Which measures are maintained by the federal and state governments

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A mobile corona test center in Frankfurt am Main

Photo: Sebastian Gollnow / dpa

When the federal government and state heads met at the prime ministers’ conference in early January, the nationwide seven-day incidence was 303.4, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Now, a good two weeks later, the number has more than doubled due to the highly contagious omicron variant: The RKI gives the current incidence for Germany as 840.3 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.

In view of the sharp rise in values, the federal and state governments want to maintain their current catalog of measures.

The Prime Ministers agreed on this with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

Accordingly, the applicable rules remain in place, neither tightening nor easing have been decided.

However, there are innovations in the test strategy: Due to the shortage of PCR tests, these should in future be reserved primarily for staff in clinics and care as well as for high-risk patients.

There had been a dispute on this issue beforehand: several Union country heads saw a failure on the part of Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) due to the lack of PCR tests, and the SPD-led countries replied that the overloading of the PCR laboratories was still due to predecessors Jens Spahn (CDU) back.

In addition to the PCR tests, there will also be restrictions on contact tracing.

For the first time, »opening perspectives« were also discussed this time.

The resolutions at a glance:

Changes to the PCR tests: In

the future, the majority of the population will have to do without confirmation of an infection using a PCR test.

Because the more complex tests are no longer sufficient given the mass of infections, they are prioritized – for the staff “especially in hospitals, in practices, in nursing, integration aid facilities” and at-risk patients.

Changes in contact tracing:

Omikron is causing the number of cases to explode to such an extent that in many communities the health authorities can hardly keep up with contact tracing.

Therefore, as with the PCR tests, there should be a prioritization.

Citizens are asked to help: »You should inform your contact persons on your own responsibility and use the electronic tools available to trace contacts«.

Changes to major events:

In some countries, major events are currently taking place without an audience at all, while others allow limited places.

The federal states now want to create unity again, and a corresponding regulation that applies nationwide should be in place by February 9th.

2G Plus and contact restrictions remain in place:

As before, vaccinated and recovered people have to provide evidence of daily tests or a booster vaccination when entering restaurants or bars; the unvaccinated are not allowed in. The upper limit of ten people also applies to private gatherings of vaccinated and recovered people. In the case of people who have not been vaccinated and who have not recovered, only members of their own household and a maximum of two people from another household are allowed to meet. (Read the resolutions of the past federal-state meetings here.)

Due to the numerous infections due to the omicron variant, there is agreement that "the current measures are basically still valid," says the decision.

However, there is a tightening clause: "If the health system is threatened with overload, [the federal and state governments] will agree on further infection control measures."

Vaccinations:

In the older population, the proportion of unvaccinated people is "still very high at around three million people," according to the decision.

Accordingly, the federal and state governments are again appealing to all those who have not yet been vaccinated to reconsider their decision.

"The need to introduce general vaccination requirements" was also reaffirmed - without becoming more specific.

more on the subject

How compulsory vaccination divides the country and the government: A quantum of fear

Scholz wants the Bundestag to work out compulsory vaccination for everyone instead of presenting a law from his government. The first preparatory debate on compulsory vaccination is planned for this Wednesday.

Vaccination register:

The federal states urgently ask for a systematic data collection of the vaccination progress. So far, the figures have not provided a uniform and reliable picture. The health department also wants to examine a possible nationwide monitoring of the vaccination rate in old people's and nursing homes. This will be particularly relevant for March 15th, when the institution-related vaccination obligation will apply, which makes proof of vaccination a condition for further employment for employees in nursing and in clinics. However, the federal states still see a need for clarification on the facility-related compulsory vaccination.

Economic aid:

The current special regulations on short-time work benefits as well as the Corona economic aid only run until March 31st.

An extension should now be urgently examined.

Perspective of opening:

For the first time, there was concrete talk about longer-term easing.

What they will look like in concrete terms is not yet clear.

However, the participants in the federal-state group agree that opening perspectives must be developed for the moment in which an overload of the health system can be ruled out.

Next date:

Scholz and the representatives of the federal states want to meet again on February 16 – “unless the further course of infection makes an earlier meeting necessary”.

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