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COVID-19

Germany’s new ’emergency brake’ Covid restrictions come into force Saturday

Residents in Germany will have to prepare for new coronavirus restrictions this weekend as a new national law comes into effect.

Germany's new 'emergency brake' Covid restrictions come into force Saturday
A closed restaurant in Bremen on Thursday. Photo: DPA

The controversial changes to the Infection Protection Act come into force on Friday.

And in districts and cities with a 7-day incidence of more than 100 Covid cases per 100,000 residents in the last three days, the federal “emergency brake” Covid measures are to take effect automatically from Saturday, the Interior Ministry said.

Ministry spokesman Steve Alter said that under state law, the authorities responsible for affected districts and cities have to announce that the emergency brake is coming in on Saturday before the end of the day on Friday.

The law was passed earlier this week by the Bundestag before it was approved by the Bundesrat, which represents the 16 states.

According to the RKI dashboard, around 351 districts and cities in Germany have a 7-day incidence above 100. On Friday Germany logged 27,543 cases within the last 24 hours, and 265 deaths.

The nationwide 7-day incidence increased to 164.

READ MORE: Where are Covid-19 cases going up (and down) in Germany?

What are the rules?

The emergency brake measures come into force if the number of reported new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in a district or city exceeds 100 within seven days for three days in a row.

The map below by DPA shows the worst-hit areas (above an incidence of 300) in dark purple. Dark red areas have an incidence above 200, and the red areas have an incidence above 100.

Then, as a rule, people are no longer allowed to leave their homes between 10pm-5am unless it’s for an essential reason like work or a medical emergency. Walking and jogging alone outside is allowed until midnight.

No more than one household can meet with another person, with the exception of children up to 14. Shops can only open for customers who present a negative Covid-19 test and have booked an appointment. Classroom attendance at schools is to be stopped at an incidence of 165 for three days.

READ MORE: EXPLAINED – What you need to know about Germany’s new Covid-19 nationwide rules

The guidelines have been formulated by the government but states must implement them. Previously, virus restrictions in Germany have been decided in consultations between Merkel and the leaders of the 16 states.

However, often regional leaders have failed to put in place shutdown measures which they agreed with Merkel, with many choosing broad interpretations of the rules.

What’s the reaction?

It’s been mixed. The German District Association slammed the regulations, saying states can now not as easily react flexibly to the infection situation on the ground. 

“The federal emergency brake is not the beneficial instrument it is thought to be,” said Landkreistag President Reinhard Sager told the Rheinische Post. He also said it could be “confusing” for people.

Several state premiers also spoke out against the Bundesrat hearing of the law on Thursday.

Hamburg’s mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) said it was positive that there is a binding regulation for the whole of Germany.

But he slammed the government for softening of the initial restriction – the curfew was planned to come into force at 9pm but then changed to 10pm after the opposition rallied against it.

Tschenscher also considers it inconsistent to open up shops through ‘click and meet’, i.e. shopping after making an appointment, instead of closing them when cases rise.

Hamburg has had ’emergency brake’ measures in place for several weeks now, including a 9pm curfew – and initial signs show the incidence is decreasing.

ANALYSIS: Is Hamburg proof that an ’emergency brake’ can get Covid-19 cases down?

Meanwhile, Hesse’s Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) said the law was “highly vulnerable” from a legal point of view and posed a “lot of practical problems”.

And Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s state premier Manuela Schwesig said the changes could lead to a “constant back and forth” of differing rules which would “unsettle people”.

She said her state was sticking to protective measures that went beyond those of the federal government.

As with all our stories, we aim to give you the most up-to-date information. However, please check with your local government for any regional variations.

Member comments

  1. Minimally more serious restrictions from a spineless government that lacks the competency to simply make a informed decision to improve the situation. Congrats guys, looking forward to our 1 year aniversery of the short restrictions from November 2020!

  2. Absolutely comedic leadership virtually handing the chancellery to The Greens via September’s upcoming protest vote. The developed world is in stitches watching Germany implode.

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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?

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

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