The current ordinance on dealing with the coronavirus pandemic will be extended for a further four weeks and slightly adapted. The following rules will apply from 13 October 2021, as announced by the state government in a press release:
- Increase in the threshold value for cancellation of the test requirement (Section 6 (3)): The threshold for the elimination of the obligation to submit proof of testing is increased from 20 to 35. This means that in cities and districts where the seven-day incidence is below 35 for at least five consecutive days, it is no longer necessary to present a negative test result or proof of vaccination or recovery in many areas of society. This applies, for example, to indoor catering, tourist overnight stays, coach trips, indoor sports facilities, theatres, cinemas and swimming pools and fun pools. This incidence regulation also applies in other federal states.
- Compulsory testing for open-air events (Section 10 (1) and Section 21 (2)): For open-air events, the person limit for the testing obligation will be raised from the previous 500 to 1,000 in order to enable organisers to operate economically in view of the control effort. This means that from 13 October, outdoor events (e.g. concerts, public festivals or fairs) with fewer than 1,000 visitors attending at the same time will not be required to present proof of testing, vaccination or recovery. However, social distancing and hygiene rules still apply.
- Extension of the optional 2G model to vocal and wind instrument lessons (Section 7 and Section 25 (3)): The so-called 2G rule is an option to be able to dispense with distancing rules and compulsory masks in catering establishments, for example. Only fully vaccinated and recovered persons and children under the age of 12 will be allowed to enter. In future, the 2G option model will also be possible for educational establishments and training and further education centres where singing and wind instrument lessons take place. This means that if, for example, a music school opts for the 2G option model, the obligation to maintain a distance of at least two metres when singing and playing wind instruments will no longer apply. However, only immunised people, people who have recovered and children under the age of 12 are allowed to take part in these lessons. Important: The use of the 2G model is limited to singing and wind instrument lessons, i.e. it does not extend to the entire educational institution and other lessons.
- Trial of voluntary PCR pool testing in schools (Section 24 new paragraph 2a): The Ministry of Education is authorised, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, to permit voluntary PCR pool testing for individual schools as part of pilot projects . Participation in such pool tests is voluntary for pupils. Background: In a PCR pool test, saliva samples from several people are analysed together in a total sample (the "pool"). If a pool tests positive for an infection with COVID-19, it must be determined promptly which child is affected. This requires individual retesting. If a pool is negative, no child in the tested group of pupils has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. For people who do not (want to) take part in the pool tests, the regular testing obligation applies (twice a week with the option of self-testing).
- Schools (§ 24 paragraph 4): It is editorially clarified that the obligation to wear a medical mask in schools does not apply when singing or playing wind instruments. The obligation to wear a mask does not apply to the entire class, but only to those people who actually sing or play wind instruments.
- Contact tracing at universities (§ 25): Higher education institutions must ensure that the personal data of all persons are recorded in a contact record for the purpose of contact tracing.
Current coronavirus situation: The nationwide seven-day hospitalisation incidence rate is 0.71 (three weeks ago: 0.75). There are currently 23 people in intensive care treatment (three weeks ago: 16). This means that 2.2 per cent of the available intensive care beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients (three weeks ago: 1.5 per cent). The seven-day incidence nationwide is now 40.3 (three weeks ago: 42.6). In the same period, the number of people being treated in hospital for COVID-19 rose from 57 to 67.
The population of Brandenburg is not yet sufficiently immunised with a coronavirus vaccination: Only 58.7 per cent have full vaccination protection, although enough vaccine is available so that everyone over the age of twelve could take advantage of the vaccination offer.