Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

HEALTH

Coronavirus: Berlin orders closure of bars, museums and gyms

Berlin's government has ordered bars, clubs, cinemas and sports facilities to close as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Published: 13 March 2020 17:38 CET
Updated: 14 March 2020 21:37 CET
Coronavirus: Berlin orders closure of bars, museums and gyms
Archive photo shows a dog in a Berlin bar. Photo: DPA

The capital's mayor Michael Müller announced at a press conference on Friday March 13th that all clubs, bars and pubs (known as Kneipen) would have to close up to and including April 19th.

Restaurants can remain open for the time being but tables have to be at least 1.5 metres apart under the regulations.

Initially the order was to kick in next week. But on Saturday the local government announced the closures would take place with immediate effect.

Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, betting shops, amusement arcades and brothels are also no longer allowed to open. Sports activities in public and private facilities are also banned. Swimming pools and fitness studios must therefore close their doors.

In addition, patients in hospitals are no longer allowed to receive visitors – with the exception of those under 16 and the seriously ill.

Events or gatherings with more than 50 people are also not allowed.

The new regulations fall under the Infection Protection Act.

There are currently 216 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Berlin, and more than 4,525 throughout Germany.

On Friday, Berlin, along with other German states, announced that schools and daycare centres (Kitas) for children would be closed from Monday March 16th until after the Easter holidays on April 20th.

Meanwhile, public transport in Berlin is also to be drastically cut back.

'Your safety and health are at stake'

The Berlin Senate has decided on these extra restrictions to public life in the fight to stall the spread of coronavirus.

Müller appealed to residents to behave responsibly.

Müller said: “I ask all Berliners for their understanding. Your safety and your health are at stake.”

He said the number of social interactions in the city had to be reduced to “the absolute minimum”.

“Everyone will feel restrictions,” he said. “But this phase is very important. I ask for solidarity, especially towards elderly people.”

Events with more than a thousand people have already been banned in the capital. It's resulted in the closures of theatres, concert halls, museums – and even the famous Berghain club.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus – these are the measures in Germany you need to know about

The well-known flea market at Mauerpark will also remain closed until April 19th, according to a notice on the website.

Other services, such as the Foreigner's Office, will only be accessible with an appointment. 

Public transport in Berlin to continue as much as possible

Meanwhile, Berlin's public transport system, which is run by operator BVG, will continue as much as possible without restrictions, the operator BVG said.

The Berlin Senate Chancellery had initially said on Friday that local public transport would be drastically scaled back.

But it has now been clarified that public transportation will be maintained as long as possible.

However, the BVG has not ruled future restrictions. And it is to be adapted to public demand as more people stay at home so check for updates on the BVG site.

READ ALSO: Merkel calls for social contact 'to be avoided where possible'

Passengers are being asked to enter the buses in the back door rather than the front to minimise the risk to drivers..

Bundesliga on pause

The German football league on Friday halted first division Bundesliga games with immediate effect over the coronavirus pandemic, the first such suspension since World War II, reported AFP.

“Given the developments of today with new coronavirus infections and suspected cases directly linked to the Bundesliga and the 2nd division, the German Football League has decided at short notice to postpone today's matches,” said the league in a statement.

READ ALSO: What's the latest on coronavirus in Germany and what do I need to know?

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Published: 20 September 2023 12:05 CEST
Updated: 20 September 2023 22:22 CEST
Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

SHOW COMMENTS