Dreyer/Hoch: Rhineland-Palatinate acts resolutely and places hope in the new federal-state crisis management team for the vaccination campaign "The situation is very serious. A new, even more contagious corona variant and vaccination protection that wears off faster than expected mean that we are faced with a great effort this winter, which can only succeed if we work together. The state government will increase the protective measures again and continue to push vaccination. We also need the solidarity and discipline of the citizens again. Even if the situation in Rhineland-Palatinate is better than in many other countries, we also see that the incidences are increasing everywhere and the burden in hospitals is reaching a limit in many places. In the past few days, hospitals in Rhineland-Palatinate have admitted corona intensive care patients from other countries such as Bavaria. This shows that the pandemic is hitting all of Germany hard. We are all closely connected through the solidarity distribution of intensive care patients. That is why, in an act of national solidarity, we want to ensure that the number of infections falls and our entire health system is relieved,” said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer after the talks between the heads of state and the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and the incoming Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"In the past, I have repeatedly called for a permanent joint crisis management team with constant scientific support alongside the Prime Ministers' Conference. That is why I am very pleased that the incoming Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has set up a federal and state crisis management team in the Federal Chancellery, which will start work immediately. We have to vaccinate ourselves out of the situation and for this we need up to 30 million vaccinations in Germany (first, second and booster vaccination) by Christmas. For this and for other tasks such as vaccination logistics and vaccine deliveries, the literally 'general staff' work of the new crisis management team headed by Major General Breuer is just right. Major General Breuer is a good friend of ours. He was responsible for civil-military cooperation during the flood disaster. I am very much looking forward to working with him in this new role,” Prime Minister Malu Dreyer continued.
The federal-state talks also made it clear that the fight against Corona has top priority even in times of a change of government and will continue to be pursued at full speed. "It is good that the outgoing chancellor and the incoming chancellor held talks with the federal states together. We have one goal and there must be no party interests in the fight against Corona. We agree that we must further limit contacts, that we must further reduce access for the unvaccinated and that we must do everything we can to vaccinate. For Rhineland-Palatinate, this means that the number of vaccinations is rising steeply: 212,500 vaccinations in the past week alone. Our aim is to double this in the coming weeks. The portal for registering child vaccinations (5 to 11 years old) will be open from tomorrow and we will also start child vaccinations before Christmas as soon as the vaccine is available," said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer. It is important to her that nationwide rules apply as uniformly as possible, which is why the state government decided today to further increase the protective measures and, together with the federal and state crisis management team, to massively expand the vaccination campaign.
"From Saturday, December 4, 2021, the "2G-plus rule" will be extended in Rhineland-Palatinate and will then apply indoors everywhere where a mask cannot be worn. People who have been vaccinated must also present a valid negative test there. This affects, among other things, gastronomy, hotels, indoor sports, but also body-related services such as cosmetics. In areas where the mask can be worn (hairdressers or pedicure), the "2G" rule still applies. From now on, this will also apply to outdoor events.
"Experience has shown that the virus always spreads where people come into contact with one another. This is especially true for non-immunized people. We have therefore decided to limit contacts in public spaces for non-vaccinated people. The stay will only be permitted alone, with one's own household or with a person from another household, whereby minors are not counted when determining the number of people," said the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health. But in principle, everyone must think about reducing contacts in their own environment in a meaningful way. Acting responsibly towards others remains the order of the day, said Prime Minister Malu Dreyer and Health Minister Clemens Hoch.
The following additional regulations apply from Saturday:
The limit of one person per 10 square meters of sales or visitor space has been reintroduced.
If the 2G-plus model applies indoors, then a maximum of 25 non-immunized minors may also participate. They are required to be tested. This also applies to gastronomy. The mask requirement applies at all times except when consuming food and drinks.
The “2G” rule applies to the other outdoor events. In addition, non-immunized minors with a test may participate. The mask requirement applies except when consuming food and drinks. "With regard to capacity limitation and maximum number of visitors, we favor a nationwide solution," said the Prime Minister.
In the future, a mask requirement will also apply in elementary and special schools.
The 3G regulation still applies to church services and other events of religious or faith communities in closed rooms. Distance and masks are mandatory.
When exercising indoors, only vaccinated, recovered and equivalent persons and a maximum of 25 minors (previously: unlimited) who are not vaccinated, recovered or equivalent may be present at the same time. Indoor testing is mandatory for everyone, including vaccinated and recovered people. In swimming pools and fun pools, thermal baths and saunas, only vaccinated, recovered and equivalent persons as well as minors who are not vaccinated, recovered or have an equivalent status may be present at the same time.
