “boosted”:
People who have had a Covid-19 infection detected by a PCR test and have received at least one vaccination before or after,
People who have received two vaccinations more than 14 but less than 90 days after the second vaccination
recovered people whose infection-confirming PCR test was more than 27 days but less than 90 days ago.
For the group of those who have been boosted, there is no obligation to test for 2G Plus offers in gastronomy or in sports or wellness offers.
NRW adjusts corona rules again - change in quarantine
The quarantine rules were also adjusted in NRW on January 16th.
The following applies to people infected with corona: If a PCR test or an official rapid test is positive, you have to go straight to quarantine – even without an order from an authority.
The quarantine for corona positives lasts ten days, but if you have no symptoms for two days, it can be ended after seven days with a negative PCR test.
NRW: Contact persons of corona infected people have to be in quarantine for ten days
The same applies to contact persons of corona infected people from the same household.
They have to be in quarantine for ten days, but are allowed to leave after seven days (daycare children and students after five) - after a negative PCR test (read more news about the corona virus in NRW at RUHR24 here).
Anyone who has been "boosted" in NRW enjoys advantages over those who have been vaccinated twice and those who have not.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/DPA
Contact persons who do not come from the same household as the person infected with Corona only have to be quarantined if requested by the health department.
However, anyone who is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated is “expected” to be in quarantine, as stated in the quarantine ordinance of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Boosted people enjoy special corona rules in NRW
As already mentioned above, there is no quarantine for "boosted" people after contact with corona infected people.
In addition to the rule changes on January 16th, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia issued a recommendation for wearing FFP2 masks indoors last week.
The reason for this is the fast-transmitting omicron variant.
The country advises against the use of surgical masks indoors.
NRW is again tightening the mask requirement in NRW - Corona variant "Omicron" is to blame
Speaking of the obligation to wear masks: since January 13, masks have again been mandatory in outdoor queues and at events and gatherings where no 3G or 2G rules apply.
Incidentally, the current rule for major events is that a maximum of 750 spectators are allowed to attend.
In queues outside (here, for example, in front of a vaccination bus in Dortmund), masks are again compulsory in NRW (archive photo).
© Malin Annika Miechowski/RUHR24
Also new since January 13 is the rule according to which self-tests for at home can also be used as an official test in NRW - for example when visiting a restaurant or a wellness offer.
However, the test must take place under the supervision of the facility's staff.
NRW: Corona rules are the same when it comes to contact restrictions
The contact restrictions already known in NRW still apply.
Anyone who is not immunized, has not been vaccinated twice or three times against Corona or has recovered from Corona may only meet with a maximum of two people from another household.
Children up to the age of 13 are not counted.
In NRW, people who are fully immunized are allowed to meet with a maximum of ten people from any number of households.
Children under the age of 13 are not counted here either.
*RUHR24 is part of the IPPEN.MEDIA editorial network.
