Corona emergency brake in Berlin: These steps backwards threaten

• The corona easing could be withdrawn at the meeting of the country leaders with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.
• The federal and state governments agreed on this Corona “emergency brake” at the beginning of March, provided that the number of infections continues to rise.
• What would the withdrawal of the easing mean for Berlin? What could happen in schools and daycare centers, in retail, in museums and in recreational sports? All regulations at a glance.

Berlin. Due to rising corona numbers, the easing in force in Germany has recently come into question again. Some federal states have already announced or pulled an “emergency brake” because the so-called incidence there has consistently exceeded 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week. This means that the easing that was last decided will be reversed.

In Berlin, too, the Senate could take a corresponding decision on Tuesday. Prior to this, the country chiefs discussed with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on Monday how to proceed in the corona pandemic.

At their most recent posting on March 3, the federal and state governments had agreed: “If the 7-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants exceeds 100 on three consecutive days in a state or region, the rules apply from the second following working day, which were valid until March 7th, come back into force (emergency brake). “

What could that mean for Berlin?

Coronavirus in Berlin, Germany and the world – more on the topic

Corona and the schools in Berlin: back to distance teaching

After about two months in lockdown, the schools began gradually opening up to alternating classes on February 22nd – students in grades 1 to 3 made the start. Grades 4 to 6 followed on March 9, and grades 10 to 10 followed on March 17 13th

If Berlin were to implement the agreements on the emergency brake to the letter, students in grades 4 to 6 and 10 to 13 would have to switch back to distance learning, i.e. learn completely at home. However, the Standing Conference stressed that schools should be kept open as long as possible.

Daycare centers in Berlin: New emergency operation

The daycare centers could go into emergency operation again and – depending on the parents’ occupation and other criteria – only look after some of the children. They have only been in full operation again since March 16.

Hairdressers in Berlin could theoretically stay open

Hairdressers have been allowed to reopen since March 1st and would theoretically not fall under the emergency brake. The situation is different for providers of “facial services” such as cosmetic salons. They were allowed to reopen on March 9, under strict precautions, which could now change again.

Contact restrictions in Berlin: renewed tightening

The contact restrictions could be tightened again. Then meetings would only be possible with someone outside the household, plus children. As of March 7th, gatherings with five people from two households, plus children under the age of 14, have been allowed.

Retail in Berlin: No Click & Meet, no time slots

In the retail trade, some things would no longer be allowed that would work again with the easing from March 7th: Shops would then no longer be able to offer the so-called Click & Meet, shopping on a pre-booked date and for a fixed time window for a limited number of customers. The offer is currently from department stores to hardware stores. The opening of flower shops and garden centers, which has come with the recent easing, is just as much an option as that of driving schools. It is different with the Berlin bookstores: They were also open beforehand.

Zoo and animal park: animal houses and aquarium closed again

Zoo and animal park would not be generally affected by a withdrawal of the easing, they were allowed to let visitors in beforehand. However, entry into the animal houses and the aquarium, which has recently been permitted under strict conditions, as well as a mask requirement would be off the table.

Museums, galleries, memorials in Berlin: new closings

This also applies to museums, galleries and memorials, which have only gradually reopened under certain conditions in the past few days and have reported huge interest in the tickets that can be booked online.

Sport in Berlin: stricter restrictions threaten

Steps backwards are also conceivable in outdoor sports: it is currently permitted with up to five people from up to two households if there is no contact. It is also possible to do sports together in fixed groups of up to 20 children up to 12 years of age. Stricter restrictions are looming here again.

In the discussion about the emergency brake a few days ago, the health administration made it clear that there is no automatism here for Berlin. The Senate is always responsible for each individual step.

Corona – More information on the topic

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