Video conference of the Federal Chancellor with the heads of the government of the German states on 19 January 2021

Courtesy Photo | Icon to accompany courtesy translations of federal press releases  

WIESBADEN, HESSEN, GERMANY

01.20.2021

Story by Nadine Bower 

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden   

Press release of the Federal Chancellor with the heads of the government of the German states from 19 January 2021
Courtesy Translation: Lena Stange and Nadine Bower, USAG Wiesbaden Public Affairs

Video conference of the Federal Chancellor with the heads of the government of the German states on 19 January 2021

Decision

The Federal Chancellor and the heads of the governments of the German states take the following decision:

At the beginning of 2021, there is great hope in the Corona pandemic. The approval of two vaccines, the start of vaccinations and the prospect of further vaccines are linked to the hope that the pandemic can be overcome this year. This was the goal of the federal and state governments from the very beginning: as soon as all citizens can be offered vaccinations with appropriate availability, there is a perspective for normalizing our daily lives and returning to a life without restrictions caused by a pandemic.

It is also clear that the restrictions that have been in effect since 16 December are working and that new infections are going down. The federal and state governments note with relief that the burden on hospitals and intensive care units is now slightly reduced, but is still at a high level. This also has a lot to do with the good behavior of the citizens during the Christmas holidays. The Chancellor and the state governments are grateful for this.

At the beginning of this new year, however, there are also major challenges: vaccine quantities – despite all efforts to deliver vaccines early and additional production capacities – will remain scarce in the coming months, so that a relaxation of the situation due to vaccination immunity in the population is not yet expected. However, the ongoing vaccinations will increase the protection of particularly vulnerable groups. Winter is also a time when respiratory diseases spread easily, making it difficult to control the virus. In addition, all citizens are strained by the long months of life in the pandemic and want to see some relief from the pandemic restrictions soon.

However, the main concern is the finding of mutations of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The British health authorities and the vast majority of researchers are very alarmed because epidemiological evidence suggests that the mutation B1.1.7 is significantly more infectious than the virus that we know so far. Similar to the time of the beginning of the pandemic with regard to the virus, there is now no clear certainty regarding the properties of the new mutation. Since the mutation B.1.1.7 has already been detected in Germany, the federal government and the state governments jointly believe that the current state of knowledge requires preventive action, because the consequences of spreading a virus mutation with a higher contagion potential would mean a serious aggravation of the pandemic situation. For this reason, the precautionary principle requires that the further entry to Germany and the spread of mutations in Germany must be prevented as far as possible.

The German Chancellor and the state governments have therefore met today for a conference in order to significantly accelerate the decline in the number of infections in Germany in order to avert the risks posed by the mutation. With a lower reproduction count, the reproduction of a possibly more contagious mutation will also be strongly inhibited. This requires further action. A rapid reduction in the number of infections means that health authorities can remain in control of the infection chains again to prevent a further exponential increase of new infections.

The essential success factor for all measures is the willingness of the citizens to implement the measures in their daily lives in such a way that the virus really has no chance of spreading. The vast majority of people in Germany has been doing this with great discipline for almost a year now. However, mobility data show that public life declined more sharply in March and April of 2020. That is why the federal and state governments are now once again appealing to all citizens: the next few weeks in the pandemic are crucial. We need to permanently reduce the number of infections to a 7-day incidence of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, so that we can regain normality, similar to last summer, when infection levels were low.

If the virus mutations actually prove to be significantly more contagious, a further significant worsening of the situation is likely. This must be avoided. That is why we now need a joint effort by the federal government, the economy and the society to quickly reduce the number of new infections.

Against this background, the Federal Chancellor and the Heads of the State Governments agree on the following:

1. The previous decisions of the federal and state governments remain in effect. The additional or amended measures from this decision will be implemented swiftly by the federal and state governments. All measures based on these joint decisions will initially apply for a limited period until 14 February 2021. The Federal Government and the state governments will meet again before the measures expire in order to discuss the procedure after the 14 February. A working group at the level of the chief of the Federal Chancellery and the heads of the state and senate offices is tasked with developing a concept for a safe and fair re-opening strategy.

2. The Federal Chancellor and the state governments are urging all citizens to keep all contacts to the absolutely necessary minimum and to stay at home as far as possible over the next three weeks. Private meetings are still permitted in the circle of the members of one’s own household and with one person not living in the household. This contributes significantly to the reduction of the risk of infection if the number of households from which the other persons come is kept as constant and as small as possible ("social bubble").

3. Wearing mouth-nose coverings has proven to be a particularly effective measure in the pandemic. Especially against the background of possible contagious mutations, the federal and state governments point out that medical masks (i.e. so-called surgical masks or masks of the standards KN95/N95 or FFP2) have a higher protective effect than everyday masks, which are not subject to standardization in terms of their effect. For this reason, the obligation to wear mouth-nose coverings on public transport as well as in stores is made mandatory on an obligation to wear medical masks. In general, the use of medical masks is recommended in situations where closer or prolonged contact with other persons, especially in enclosed spaces, is unavoidable.

4. The aim of the federal and state governments is to reduce contacts in public transport in such a way that the number of passengers decreases significantly and thus distances can be maintained. This objective is to be achieved through extensive use of home office facilities, the reduction of passenger traffic during peak hours of professional and school traffic and, where possible and necessary, by using additional vehicles. In addition, an obligation to wear medical masks is introduced in public transport.

5. The operation of childcare facilities and schools is of the utmost importance for the education of children and for the combination of family life and professional life of parents. Closed schools and childcare facilities, suspended attendance and distance learning in schools over a longer period of time are not without negative consequences for the educational development and the social participation of children and young people. Nevertheless, there is serious evidence that the mutation B.1.1.7 of the SARS-CoV2 virus is also more widespread among children and adolescents than is the case with the previously known virus. It is therefore necessary to extend the decision of 13 December 2020 to 14 February 2021. Accordingly, the schools will remain closed or/and the obligation to be present in school is suspended. In daycare centers, the same procedure is used. The Federal Government and the state governments would like to express their gratitude to teachers, educators and the pedagogical staff in schools and day care center staff for overcoming the major challenges in the pandemic. Their health and safety at work is a high priority.

6. Special protective measures must be taken for senior citizens’ and nursing homes. High incidences in the elderly population and numerous outbreaks in such facilities in recent weeks, despite all the measures already taken, such as the implementation of hygiene concepts and the provision of protective equipment, have made this clear once again. While working with the residents, the staff of senior citizens’ and nursing homes is required to wear FFP2 masks. Quick tests upon entry of the facilities will be of particular importance, at least until the vaccinations with both doses of vaccination are completed in the facilities and the people have built up a corresponding immunity. That is why the states have decided to have the staff in those facilities be tested several times a week, on the basis of the joint decision from 13 December 2020. In many cases, the facilities lack the human resources to carry out such quick tests on site, although the financing of both the acquisition and the tests is guaranteed by the federal test ordinance. The institutions have a responsibility to ensure a comprehensive implementation of the testing ordinance. The federal government and the state governments have launched a joint initiative based on existing measures of the states to bring Bundeswehr (German Army) soldiers and, in the second step, volunteers temporarily to the facilities for carrying out quick tests.

The aid organizations in Germany will take over the appropriate training. The local associations coordinate to cover regional needs and the Federal Employment Agency will support the mediation. In addition to senior citizens’ homes and nursing homes, facilities for people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable places with increased infection. It is therefore important that sufficient testing can also be carried out in these facilities. For providers of integration assistance, the federal government takes over the personnel costs for the test. The material costs are covered by the regulation already adopted in the Coronavirus Test Ordinance.

7. Religious services in churches, synagogues and mosques as well as the meetings of other religious communities are only permitted under the following conditions: The minimum distance of 1.5 meters is maintained, the obligation to wear a medical mask also applies while seated, communal singing is prohibited, meetings with more than 10 participants must be announced to the competent public order office (Ordnungsamt) no later than two working days in advance, unless general agreements have been made with the relevant authorities.

8. In view of the pandemic situation, further reduction of epidemiologically relevant contacts in the professional setting is also necessary. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will issue a decree for a limited period until 15 March 2021, according to which employers are required to enable employees to work in the home office wherever possible, if their work permits it. This reduces contacts at the place of work, but also on the way to work. The Chancellor and the state governments are asking the workers to take advantage of the offer.

Where presence at the workplace is still required, areas of work in a confined space must continue to reduce the occupancy of rooms as part of the implementation of COVID19 occupational safety standards, or medical masks must be provided by the employer and must be used where sufficient distances cannot be kept.

In order to further reduce the number of passengers on public transport during peak working hours, companies are asked to use flexible working hours wherever possible in such a way that the number of passengers is reduced as much as possible at the beginning and end of the work day.

In order to further stimulate the economy and promote digitalization, certain digital assets will be depreciated immediately with retroactive effect to 1 January 2021. In this respect, the costs of computer hardware and software for data entry and processing can be fully included in the tax statement in the year of acquisition or production. At the same time, everyone who works in the home office also benefits from this. The implementation is to be regulated under the law and thus will be made available quickly.

9. The infection process develops differently from region to region. The goal of a 7-day incidence of 50 has largely not yet been achieved. In districts and states with high incidences, the states will continue to take extensive local and regional measures in accordance with the Infection Protection Act that go beyond the general rules. Even with regionally decreasing incidences, it has to be taken into account that different measures in the various districts and states might lead to evasive movements by citizens and a renewed increase in the incidence. Against the backdrop of a potential spread of the virus mutation that is to be avoided, the regional measures have to be adapted in a way that an incidence of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week by mid-February is still realistic even in regions with currently very high incidence rates. When assessing the proportionality of the measures, it should also be taken into account that - if this goal cannot be achieved and against the backdrop of the virus mutation- effective containment of the spread of the coronavirus disease would be significantly jeopardized and comprehensive protective measures are therefore required.

10. Since vaccinations started in Germany on Dec. 27, 2020, over one million citizens have been vaccinated in Germany. The second part of the vaccination (at least three weeks apart from the first vaccination) has started. Almost 50 percent of the residents of nursing homes have already been vaccinated. The federal and state governments are sticking to their goal of offering vaccination to all residents of care facilities by mid-February at the latest. Deliveries went according to plan until Jan. 18/19, 2021. Then, the federal and state governments were unexpectedly informed last Friday via the EU Commission that Pfizer / BioNtech would not be able to fully meet the delivery quantities already promised for the next two to three weeks due to renovations at the Puur plant. According to Pfizer, the building modifications will serve to increase capacities starting mid-February. It has now been promised that the quantities announced for the first quarter will be delivered in full in the first quarter despite these modifications. The federal and state governments ask the EU Commission to clarify the situation in the negotiations with Pfizer / BioNtech and to secure the further deliveries and delivery dates as soon as possible for at least the first quarter. The federal government and the federal states are counting on the fact that, following the approvals of the vaccines from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, the schedule announced by the EMA will also lead to the approval of the vaccine from AstraZeneca by the end of January, provided that no unexpected results are found in the testing of the submitted data.

The approval of this third vaccine for the European Union would enable a significant increase in the availability of vaccinations in the first quarter. The federal government and the federal states welcome the enormous willingness to cooperate that is evident in the German and European pharmaceutical industry. After the federal government has been promoting and accompanying this type of cooperation since the spring, after the approval of the first vaccines, even more efforts are developing from mechanical engineering to manufacturers of preliminary products in the chemical industry to expanding filling capacities in order to increase production and filling capacities as quickly as possible.

A particular challenge here is that the mRNA technology is a completely new technology that requires special technical expertise and a special production environment. In this light, the announced collaboration between CureVac and Bayer is to be welcomed. The supervisory and approval authorities of the federal government and the respective countries will accelerate the necessary procedures by pooling resources and shortening the formal processes. This contributes to the common goal of making vaccinations available by the end of summer to all those in Germany who want to be vaccinated. This goal can be achieved if the approvals and the promised delivery quantities occur as planned.

The federal minister of health and the ministers of health of the federal states are asked to keep the logistics concept for the vaccination campaign up to date. The federal government will provide the states with reliable delivery times based on manufacturer reports in order to enable reliable schedule management. A planning horizon of six weeks is desirable for this.

11. It is essential to get an overview of the spread of mutations in Germany through increased sequencing. For this reason, the Federal Ministry of Health issued a coronavirus surveillance ordinance for the first time on Jan. 18, 2021, which creates the prerequisites (structure, remuneration, reporting channels, etc.) so that more genome sequence data of the variants of the virus circulating in Germany will be available for analysis and reported to the RKI in order to quickly identify relevant known and, above all, new mutations and their distribution and to initiate measures. The federal government will present an initial evaluation of the results available by the beginning of February.

12. The federal and state governments thank the employees in the health authorities for the important work that they have been doing for almost a year under high work pressure to control the pandemic. In view of the high incidence of infections, work had to be prioritized in many cases in the past few months and complete contact tracing was no longer possible. The basis of the opening strategy is regaining and maintaining control of the infection process through complete contact tracing. For this, it is necessary to put the health authorities in a position to be able to do this in terms of organization and personnel. Therefore, the federal states will - where necessary - increase the personnel capacities of the health authorities so that comprehensive contact tracing can be guaranteed at least up to a 7-day incidence of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants. The federal government is supporting the federal states through a joint initiative in which university students are supposed to be trained in the SORMAS system in order to hopefully support contact tracing during the upcoming semester break from mid-February to mid-April.

13. In order to relieve the committed employees in the local health authorities from unnecessary efforts in their important work in this pandemic, the federal government and partners have (further) developed digital tools for daily work, also implementing the applicable data security and data protection requirements. Against the backdrop of the need to ensure complete traceability of the infection chains by the health authorities in the near future, the comprehensive use of SORMAS (Surveillance Outbreack Response Management and Analysis System) is necessary for better management of contact persons and contact chains.
The federal states will ensure that all public health authorities will use SORMAS and DEMIS in the future through corresponding guidelines. The federal government will provide the necessary technical resources. SORMAS is to be installed in all health offices by the end of February. The federal states will agree on a procedure for the connection or integration of their currently used software systems with the SORMAS developers.

14. The extension of the measures presents companies and employees with further challenges. Therefore, the interim aid III of the federal government will be improved again. For the particularly affected retail trade, the commercial law depreciation on non-salable seasonal goods is taken into account in the fixed costs. The federal government will also simplify the entry requirements overall and significantly increase the maximum monthly funding for companies and self-employed people. Since many companies are coming up against the applicable state aid ceilings in view of the duration of the pandemic, the German government is urging the European Commission to raise the maximum rates. The federal government will increase the partial payments significantly and transfer them directly.

The federal states will handle the regular payouts. After the federal government has created the prerequisites, the federal and state governments will realize the payments as quickly as possible. The partial payments for interim aid III will be made in February. The procedures are programmed in time so that the final payments by the federal states will be made in March. The obligation to file for insolvency for managers of companies, who are entitled to receiving financial assistance in the framework of government aid programs to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and who have submitted correspondingly a promising application in a timely manner, will be suspended until the end of April.

15. The WHO has repeatedly stated that, because of its freedom of movement, the European Union should also be regarded as one area from an epidemiological point of view. In the past few months, a different infection rate and different restriction measures have led to the fact that the infection rate between Germany and neighboring countries influenced one another despite the measures taken.

Against the backdrop of possible mutations that spread dominantly, the need for a common strategy against the spread of the virus and to combat the mutants is of the utmost importance. Therefore, at the European Council Jan. 21, 2021, Germany will campaign for comparable and synchronized measures in European countries to detect and contain virus mutants and to reduce the incidence of infections in general in order to avoid further restrictions on entry.

Already this week, the federal government issued an entry ordinance that replaces the existing entry restrictions for the United Kingdom and South Africa, which were put in place shortly before Christmas. The new ordinance applies generally to travelers entering Germany from countries that count as distribution areas of problematic virus variants. The ordinance includes - besides regulations for carriers - also stricter testing and quarantine obligations.

Germany has also introduced a test obligation upon entry from risk areas in addition to the existing ten-day quarantine obligation, which can be tested out of with a negative corona test taken not earlier than the fifth day of quarantine (two-test strategy). The special situation of the border regions (cross-border commuters) was also taken into account in this new strategy. The obligation to test upon entry can be met by testing within 48 hours prior to arrival or by testing immediately after entry. In the case of mutation areas, the test before entry is mandatory. The federal government and the states emphasize once again that travel to risk areas without good reason should be avoided and that, in addition to the test and quarantine obligation, there is an obligation to digitally register for entries from risk areas.

• Date Taken: 01.20.2021
• Date Posted: 01.21.2021 05:15
• Story ID: 387207
• Location: WIESBADEN, HESSEN, DE