Corona has an impact on New Year’s Eve 2021. At the turn of the year, contact restrictions apply that you have to pay attention to when celebrating. The rules at a glance.
Update from Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 7.30 p.m.: After Christmas, private get-togethers for vaccinated and convalescent people should be limited to a maximum of ten people nationwide. On Tuesday (December 21st, 2021), Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced after the Corona summit with the federal states that the regulation should apply from December 28th.
With a view to New Year’s Eve, Scholz said: “It is currently no longer the time for parties and sociable evenings in large groups.” On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Eve, assembly bans apply, and the sale of fireworks is also prohibited. For those who have not been vaccinated, the tough restrictions that already apply now remain.
New Year’s Eve: Corona rules for the turn of the year 2021/2022
First report from Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 2.30 p.m.: Frankfurt am Main – During New Year’s Eve 2020, Germany was in what is known as a hard lockdown. This mainly affected the shops that had to close. Initially relaxed regulations were also withdrawn again for the turn of the year. For New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the resolution of December 13, 2020 provided for a ban on gathering and gathering. The sale of pyrotechnics was also generally banned.
Will these rules also apply this year? On December 21, 2021, the federal and state governments will again discuss measures to deal with the corona pandemic.
Firecracker ban on New Year’s Eve 2021: What applies in your own garden?
To get it straight: The provisions as we know them from 2020 will also apply in 2021. This means that there is a nationwide ban on gathering and gathering on New Year’s and New Year’s Day. In the resolution of December 2, 2021, it goes on to say: “In addition, there is a ban on fireworks in public spaces to be defined by the municipalities.” But what does that mean for the home garden or the courtyard entrance? In this case, it depends on the regulations of the respective federal states. At the moment, however, there are only a few bans regarding firecrackers near inner cities.
With regard to the sale of pyrotechnics, the decision also states: “The sale of pyrotechnics before New Year’s Eve is generally prohibited this year and the lighting of New Year’s Eve fireworks is strongly advised against, also against the background of the high risk of injury and the enormous burden on the health system.”
Contact restrictions: Can New Year’s Eve 2021 be celebrated at home?
Of course, the New Year can still be celebrated, but rules and contact restrictions apply here as well. The resolution states: “In districts with an incidence above 350 per 100,000 inhabitants, all contacts must be reduced. That is why there is a limit of 50 people (vaccinated and recovered) indoors and 200 people (vaccinated and recovered) outdoors for private celebrations and get-togethers.
But how do they shape these restrictions? “Private gatherings in public or private areas, in which non-vaccinated and unconcealed people take part, are limited to their own household and a maximum of two people from another household.” Children up to the age of 14 are excluded from this. Accordingly, “spouses or partners of a non-marital partnership” are considered to be a household, even if they have different domiciles. If only vaccinated and convalescent people take part in the celebrations, the contact restrictions do not apply. (lz)
Header list image: © Jean-Christophe Bott / dpa
