Here we go again: The carnival session started at 11.11 am on the Heumarkt in Cologne. How is it partying under corona conditions and with 2G? t-online was there live.
11.11. in Cologne: This is how the carnival started with the 2G rule
Photo series with 11 pictures
Despite a sharp increase in corona incidences and more than 50,000 new corona infections, it is on Thursday at 11.11 a.m the new carnival session has been opened with thousands of revelers. The 2G rule applies in Cologne: only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered have access to the closed off celebration zones outside. A negative corona test is not sufficient.
The city of Cologne draws a positive first conclusion
In a first balance of 11.11. it was said that the rescue service had reported 92 missions in the old town and in the Zülpicher district by 6 p.m., far fewer than in the years before Corona. By 4 p.m., a total of 64 wild peepers had also been warned by the regulatory office. In 53 cases, young people were spoken to in the context of youth protection. However, the rescue service had not given any assignments due to the abuse of alcohol and drugs by young people.
When accessing and checking 2G, there were "a few isolated cases" in which people without 2G proof got into the event zone. But that doesn't mean they didn't meet the 2G rule. In addition, the city issued up to 1,000 ribbons to employees of catering and commercial establishments who did not have to show proof of vaccination or recovery.
In the evening, the blocked entrances to the Zülpicher district were able to be reopened, and the situation relaxed. There was a dense crowd here and in the surrounding area.
Zülpicher district should no longer be headed for - rail traffic paralyzed by carnivalists
Due to the large number of visitors, the city of Cologne called on revelers on Thursday afternoon not to go to the popular Zülpicher district anymore. The party hotspot was "full" at 3:15 p.m., said a spokesman. The "relief areas" are now fully utilized.
The city of Cologne is asking all revelers to "stop going to the Zülpicher district." At 4:39 p.m., the situation seemed to have gotten even worse: the university meadows were full, and visitors were asked to clear the entrances and remain calm.
Heavy crowds on Zülpicher Strasse: access to the streets is partially blocked by the police. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
Apparently, revelers caused problems in rail traffic on several occasions: the city of Cologne reported in the afternoon that several people on the tracks had caused a disruption. A little later, no trains ran again because of people in the track bed, as reported by a t-online reporter.
Mayor Reker defends the start of carnival despite the increasing number of infections
"What if we had said: We'll do it like last year, no carnival will be celebrated," said Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker on Thursday a press conference. "I am firmly convinced that we would not have succeeded this year."
There are a lot of people who remember 11/11. would no longer simply be banned because it is part of the customs in Cologne. "I think they just won't put up with that anymore," said Reker. "I also believe that a complete ban would no longer have been legally possible."
Unfortunately, a repeated picture this year: wild peepers who don't want to stand in line at the dixi toilets. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
The situation is now very different than a year ago, when the carnival on 11.11. was actually cancelled. There are now a large number of vaccinated people, said Reker. She pointed out that 2G applies in all closed-off celebration zones, meaning that only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered are allowed there. There was a precise admission control.
Overcrowded streets in the Zülpicher district - in some cases no controls possible
On Zülpicher Straße and in the adjacent area, the revelers are packed tightly together - according to the police, admission has been stopped. According to t-online reporters, however, individual entrances to the party district are still open. There are also occasional problems with the controls. There are sometimes so many crowds that people can smuggle onto the site without showing proof of vaccination or proof of recovery.
Jan Böhmermann criticizes carnivalists
Satirist Jan Böhmermann (35) was critical of the crowds in Cologne at the start of the carnival. "Alaaf! Today as a 'sexy nurse' on Zülpicher Strasse, at Christmas as 'sexy intubated' in the university clinic!" Wrote the moderator on Thursday, looking at a video of the crowd celebrating on Zülpicher Strasse.
Bläck Fööss on the Heumarkt: Whether in front of or on the stage - the atmosphere was exuberant. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
Pub carnival with fewer guests - "Normally all hell breaks loose here"
Away from the big squares, the revelers flooded the pubs in Cologne in the pre-Corona times. Now, in the second year of the pandemic, there is not much going on, at least at the Hahnentor, as a t-online reporter reports. In the "Reissdorf am Hahnentor" there are only customers with a reservation in the guest room. Martin Schlueter, Managing Director: "We don't want a big party this year. We're celebrating with half the cast, we're usually 300 people in here at carnival."
Security man Thomas Lehmann, who was hired privately by Martin Schlueter: "This is my third year of carnival. Normally all hell breaks loose here. It's relatively quiet today, you can see that just by looking at the street. "
Guests in the "Reissdorf am Hahnentor": Normally, 300 guests fit into the pub, but because of Corona, the landlord decided to only let in half. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
Kölner jecken: "Corona incidences don't deter us"
Christoph, 27, who came from Rottweil in Baden-Württemberg, says about the increasing corona incidences: "We go to the carnival every year Cologne. We're not worried about Corona. We're all vaccinated and tested. It couldn't be better." His buddy Lukas, 21, says: "You can't go wrong with 2G and testing. It's nice that it's happening." Tim (35), who came from Berlin and is dressed as a cardinal, also tells a dpa reporter that the high incidence of corona did not deter him. "In itself it's the safest thing there is. It's 2G, it's out there, we're all vaccinated, we don't have any previous illnesses."
Disguised revelers in Cologne: Since everyone at the Heumarkt has been vaccinated or has recovered, they say they feel safe. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
President of the "Red Sparks": "We will have to live with Corona"
Heinz-Günther Hunold, President and Commander of the Red Sparks, has become thoughtful in view of the corona pandemic. He says: "Of course this is a special time. We will live with Corona, today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. We have to find a way back to life. For our party at the Maritim Hotel tonight we even decided on 2G+ at short notice and the people asked to be tested."
A steward checks a Jeckin for her vaccination status: Only those who have recovered or been vaccinated are allowed in. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
Long queue and large crowds in front of Cologne's Heumarkt
A long queue had already formed in front of the admission controls at Heumarkt at around 10 a.m. The crowd is big. The revelers, many of whom are dressed up in bright colors, line up several hundred meters behind each other. According to a t-online reporter, only a few people wear masks here too. Away from the Heumarkt, the city is not very crowded.
A long queue has formed in front of the entrance to the Heumarkt: Despite the corona pandemic, thousands wanted to celebrate the start of the carnival. (Source: Sommerfeld/t-online)
FC coach Baumgart dressed up as a "pig horn"
The head coach from 1. FC Köln appeared at the carnival training session in a pink piggy suit studded with a unicorn. In addition to this "pig horn" costume, he also wore sunglasses and a long, blond wig. FC professionals were also disguised. Modeste came as a doctor, Andersson as a knight.
FC trainer Steffen Baumgart during training on November 11th: He came dressed as a "pig horn". (Source: Bucco/imago images)
Jecken set out for the start of the carnival - many without masks
The regional train RB 48 in the direction of Leverkusen is already very full at around 9 a.m., the mood is good, as a t-online reporter reports. Many young people go to the carnival in Cologne. Only a few wear a mask here.
Mayor Reker: "Not a normal carnival start"
In view of the high incidence of corona, Cologne's mayor Henriette Reker advises celebrating the start of carnival outdoors. "Personally, I recommend celebrating in the fresh air," said the non-party politician of the German Press Agency.
Carnivalists on November 11th, 2019 in Cologne: This year the start of the carnival will take place under special conditions. (Source: Horst Galuschka/archive image/imago images)
"All restaurateurs, all organizers and we as a city have taken numerous measures to enable celebrations to be as safe as possible," assured Reker. "But we are all aware that there can be no absolute security." She therefore has great understanding for individual restaurateurs who do not open their pubs. She also understands well if someone doesn't feel like celebrating under the current circumstances.
1,000 police officers are to ensure order
A year ago on 11.11. for the first time in decades there was nothing going on. Due to the pandemic, it was "a completely normal weekday", as Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker put it. This year is different because a large part of the population has been vaccinated.
However, the number of infections has risen sharply again in recent weeks. The 2G rule therefore applies in the cordoned-off areas in Cologne's old town and in the Zülpicher district. How big the crowd will be there is unclear. In any case, the Cologne police want to show their presence and are deployed with 1,000 officers. The 11.11. is traditionally celebrated, especially in Cologne. Before Corona, several 100,000 guests always came to the city. 15,000 revelers are expected on the Heumarkt on Thursday.
Positive corona test at Cologne triumvirate
That's bitter: Shortly before the start of the carnival, the designated carnival prince Sven Oleff tested positive for the corona virus. He and his two co-regents have therefore canceled all appearances for the time being. Sven I. had been vaccinated twice and was not showing any symptoms, the Cologne Carnival festival committee announced on Wednesday.
