‘3G’ Covid rules come into force in Germany

Berlin, Aug 23 (EFE).- Indoor public spaces in Germany from Monday will only be accessible to people who have been vaccinated, recovered from Covid-19 or have had a recent negative test.

The so-called “3G-Regel” — or “3G rule”, from the slogan “Geimpft, Genesen oder Getestet”, meaning “vaccinated, recovered or tested” in German — formally came into force on Monday, according to the agreement between the central government and the federal states, which are responsible for its implementation.

The measure affects all kinds of enclosed public spaces, from restaurants and hotels to sports facilities, massage parlors or hairdressing salons, events, parties, cinemas, theaters and museums. The rule will also apply for visits to hospitals and nursing homes.

The measure came into force as the seven-day Covid-19 incidence rate surpassed 50 cases per 100,000 people for the first time nationwide at the weekend.

The federal state with the highest incidence is North Rhine-Westphalia with 99.2 cases, followed by Berlin with 67.3.

The rule is part of the so-called “emergency brake” mechanism agreed between the federal government and the regional authorities, which is activated automatically and in different phases once the threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants is broken.

The national seven-day average on Monday stood at 56.4 cases per 100,000 people, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for virology.

In June, after more than six months of severe restrictions on public life, the incidence had fallen to five cases per 100,000 people per week. The peak had been recorded in December, with 196.7 infections per 100,000.

Despite the continuing rise in infection rates, health minister Jens Spahn believes that there will be no more lockdowns in the coming months, given the high number of vaccinated people.

Other criteria for public health action should be set instead of the weekly incidence level, Spahn said Monday on German public television ARD.