Federal Council approves catalog of measures to combat Corona
19.11.2021 11:54
On November 19, 2021, the Federal Council unanimously approved changes to the Infection Protection Act and other laws to combat the corona pandemic, which the Bundestag had passed just one day earlier. The legislative package can then be sent to the Federal President for signature. It should come into force the day after it is announced in the Federal Law Gazette.
Nationwide catalog as a legal basis for restrictions
The background to the change in the law is that the epidemic situation of national concern as determined by the 19th German Bundestag expires on November 25, 2021 and was not extended by the 20th German Bundestag. In the future, a new, nationwide catalog of measures will serve as the legal basis for restrictions on fundamental rights and protective measures.
It allows the official ordering of distance requirements in public spaces, contact restrictions in private and public spaces, mask requirements as well as the obligation to present proof of vaccination, recovery or testing, hygiene concepts - also specifying upper personal limits, requirements for the operation of community facilities such as universities or Adult education institutions and the processing of contact details of customers, guests or participants in an event. In individual cases, the closure of facilities is permitted - but the special needs of children and young people must be taken into account.
Transitional regulation, country opening clause, time limit
A transitional rule ensures that certain measures already decided by the states can remain in place until December 15, 2021. In special cases of concrete epidemic danger, the states can issue further orders if their respective state parliaments pass corresponding resolutions. However, general exit restrictions or bans on events and gatherings are excluded. The protective measures are generally limited until March 19, 2022. An extension of the deadline by three months is only possible with a resolution of the Bundestag.
3G regulation in local and long-distance public transport
A newly worded Section 28b of the Infection Protection Act introduces the so-called 3G regulation in the workplace and in local and long-distance public transport. Employees should work from home as much as possible. In order to better protect vulnerable groups, testing is mandatory for employers, employees and visitors in hospitals, prevention and rehabilitation facilities. Social and economic cushioning Hospitals receive a care premium for every Covid-19 patient they admit. The special rules for care and simplified access to basic security as well as the simplified asset check in the child allowance will continue to apply until the end of March 2022. The special rules on child sickness benefit and the minimum income limit in artists' social insurance will be extended to 2022.
Penalties for forged documents
The law defines penalties for the unauthorized or incorrect issuing of health certificates and their use, as well as for incorrect vaccination and test documentation or corresponding certificates and the production of blank vaccination cards.