The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is satisfied with the “water level report”. “The corona level is still stable and is going down slightly,” he emphasized after the cabinet meeting in Munich. However, the so-called delta variant, which is increasing all over Europe, requires “us to be smart in dealing with it,” warned the Prime Minister. The state government does not want to dampen the joy of life, but also does not want to disregard caution. The new Corona resolutions at a glance.
Corona measures are being extended
The corona protective measures are basically being extended: According to Söder, the regulations of the current Bavarian corona regulation should essentially apply for a further four weeks.
Although the federal emergency brake expires on Wednesday, clear rules should continue to apply in the Free State in the event of rising corona numbers. With a 7-day incidence over 100, the municipalities are obliged to impose “intensive” restrictions after consulting the Ministry of Health, explained the Prime Minister. From a value over 50, stricter contact restrictions, stricter rules for events and a “general test obligation for gastronomy, sport and culture” continue to come into force.
Mask requirement in class is relaxed
According to Söder, the overall “relatively comfortable” corona situation enables further cautious easing steps – for example in schools. Last week there were already reliefs in the mask requirement in elementary schools, now a new regulation for secondary schools follows. If the incidence is below 25, teachers and students are allowed to remove their mouth and nose cover from their place in the classroom from Thursday.
In the playground, the mask requirement had already been lifted, so it is only valid almost everywhere in Bavaria in “encounter traffic”, as Minister of Education Michael Piazolo (Free Voters) said – for example in the corridors and toilets.
More tests planned in schools
The regular tests by schoolchildren are to be further intensified. Two corona tests per week are still mandatory so that children and young people can take part in lessons. In addition, there should be the recommendation to even carry out three tests a week. According to Söder, details should still be clarified.
More mobile air filters in schools and daycare centers
In time for the new school year, tens of thousands of mobile ventilation devices are to be purchased in Bavaria. The goal is “that there is a mobile fan in every classroom in September,” said Söder. So far there is such a device in around 14,000 Bavarian classrooms and 1,000 daycare centers. “We want that to be expanded.” Fans should be purchased for around 60,000 classrooms and 52,000 daycare rooms.
There will be no obligation on the part of the Free State, because the state of Bavaria and the respective municipality should share the costs equally, according to the Prime Minister: “Everyone has to make a contribution so that the schools are safe.”
More viewers at cultural and sporting events
From Thursday, 1,500 instead of 500 people will be allowed to attend cultural and sporting events, meetings and congresses outdoors – “always with a mask to the square” and hygiene measures, as Söder explained. A maximum of 200 instead of the previous 100 of the permitted spaces may be standing.
Nothing will change for indoor events: According to the State Chancellery, indoor approval applies as before, depending on the room capacity, but no more than 1,000 people.
Later curfew for restaurants – no prospects for clubs
Restaurants, cafes and the like are allowed to stay open one hour longer than before: The curfew will be postponed from midnight to 1 a.m.
Meanwhile, Söder has no hope of opening up quickly for the “night-time gastronomy”, i.e. clubs and discos. For the time being there could be no perspective for them. Because the majority of customers are young people without a vaccination. There will be no folk festivals for the time being, “not even smaller ones”. The Prime Minister named the spread of the Corona variant Delta, which was first detected in India, as the reason.
Supraregional markets possible
Supra-regional markets are allowed again – with a protection and hygiene concept. So far, only small, local markets have been possible, explained Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters). Markets that attract a supraregional audience enable the municipalities, according to the minister, to set Sundays open again: “This door is now open again.”
Children should learn in sports clubs – and to swim
The state government wants to raise several million euros for an “active promotion of physical activity” among children and at the same time support for sports clubs: the Free State should pay the annual membership fee for elementary school students who join a sports club in the new school year. Every elementary school child should receive a corresponding voucher of 30 euros on the first day of school. A voucher worth 50 euros should be given to first graders and preschool children so that they can get the early swimmer badge, the “seahorse”. According to Söder, this will cost a total of 15 to 16 million euros.
Summer pass for school graduates
After the Corona months, schoolchildren of all graduating classes in Bavaria receive a summer pass as a “sign of recognition for successfully completing school” in Bavaria as well as free on ships of the Bayerische Seenschifffahrt. Around 250,000 young people should receive the summer pass when they receive their certificates. “Indirectly, this is also boosting tourism again,” emphasized Söder.
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