display

Berlin (dpa) - It is a busy weekend for the state chancellery heads of the federal states: They join forces several times in different groups to discuss how to proceed in the corona pandemic.

On Monday, their bosses want to lash down the submission of the federal states for the consultations on Wednesday with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).

And one thing has been emerging for days: an extension of the partial lockdown is highly likely.

Federal as well as state politicians see no other way, Christian Democrats as well as Social Democrats.

Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) told the "Bild am Sonntag" ("BamS"): "Everything indicates that the current restrictions will have to continue for a while beyond November 30th."

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) told the newspaper: "In order to have a nice Christmas, we have to extend the lockdown and certainly deepen it."

The CSU boss added: "At least until we have reached the incidence value of 50 again."

display

This means 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days.

This value was already mentioned as a target when the tightened restrictions were issued at the beginning of November, because then it is assumed that the health system will not be permanently overloaded.

Currently the value is around 140.

Söder said: "If we break the lockdown at this high level of infection numbers and lose patience, then everything will start all over again and we will end up with even tougher measures than now in the Czech Republic or Austria."

And: "Better a longer lockdown than a complete exit restriction over Christmas."

The Union states are therefore urging an extension of the Corona restrictions until at least Christmas, as reported by “Bild” (online) from a preliminary meeting of the Union-led federal states before the upcoming federal-state meeting.

display

What does that mean ...?

FOR THE NEXT WEEKS: Without an extension, the restrictions should actually expire at the end of November.

How long they should last beyond that seems to have not yet been determined for sure.

"In any case two or better three weeks," says Söder.

Three weeks - that would be until just before Christmas.

The business magazine “Business Insider” named the date December 20th, citing country groups.

But Söder connects his announcement with the memory of the incidence value 50 as a target - that too leaves something open.

FOR CHRISTMAS:

display

According to "Bild", the union countries agree that contact restrictions should be relaxed at least over the Christmas holidays so that people without family can celebrate the festival with friends.

The SPD-ruled countries also want relaxation for the festive season, as the "BamS" reports on.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) told the newspaper: "Christmas and New Year's Eve, people should be able to meet their loved ones."

Previously, Chancellor Helge Braun had already said to the editorial network Germany (Saturday): "For me it is inconceivable that the grandparents do not celebrate at Christmas."

FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE:

Söder says that Christmas should be “freer”, “but New Year's Eve should be more consistent”.

For New Year's Eve he would like a ban on firecrackers and alcohol in larger places.

"But there is no need for a general ban on firecrackers."

FOR SCHOOLS:

The education ministers of the federal states insist on keeping them open in principle, but plead for exceptions, according to information from the news portal "ThePioneer" (Saturday) and the German press agency.

According to a decision taken on Friday, schools particularly affected from the 11th grade in hotspot areas with a large number of infections should be able to switch to "rolling face-to-face teaching" in smaller study groups, i.e. a change from learning at school and at home.

In a second step, this is also planned for the lower grades of secondary schools.

In any case, the final classes should stay in school.

The Union countries want something similar: In Corona hotspots with a seven-day incidence of over 200, there should be switching lessons from the 7th grade.

The previous attitude of the federal states that schools are generally not a driver of the pandemic is “no longer tenable”, says the director of the virological university institute in Düsseldorf, Jörg Timm, of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”.

Smaller children are less likely to be infected with the virus, but they could pass it on.

Children from twelve are "just as contagious as adults": "That is why school children definitely play a role."

According to the will of the ministers of education, more tests are to be carried out at schools that are particularly affected by corona.

After a vaccine has been approved, the school staff should receive a vaccination offer according to their request.

display

FOR THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES:

According to the will of the Union countries, according to “Bild”, countries and districts with fewer than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants should be given the opportunity to suspend the corona measures within seven days (“opt-out rule”).

According to the status of Saturday evening, only Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and around two dozen districts could benefit from this.

FOR THE TRADING:

The Union countries want to keep retail and wholesale open.

According to the report, however, they are extremely skeptical about the open Advent Sundays.

FOR ENTREPRENEURS:

Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to continue to pay the aid for companies that have to close due to the corona restrictions, possibly in December.

"If the restrictions are extended, it is clear to me that the financial support of the sectors directly affected will then also continue to be necessary," said the Vice Chancellor and SPD candidate for Chancellor of the "Bild am Sonntag".

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201122-99-419666 / 3