Swift roll-out of booster vaccinations, adapted quarantine and isolation rules and “2GPlus” in the hospitality sector – these are some of the measures agreed on by Federal Chancellor Scholz and the Heads of Government of the Länder. Previous measures such as contact restrictions on private gatherings remain in place. The aim is to counter the Omicron virus variant that is currently spreading throughout Germany.
“We need further progress on vaccination,” said Federal Chancellor Scholz after the Federation-Länder talks on the pandemic situation.
Foto: Federal Government/Denzel
The new virus variant will result in higher infection figures in Germany and large numbers of new patients in hospitals, said Federal Chancellor Scholz after the video conference with the Heads of Government of the Länder on the coronavirus situation: “This is why we have to prepare – and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Scholz stressed.
The main focus is still on the vaccination and booster campaign, which needs to be promoted further. Scholz: “The best protection against the Omicron variant is a booster jab.”
The goal of 30 million vaccinations by Christmas had been achieved, he said: the aim was now to work towards the “ambitious” goal of organising another 30 million vaccinations by the end of January.
“We need further progress with vaccinations,” said Scholz. Progress had been made, he noted, but the “vaccination rate in Germany is still not very high.” Scholz said that at the Federation-Länder talks, participants were unanimously in favour of a general vaccine mandate. The Bundestag would discuss the matter soon, he said, adding that he would welcome “a blanket mandate as the final outcome”.
You can find the text of the decision here PDF, 93 KB, nicht barrierefrei here PDF, 93 KB, nicht barrierefrei
The Länder will soon implement new access regulations for eating and drinking establishments. Visits to restaurants and cafés will then only be possible for vaccinated and recovered persons who are able to present a same-day test, and for those who have received a booster jab (“2GPlus”). The latter do not have to present an additional test – and there is no waiting period from the day of receiving the booster vaccination.
The reason for this stricter ruling is that masks are frequently not worn in eating and drinking establishments, so there is a greater a risk of infection with the Omicron variant. Federal Chancellor Scholz described this as a strict but necessary regulation that would “help us control infections more effectively than we are doing at the moment.”
New quarantine and isolation rules due to Omicron
The Federal and Länder Governments also agreed to relax quarantine and isolation rules:
The Federal and Länder Governments have agreed on these quarantine rules.
Topline: Federal-Länder Decision, underneath
Heading: Quarantine and isolation
Table, with the following text:
First part on isolation for infected persons. The following general rule applies: Release after 7 days with PCR or lateral flow test. The following applies to employees in hospitals, nursing homes etc: Release after 7 days with mandatory PCR test (negative result or CT value over 30), providing the person has been symptom-free for at least 48 hours. The following applies to children and young people at pre-school daycare centres, schools etc: Release after 7 days with PCR or lateral flow test.
Second part on quarantine for contact persons. The following general rule applies: Release after 7 days with PCR or lateral flow test. The following applies to employees in hospitals, nursing homes etc: Release after 7 days with PCR or lateral flow test. The following applies to children and young people at pre-school daycare centres, schools etc: Release after 5 days with PCR or lateral flow test (exceptions possible with additional protective measures such as testing and mask obligations).
Underneath:
The following applies without a test: Release from isolation or quarantine after 10 days
The following contact persons do not have to go into quarantine: those who have received a booster vaccination, those who have been recently double vaccinated, those who have been vaccinated and recovered from the illness, and those who have recently recovered. “Recently” here means that the disease or vaccination occurred less than three months ago.
Foto: Federal Government
The Federal Government and the Länder also agreed on the following:
The Federal and Länder Governments plan to meet again on 24 January to discuss the current pandemic situation and possible further steps.
Businesses affected by the coronavirus protection measures will continue to receive support. See here for a summary of the Federal Government’s economic aid programmes.
