A few days before the start of the carnival season on 11.11.

the city of Cologne tightened the rules again in view of the sharp rise in corona numbers.

The public celebrations for the start of the carnival on Thursday are now limited to vaccinated and convalescent (2G).

The NRW Ministry of Health in Düsseldorf approved a corresponding procedure.

In the cordoned off areas of Cologne's old town and in the Zülpich district, 3Gplus is no longer valid, but 2G.

2G is also mandatory for all hall events and in the pubs.

The crisis team of the city of Cologne decided this in a special meeting.

"In view of the increasing number of infections and the situation in the intensive care units, we have decided to take this step," said Mayor Henriette Reker (non-party).

“Numerous measures are being taken by the city, the organizers and the catering industry in order to make the celebration as safe as possible.

It is clear to all of us, however, that there can be no absolute security. "

Applications from other cities were not yet submitted to the Ministry of Health on Monday.

In Düsseldorf on 11.11.

for "Hoppeditz-Awakening" on the town hall square also 2G.

Lauterbach fears "superspreader event"

The SPD politician and health expert Karl Lauterbach nevertheless fears that the carnival could turn into a "superspreader event".

Even with 2G, indoor events are a "huge risk," said Lauterbach of the German Press Agency.

His conclusion: “That is why every canceled carnival event indoors is a good event.

Because it protects life. "

Even if 2G applies to hall events, it does not create real security because many of them are already less vaccinated.

“Anyone who goes into an indoor area must expect a vaccination breakthrough,” warned Lauterbach.

“These vaccination breakthroughs shouldn't be underestimated.

Fortunately, the very difficult courses are not that common.

Still, many breakthroughs in vaccination are harder than the layperson imagines.

They can also lead to Long Covid. "

The pandemic is currently like a candle that burns from two ends.

“It burns from below because many are still not vaccinated.

It burns from above because those who have already been vaccinated lose their vaccination protection.

That is the situation in which we are currently. "

2G and strict admission controls

The former CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach (69), on the other hand, relies on 2G and strict admission controls.

“I wouldn't worry as much about the meetings as I would about the balls,” said Bosbach to the German press agency.

So that the crowd doesn't get too big on the dance floor, it might be a good idea not to sell as many tickets as usual.

The organized carnival has so far handled Corona very responsibly, said Bosbach.

"We canceled everything last year." But now the situation is different because the majority of the population has been vaccinated.

For himself, the following applies: “I behave between 11.11. and Ash Wednesday as well as between Ash Wednesday and 11.11. also, namely very sensible and responsible on the one hand, but I also don't intend to let Corona determine my life alone. "

The Cologne carnival president Christoph Kuckelkorn had told the German press agency last week that he expected a largely full carnival season.

"Even if the incidences should go into the hundreds, that does not necessarily mean that the course of the disease justifies far-reaching restrictions for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered," said Kuckelkorn.

Many people were happy that it was finally starting again.

"After all the privations of the Corona period, especially the human privations - the lack of community experiences, including physical closeness - they have a very strong need to celebrate Carnival with all their might."