Markus Söder called for an exit strategy, and the first step followed today. The CSU boss announced far-reaching rule easing for Bavaria. All news in the ticker.
- A court in Bavaria has granted urgent requests for longer working hours due to the pandemic (see update from February 16, 10:07 p.m.).
- Corona*: Markus Söder* wants Bavaria to become a trendsetter (update from February 15, 7.30 a.m.).
- Lots of loosening of the rules in Bavaria: Among other things, it affects 2G Plus and viewer capacities. An overview.*
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Update from February 17, 7.15 a.m .: New corona rules apply in Bavaria from today. There are no contact restrictions for those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated, 2G instead of 2G plus and 3G instead of 2G apply – here you will find an overview.
Update from February 16, 10:07 p.m .: Because of the Omicron wave, there are currently exceptions to working hours in the “critical infrastructure”. This means that longer shifts can exceptionally be expected of the employees there. Employers in these sectors can order up to 12 hours of working time, whereby the weekly working time should not exceed 60 hours. The Verdi trade union and a private person in Upper Franconia have now taken legal action against this regulation – and have been right.
The Bayreuth administrative court announced on Wednesday that the urgent applications against the corresponding general decree of the government of Upper Franconia had been granted, and that this would be temporarily suspended for the applicants. A final decision by the court will follow in main proceedings.
For the time being, the decision only affects the applicants, not the general public. In fact, it could have more far-reaching effects: there have also been such general decrees in the other Bavarian administrative districts since January. A Verdi spokesman demanded that these should be withdrawn immediately. “If that doesn’t happen, we would sue where it doesn’t happen.” According to the “model lawsuit” in Upper Franconia, it is assumed: “If one falls, then all fall.”
Omicron summit at Bavarian elementary schools overcome?
Update from February 16, 2:45 p.m .: At the Bavarian elementary schools there are cautious indications that the Omicron summit could have been overcome there. According to the Ministry of Education, the positive rate for the PCR pool tests has decreased continuously in the past two weeks. On Monday of this week (February 14), 7.5 percent of all pool tests were positive, which means at least one student in the classes concerned was infected. On Monday of the previous week (February 7), 8.5 percent of all PCR pool tests were still positive, on the Monday before (January 31) 9.0 percent.
In a pool test, the samples of several people are examined together as a collective sample – this saves time and material. If this pool sample is positive, all persons are examined individually again.
Corona incidence in Bavaria continues to trend downward
Update from February 16, 8.30 a.m .: The corona incidence in Bavaria is tending to decline. On Wednesday, the value reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) fell by 18.5 to 1764.8 compared to the previous day. It’s the fifth decline in a week. Last Wednesday, the incidence in the Free State reached its previous high of 1840.4. Bavaria currently has the second highest incidence in Germany after Brandenburg. The nationwide value is 1401.
Corona trend reversal in Bavaria: Numbers do not yet provide any information
It is still unclear whether the development is already the trend reversal in the current Omicron wave. The incidence figures have only limited significance at the moment. Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data.
Test capacities and health authorities are therefore at the limit in many places, and contacts are only tracked to a limited extent. In addition, the number of people who no longer have their infection confirmed by a PCR test is likely to increase – the infection is therefore not included in the official statistics.
The federal-state conference is meeting again today, Wednesday, to discuss how to proceed in the pandemic. Prime Minister Söder called for an exit strategy from the federal government and a uniform approach in advance.
Update from February 15, 12:17 p.m .: One day before the federal and state round on the future Corona course, the Bavarian cabinet has already decided on a wide range of easing. The contact restrictions for vaccinated and recovered people are completely eliminated. In addition, the corona access rules will be relaxed: Vaccinated and recovered people will no longer need an additional test anywhere from Thursday. And in some other areas of public life, such as universities, unvaccinated people will have access again – if they show a negative test instead. “We are team caution and team freedom, but not team stubborn,” said Prime Minister Markus Söder after the cabinet meeting. You just go by the “objective standard” of dangerousness.
Söder relaxes corona rules: an overview
- The contact restrictions for the vaccinated and those who have recovered will be removed without replacement (they will remain unchanged for the unvaccinated; as soon as there is even one unvaccinated person, a household may only meet with a maximum of two members of another household, not counting children under 14.)
- 2G instead of 2G Plus : Specifically, this affects the area of sports and culture (such as theatres, operas, cinemas), public and private events, trade fairs, conferences and congresses as well as leisure facilities of various kinds.
- 3G instead of 2G : 3G instead of the previous 2G will then apply to universities, extracurricular education, vocational training, further education and training, music schools, libraries and archives, museums and exhibitions, fitness studios and solariums.
- Spectator occupancy: Bavaria is raising the maximum number of spectators for cultural and sporting events: From Thursday on, up to 25,000 spectators are allowed again, for example at Bundesliga games – previously it was 15,000. The capacity limits – in sports a maximum of 50 percent occupancy, in the cultural area 75 percent – remain unchanged.
- Pupils : Children and young people under the age of 18 who are regularly tested for Corona at school will in future be given the same status as those who have recovered or who have been vaccinated. In the future, you will have access to all 2G areas even without a corona vaccination.
- Trade: For trade, service and craft businesses, the number of customers is no longer limited from one customer to 10 square meters.
In addition, the epidemic emergency – “the mother of all measures” – will be extended. From the Corona summit on Wednesday, Bavaria also expects “further opening perspectives” for the catering trade, the accommodation sector as well as for pubs, clubs and discos. “Bavaria can imagine opening up gastronomy and accommodation in general to 3G soon,” says the cabinet decision. “Bars, clubs and discotheques could be opened carefully under the conditions of 2G plus.” Bavaria does not want to act alone here, but hopes for nationwide steps.
Söder relaxes further: the press conference to read
12:04 p.m .: If the facility-related vaccination requirement can now be implemented, “then it’s up to Bavaria,” said Söder when asked. It wasn’t like that before. When asked whether the 3G rule would now take the pressure off the unvaccinated, he said: At some point the end of the road will be reached. Everyone has to decide what risk they are willing to take. The state cannot bear the entire risk of the individual for years.” But: “We help and we offer.” Demand: How much capitulation is there? “None at all,” says Söder. The state continues to offer, there are vaccines and masks and also a less dangerous variant. This plays a role in the process of weighing up how much state intervention is justifiable.
Massive corona loosening: The Söder press conference in re-live
Corona in Bavaria: Holetschek comments – no Freedom Day?
11:52 a.m .: Klaus Holetschek speaks next. The situation in the hospitals is currently “manageable.” However, according to Bavaria’s Minister of Health, what is manageable in hospitals is always relative. The staff have been working in a pandemic for two years. And further: “There will not be a day “when the pandemic is over,” criticizes Holetschek with regard to calls for a Freedom Day. In his statement, the CSU politician also made a statement against Berlin – keywords: facility-related compulsory vaccination and recovered status.
Söder press conference: Aiwanger is happy about “light at the end of the tunnel”
11.45 a.m .: Hubert Aiwanger speaks. After almost exactly two years of corona management, a course change is in sight, there is “light at the end of the tunnel.” It’s going in the right direction, “we’re getting out of the problem zone.” In retail, the 10 square meter limit no longer applies , he adds.
Söder extends “mother of all measures” – 2G hammer is coming
11.35 a.m .: The epidemic emergency – “the mother of all measures” – in Bavaria will be extended, which he also demands from the federal government. This requires an emergency strategy for the fall, should a new wave come. The contact restrictions for vaccinated people are lifted. You are also proceeding in stages: from 2G Plus to 2G and from 2G to 3G, “we always go one step further,” says Söder. 2G, for example, in sports and culture, 3G, for example, in amateur ensembles or brass bands. In the higher education and education sector, 3G will apply in the future.
Regarding compulsory vaccination, he says that the basic problem is: “They were made too late”. And further: “There is obviously no leadership by the federal government.” He emphasizes once again that Bavaria is law-abiding.
There is reason to “hope for a different spring and summer”. He makes it clear that personal responsibility is becoming more important, “in the end everyone has to make their own decisions to a certain extent.” After all, there are enough vaccination offers, for example.
Söder: “Omikron is de facto just a lot less dangerous”
11:30 a.m.: The press conference begins. Markus Söder has the floor. At the beginning, “let’s pause for a moment,” he begins with a view of the S-Bahn accident near Munich. “As the state government, we mourn with the relatives”, everything must now be clarified quickly. 800 people were deployed and “helped quickly and excellently.”
“The transition is not easy,” he says, moving on to the topic of Corona. The climax has probably been reached. The hospital numbers are largely stable, “Omicron is de facto simply much less dangerous” than was the case in earlier times. Therefore, it is time to “plan the entry into the exit”. Bayern is team caution, but also team freedom and hope. But not team stubborn. The course must now be set at the MPK.
Update from February 15, 11:07 a.m .: A press conference with Markus Söder, Klaus Holetschek and Hubert Aiwanger will begin in Munich in just over 20 minutes. Will there be new loosening? You can follow the statements at 11.30 a.m. here in the live stream and ticker.
Update from February 15, 9:18 a.m .: The incidence in Bavaria is 1783.3 on Tuesday, the day before it was 1772.0 (see first report). However, the meaningfulness of the data is currently limited. Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data. Test capacities and health authorities are therefore at the limit in many places, and contacts are only tracked to a limited extent. In addition, the number of people who no longer have their infection confirmed by a PCR test is likely to increase – the infection is therefore not included in the official statistics.
- 30,972 new infections in Bavaria within one day
- 47 deaths in 24 hours
The number of corona patients in the intensive care units has increased slightly in the past few days: the Divi intensive care register reported 381 corona patients in intensive care units in the Free State on Tuesday (as of 8:05 a.m.). 176 of them had to be ventilated invasively.
New rule relaxations today? Bavaria wants to be a “trendsetter”: Söder statement live
Update from February 15, 7.30 a.m .: Bavaria may be about to relax the corona rules (see first report). Markus Söder had already called for an exit strategy on Monday, and now Bavaria’s Prime Minister is following suit: “We have to set the course now and plan the exit. Not rushed, but consistent,” he wrote on Instagram on Tuesday morning. “Since Omikron is less dangerous and the hospital burden has been stable so far, openings are justified. Bavaria is a trendsetter in this respect,” the announcement said.
More rule easing today? The cabinet could decide that – Söder press conference live
First report from February 15, 6:36 a.m .: Munich – The incidence* in Bavaria is 1783.3 on Tuesday (February 15). The day before it had been 1772.0. Bavaria’s hotspot with the second highest value in Germany is the district of Straubing-Bogen (2845.3).
Corona in Bavaria: These are the other hotspots
- District of Neu-Ulm: 2773.8 (second place in Bavaria, third place in Germany)
- Regen district: 2694.2 (third place in Bavaria, fourth place in Germany)
- District of Eichstätt: 2666.5 (fourth place in Bavaria, fifth place in Germany)
For the city of Munich, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI*) reports an incidence of 1,604.2 on Tuesday, which means that it has fallen compared to the previous day (1708.6).
Omicron summit overcome? There are signs that the rules will be relaxed
The incidences are high, but the Omicron summit seems to be over soon: the signs point to further relaxation of the corona rules – only when, which and how? The first answers to this may already be available this Tuesday (February 15). Because the Bavarian cabinet is already meeting before the federal-state meeting on Wednesday.
Corona in Bavaria: Will the Söder cabinet decide on further easing?
It is expected that the cabinet will already decide on further easing, for example of contact restrictions. Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU *) wants to make a government statement in the state parliament on Tuesday afternoon. Before that – at 11.30 a.m. – there will be a press conference. Prime Minister Markus Söder, Health Minister Klaus Holetschek and Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger will also be there.
Söder calls for an exit strategy
On Monday, Söder called for a phased exit strategy from the corona restrictions, i.e. a phased plan to gradually reduce the rules nationwide. Among other things, he said: “The contact restrictions in the private sphere can now also be lifted.” So far, a maximum of ten people have been allowed to come together in private space, provided that everyone is vaccinated or recovered. As soon as an unvaccinated person is present, a household may only meet with a maximum of two other people. Further relaxations of the 2G and 3G rules are also conceivable.
The federal and state governments are now considering a three-stage plan for the extensive relaxation of the corona protection measures by mid-March. This is a proposal agreed between the Chancellery, the chair and co-chair of the Prime Ministers’ Conference (MPK), North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, which was made public on Monday. In a first step, private meetings for vaccinated and recovered people with more participants should be made possible – Bavaria should therefore anticipate this step on Tuesday. (came with dpa) *Merkur.de/bayern is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
List of rubrics: © Peter Kneffel/dpa/archive picture
