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The Bundestag passed a binding, nationwide “Corona emergency brake” in Berlin on Wednesday.

For it to take effect, the seven-day incidence must be over 100 on three days; it then comes into effect on the day after next.

According to the draft, these three days can also be the three days immediately before the law comes into force.

The Federal Council still has to approve it on Thursday. There, however, the law can no longer be stopped because the Federal Council is not subject to approval. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to sign on the same day. The publication in the Federal Law Gazette - whereby the law would come into force - could possibly take place on the same day as the signing, but is expected for the next few days at the latest. At the earliest, the emergency brake could take effect on Saturday.

The emergency brake should ensure that the number of infections decreases.

The law is to apply as long as the Bundestag determines an epidemic situation of national scope - “but no later than the end of June 30, 2021”.

With the changes in the law, the federal government is reacting to the fact that the “emergency brake” agreed between the federal government and the federal states has not been consistently pulled by the prime minister in the event of more than 100 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in one week.

The most important regulations at a glance:

Contact and exit restrictions

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If the seven-day incidence in a district or an independent city exceeds 100 for three days in a row, private meetings are reduced to the already known minimum.

Members of a household may then only meet with a maximum of one person.

Children under the age of 14 belonging to the household are not counted.

Furthermore, there should be night exit restrictions between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The apartment may then only be left for valid reasons, such as medical emergencies or to pursue a job.

Exception: You can walk or jog outside alone until midnight.

In the event of death, funeral ceremonies with up to 30 people are permitted.

If the incidence falls below 100 on five consecutive working days, the emergency brake is deactivated again.

retail trade

The statutory emergency brake also defines what everything has to close.

These include, for example, leisure facilities, restaurants, amusement arcades, tourist traffic, swimming pools and discos.

Shops are also not allowed to open, with the exception of shops for daily needs such as supermarkets and drug stores.

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Beverage markets, health food stores, pharmacies, drugstores, gas stations, bookstores, flower shops, pet supplies and garden centers do not have to close either.

But you must ensure that the number of people in the store or market is limited.

If the incidence is between 100 and 150, shopping is possible by booking an appointment in advance.

One of the prerequisites is a negative corona test.

Regardless of the incidence, ordered goods can be picked up in the store.

Mask requirement

When the emergency brake is pulled, it is automatically mandatory to wear an FFP2 or a comparable mask for body-hugging services and in local and long-distance public transport.

It best protects against infection with the coronavirus, which is transmitted by aerosols - very small parts of the breath.

schools

With a seven-day incidence of 100, the federal government does not yet intervene.

Face-to-face teaching remains possible, but pupils should be tested for corona infection twice a week.

Schools should be closed if the incidence exceeds 165.

Then only emergency care is possible.

There may be exceptions for final classes and special needs schools.

Working world

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The Infection Protection Act now also includes the obligation for employers to offer home offices wherever possible.

So far, this has been regulated in the Corona Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.

The occupational safety and health ordinance is being revised again and in future provides that employers must offer employees who do not work exclusively from home two corona tests per week.

Employees with frequent customer contact or in body-hugging services have so far been entitled to two tests per week.

In general two tests per week will soon have to be offered.

Sports

Only the "contactless practice of individual sports" is allowed - alone, in pairs or with members of your own household.

There is an upper limit of five for children.

Competitions and training of professional athletes and competitive athletes of the national and regional squads are also permitted - but only without spectators and with a hygiene concept.

Leisure and culture

Amusement parks, indoor playgrounds, swimming pools, discos, clubs, amusement arcades, casinos, betting shops, and prostitution sites remain closed, as do theaters, operas, concert halls, stages, music clubs, cinemas, museums, exhibitions and memorials.

Child sickness benefit

The number of child sickness benefit days will be increased.

Parents with statutory health insurance can in future take advantage of this for ten additional working days, single parents for an additional 20 days.

This results in a total entitlement to child sickness benefit of 30 days per parent and 60 days for single parents.

Parents receive children's sickness benefit during the pandemic even if the child is not sick, but instead they look after them at home because the schools are closed because the compulsory attendance has been lifted.

Church services

The new “emergency brake” will not change anything for religious gatherings.

You remain possible.

The justification for the draft law, however, points out that previous regulations, which for example provide for personal restrictions, remain in force.

In addition, the religious communities have also coordinated hygiene concepts with the state authorities.

Zoos and Botanical Gardens

The outdoor areas of such facilities should be able to open further if “appropriate protection and hygiene concepts” are observed.

In addition, visitors from the age of six must have a negative corona test.

Regulations

The federal government can issue further measures by ordinance; the German parliament and the Bundesrat must agree.

The federal government is explicitly authorized to lay down facilities for people who are fully vaccinated.

There should also be exceptions for those who tested negative.

complain

Anyone who violates the future emergency brake to contain the corona crisis and receives a fine can, however, sue an administrative court.

There is also the option of a preventive declaratory action, which clarifies whether someone is actually affected by the regulation.

Finally, the way to the Federal Constitutional Court remains.