The Hesse state government's Corona Cabinet today approved a few changes, some of which will significantly alter the way the pandemic is handled. For example, it was decided to replace the incidence of infection as the sole indicator for coronavirus protection measures. In future, the hospitalisation incidence and the occupancy rate of intensive care beds will be key benchmarks for further protective measures. Furthermore, in addition to the mandatory 3G scheme in many indoor areas in Hesse, a 2G option model will also be introduced from 16 September. The 2G option offers above all organizers and private operators the possibility of admitting only vaccinated and recovered persons. In these cases, significant corona-related restrictions such as spacing rules or a mask requirement no longer apply there.
An important issue again this time was the faltering vaccination campaign. Under the motto #HierWirdGeimpft, the current vaccination campaign week of the federal and state governments draws attention to vaccination offers that are as low-threshold as possible. It thus complements the existing measures of the state government to promote vaccination. The website www.hierwirdgeimpft.de displays vaccination campaigns on a map of Germany and presents useful information.
An overview of the most important changes to the nationwide coronavirus protection ordinance (Effective Thursday, Sept. 16.):
3G
Interior: 3G requirements now apply nationwide in indoor areas of events, leisure facilities, museums, sports venues, catering establishments (except staff canteens) and in services close to the body. It is now not only the guests or customers who have to present a negative proof, but also the employees. The regular participation in twice-weekly company tests makes life easier for staff. In overnight establishments, negative proofs are required on arrival and for longer stays afterwards twice a week.
Outdoor: In outdoor areas, the requirement for 3G proof, where it previously applied, will be removed. Exception: negative proof must be provided for events with more than 1,000 guests.
2G option model
Promoters and private operators have the option of admitting only vaccinated and recovered individuals. Staff must also adhere to the 2G rule. In this case, significant corona-related restrictions are eliminated: Spacing rules are eliminated, as are mask requirements and capacity restrictions. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the 2G requirement.
Events (more than 25 people)
Events can be held in 3G or also in 2G option model. Accordingly, staff must also comply.
Indoor: 3G, mask requirement up to the square, up to 500 people plus vaccinated and convalescents permit-free.
Outdoors: up to 1,000 people plus vaccinated and convalescent permit-free. Requires permit for more than 1,000 people.
A clearance and hygiene plan must be in place for 3G events.
Contact data collection
Due to the increasing vaccination rate, the contact data collection is omitted in large parts. In principle, already in Hesse, vaccinated and recovered persons only have to be quarantined if they have tested positive. The 2G regulations already cover around 62 percent of fully vaccinated and all recovered Hessians. Therefore, in the future, contact tracing will only continue to be necessary in facilities with persons at particular risk. This concerns in particular hospitals as well as old people's and nursing homes. Also in the operation of discotheques and brothels, contact tracing continues to be mandatory for both 3G and the 2G option model.
Hospitalisation incidence and intensive care bed occupancy replaces 7-day incidence
Until now, 7-day incidence has been the key criterion for determining protective measures. In view of the vaccination progress to be recorded, Hesse is now looking primarily at the capacities of the health care system. In a two-step escalation level concept, hospitalization incidence and intensive care bed occupancy are now indicators for more far-reaching protective measures. Hospitalization incidence describes how many people per 100,000 population were newly hospitalized for Corona disease in the past seven days nationwide. Total bed occupancy and also the 7-day incidence of new infections continue to be considered and monitored as additional factors, as does the number of persons fully vaccinated against Corona disease.
Current hospitalization incidence: 2.51.
Intensive care bed occupancy: 146 (136 with confirmed corona infection, 10 suspected cases)
Stage 1 becomes relevant when
the hospitalization score rises above 8
or the number of intensive care patients exceeds 200.
Further measures to contain the pandemic become necessary, for example. Test detection only by PCR test or an extension of the 3-G rule to more areas.
Stage 2 will come into play if
the hospitalization score rises above 15
or the number of ICU patients exceeds 400.
Once again additional measures become necessary, e.g. access only with 2G.
Children and adolescents
Children and adolescents up to 12 years of age may participate in 2G services and events without vaccination. Generally, children do not need negative proof for 3G if they are younger than 6 years old or have not yet started school.
Mask requirement: a medical mask must be worn in school buildings. This does not apply in the seat, outdoors, or during school sports. Exception: during the two-week protection weeks following the holidays or in the event of a major outbreak in the school or during the 14 days following a confirmed infection in the classroom. There is no mask requirement in daycare.
Quarantine
Vaccinated and recovered persons are generally exempt from quarantine.
Infected people must be quarantined for 14 days, as must their household members.
However, infected children U6 as well as children before school enrollment and students can be tested from the 7th day of infection. Day of infection with PCR test freitesten.
Household members (children/siblings) of infected no earlier than day 10 (because of incubation period).
in case of PCR-confirmed infection, the whole class/group is regularly no longer sent into quarantine across the board, but only close contacts (e.g. (for all others it is valid for 14 days: daily tests and mask also at the place).
the close contact persons (seat neighbours) can be exempted from the fifth day after detection of the infection.
(Only) unvaccinated or recovered children and adolescents with COVID symptoms (fever, cough, loss of sense of taste and smell) are banned from school and daycare; however, they may be cleared.
