As a model municipality, Cuxhaven wants to relax the corona rules

Answer questions

Stand date: 6. April 2021.

:
Carolin Henkenberens and Joschka Schmitt

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Life should return to selected inner cities in Lower Saxony. In addition to Oldenburg and Achim, Cuxhaven is one of 14 selected model municipalities that are allowed to open.

What are the prerequisites for the easing as a model municipality?

All municipalities that the state of Lower Saxony has selected for the model test must have a corona incidence of less than 100. The city of Cuxhaven fulfills this requirement.

What can open from when in Cuxhaven?

The pilot project in Cuxhaven, initially planned for three weeks, is to start between April 12th and 15th. Within a “safe zone” in the city center and on the so-called fish mile, retailers, services, restaurants and cultural offerings are allowed to reopen. So all shops, outdoor areas of cafes and restaurants but also a cinema and a fitness studio – but only for residents of the city with a negative quick test and in compliance with the general Corona rules.

How exactly does it work?

The people of Cuxhaven can go to test centers as often as they want, have a free smear taken and then receive a QR code on their cell phone or a paper ticket. If the test is negative, they can shop or go to a café for 24 hours. However, the self-tests for at home do not apply to this. The Luca app is also used in Cuxhaven. In addition, the mayor of Cuxhaven, Uwe Santjer, would like scientific support for the experiment.

What happens if the corona numbers increase?

That is exactly what happened in Tübingen. There they also experimented with opening scenarios. Therefore, there should be a ripcord in this model project. According to the guidelines of the state of Lower Saxony, this should take effect at an incidence of over 200. According to Santjer, the attempt could also be stopped much earlier. So even with an incidence of well below 200, if this requires the utilization of the health system. However, Santjer is convinced that infections tend to take place inside rather than outside at private meetings.

Why all this at all?

“Some are actually insecure, which I can understand very well,” said Santjer to Buten un inside. “But on the other hand there is the longing of the people to experience a piece of normality again.” He is convinced that this model can be used to develop an exercise character for the future. There was broad consensus for Cuxhaven’s application that it was also supported by hotel representatives or the Dehoga association. Now one wants to create new perspectives in the pandemic.