Coronavirus: German states plan December offensive

Spurred on by Chancellor Angela Merkel to come up with a “cohesive, collective answer” on how Germany should try to get the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in check, state premiers are working on new proposals for the period from December 1.

After being rebuffed last week in her bid to intensify some aspects of Germany’s lockdown, Merkel has put the onus back on regional leaders to come up with a concept on which they can all agree. They are set to present their finalized proposal to the chancellor on Wednesday.

Judging by the early information, the states are planning to tighten the screws in general — a response to Friday’s record daily tally of 23,648 new cases. However, regional leaders are also dangling a few carrots alongside their lockdown stick: regions with lower caseloads should be able to ease restrictions by themselves, and moratoriums are being considered for Christmas and possibly New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Here are some of the highlights from a draft proposal that was circulating on Monday.

Extending the partial lockdown

In the broadest strokes, the restrictions imposed this November are set for an extension for at least three weeks, until December 20.

Hotels, restaurants, and gyms will remain closed. People should stay at home as much as possible, avoiding unnecessary travel and contact.

Masks and meetings

• Private gatherings will be limited to members of two households and up to five people
• Children under 14 years of age will not be counted among the five
• Masks to remain mandatory in publicly-accessible buildings, shops, and public transport
• Possible requirement to wear masks outdoors in areas where large numbers often congregate

Christmas exemptions

To apply from December 21 to at least December 27

• Meetings involving people from more than two households to be permitted
• Maximum of five may be increased to 10 people (under-14’s still exempt)
• Afterwards, people will be encouraged to voluntarily self-isolate for several days
• Churches may be permitted to conduct festive ceremonies — aiming to avoid typical, larger services

New Year’s celebrations

• Letting off fireworks in streets to be discouraged or perhaps banned
• Sale, purchase and release of fireworks might even be banned outright

Schools

• Masks should also be required in classes (currently they are required only when moving around the school, not at desks) from year 7 upwards in areas with more than 50 cases per 100,000 residents
• However, schools that can demonstrate no infections can be exempt
• The decision on implementing home-schooling to rest with individual states
• When a case is registered in a class, students and teacher should go into 5-day quarantine and then undergo rapid tests, provided by the government

Economic stimulus

• Existing programs to support businesses, the self-employed, and clubs or societies should be extended
• States will encourage the federal government to consider extending its bridging loans for businesses in particular difficulties with no sign of reprieve — like the cultural, travel, and event sectors — until mid-2021
• Examining whether statutory health funds need additional assistance, amid lower earnings for many members, is also recommended

“We must extend the lockdown,” Bavarian state premier Markus Söder wrote on Twitter. “Sadly the numbers are still too high. If we stop the treatment too early, we risk a severe deterioration. Then everything starts again from scratch. Better a longer lockdown now than a total one at Christmas.”