It is rare for the legislature and executive to appear before the press together.

But special situations needed special measures, said Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU), who presented his coalition's plans on Friday evening in Dresden together with the partners of the Greens and SPD from the state parliament and government, which will apply from Monday and initially for three weeks December 12th should remain in force.

Previously, there had been a new high in new infections in the Free State on Friday.

The health authorities counted more than 7,700 new infected people, which corresponds to a daily death rate of 50 to 60 people with a corona mortality rate of 0.8.

Stefan Locke

Correspondent for Saxony and Thuringia based in Dresden.

  • Follow I follow

"The situation is highly dramatic," said Kretschmer. Four weeks ago there were 100 new infections daily and the situation was manageable. But now there is a risk of loss of control if the number of infections continues to develop for two weeks. In Saxony's clinics, the overload level of 1,300 corona patients has already been clearly exceeded, in the intensive care units, where a limit of 420 corona cases applies, it has almost been reached. 90 percent of the patients in the intensive care units are unvaccinated, said Kretschmer. According to the government, the incidence in the unvaccinated was over 1,800 on Friday, while it was only 60 for the vaccinated and convalescent.

"It is perfectly clear that the low vaccination rate is the reason for this situation," said Kretschmer.

Therefore, vaccinated and convalescent people would experience fewer restrictions.

Nevertheless, in the current situation, 2G alone is no longer enough, which is why there is no getting around restrictions for everyone.

He asked vaccinated people to show solidarity.

"We need more us and less me to fight the pandemic," explained Kretschmer.

At the same time, he called on all institutions that can remain open under 2G rules to enforce the rules consistently.

"This is our only chance to break the wave."

Cultural and leisure facilities have to close

In detail, strict contact restrictions apply from Monday for unvaccinated people who are only allowed to meet a maximum of five people from another household. In counties with an incidence of over 1000, curfews for unvaccinated people also apply between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Three of the 13 Saxon districts are currently subject to this regulation. Retail and gastronomy are only allowed to open to vaccinated and convalescent people in the whole of Saxony between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., with the exception of supermarkets, pharmacies and drug stores. Hairdressers are only allowed to open with 2G, all other so-called body-friendly services must close as well as all cultural and leisure facilities. This means that there are no Christmas markets either. The markets in almost all cities had been set up by Friday,the Dresden Striezelmarkt should have opened on Monday.

Hotels and all tourist facilities must also close. "We cannot allow exceptions at the moment," said Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD). Meetings are limited to ten participants in a stationary location; the 3G rule applies to churches. A big change to the restrictions from the previous year applies to kindergartens and schools, which are expressly to remain open this time. However, the government suspended school attendance until the Christmas break; the lessons should now take place in fixed groups. "So far, the children have borne the greatest burden of this pandemic for the adults," said Vice Prime Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens). That is why everything should now remain possible for all children and young people up to the age of 16. Cultural, leisure and sports activities remained open for them.

The measures should initially apply for three weeks until December 12th.

Economy Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) promised the affected companies an extension of the economic aid.

There will also be a special depreciation for seasonal goods, as in the previous year, after consultation with the federal government.

Prime Minister Kretschmer said he hoped these measures had an effect.

"But it is up to us all." No region in Germany will be able to experience Christmas without restrictions with this dynamic of new infections.