Covid-19 “Emergency Brake” Goes Into Effect in Munich

Re-posted from Muenchen.de

Coronavirus: Information on measures and restrictions

With the extension and adjustment of the 12th Bavarian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance, the current lockdown still applies until at least May 9th. Due to high incidence values, a tightening of Corona measures will be established in Munich from April 14th onwards. Here is all the information on the current rules and their impact on physical contacts, schools, restaurants, culture, leisure and sports.
Tightening of measures established since April 14th

Some regulations – such as those on contact restrictions, retail, museums, galleries, zoological and botanical gardens and memorials, or sports – are dependent on the level of the 7-day incidence value. The respective thresholds are a 7-day incidence of over 35, over 50, or over 100.

Since the incidence was above 100 for three days in a row between April 10 and 12, the so-called “emergency brake” applies again since Wednesday, April 14, with stricter corona rules for incidence classification “above 100”
In the whole of Bavaria, further opening steps for gastro, culture and sports are suspended until April 26th at least, according to a decision of the Bavarian Council of Ministers on April 4th.

The incidence classification always applies until is exceeded or no longer exceeded for three consecutive days. The regulations applicable to the new incidence area shall then apply from the second day after the three-time shortfall / overrun.
Information on current corona cases and 7-day incidence in Munich

Contacts: stage model depending on 7-day incidence

Meeting in public spaces, privately used spaces, and privately used properties is permitted as follows, depending on the 7-day incidence:
VALID FOR MUNICH: In case of a 7-day incidence of more than 100:

Meetings with the members of the own household as well as one additional person is allowed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, reciprocal, unpaid, non-business-like supervision of children under 14 years of age in permanent, family or neighborhood childcare arrangements is permitted if it includes children from no more than two households.

If the 7-day incidence is between 35 and 100:

Meetings with the members of one’s own household and, in addition, the members of another household is allowed, as long as a total number of 5 people is not exceeded in the process.

If the 7-day incidence is less than 35:

Meetings with the members of the own household and members of two other households are allowed, as long as a total number of 10 people is not exceeded.

Children under 14 years of age belonging to these households are excluded from the total number.

Further information on current contact rules also on muenchen.de/corona and on the FAQ page of the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior .

Night curfew for incidence above 100

VALID FOR MUNICH:
If the 7-day incidence in Munich exceeds 100 for three times in a row, a curfew between 10 pm and 5 am is established, during which one can only leave home for:

a medical or veterinary emergency or other treatment that cannot be postponed for medical reasons
the performance of professional or official activities or educational purposes that cannot be postponed
the exercise of custody and access rights in compliance with contact restrictions
the care of persons in need of support and minors which cannot be postponed, taking into account the restriction on contact
accompanying a really sick person
acts of care of animals
for similarly weighty and unavoidable reasons.

If the incidence in Munich falls below the value of 100 for thee consecutive days, no curfew will apply starting at the second day following that.
Find the current 7-day incidence in Munich at muenchen.de/coronazahlen

Gastronomy: Restaurants closed, Takeaway and delivery still possible

Catering establishments of any kind, including company canteens, are prohibited.
The serving and delivery of take-out food and beverages are permitted. On-site consumption is prohibited.
The operation of company cafeterias that are not open to the public is permitted as an exception if the consumption of food and beverages on site is absolutely necessary for company operations.
In the whole of Bavaria, further opening steps for gastro, culture and sports are suspended until April 26th at least, according to a decision of the Bavarian Council of Ministers on April 7th.

Arts and culture: Museums and other institutions

Theaters, operas, concert halls, stages, cinemas and similar facilities remain closed.
For museums, exhibitions, memorials, objects of the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces and comparable cultural sites as well as zoological and botanical gardens, the following applies:
VALID FOR MUNICH: If the 7-day incidence exceeds 100:

the above-mentioned cultural sites are closed.

With a 7-day incidence between 50 and 100:

The above-mentioned cultural venues can only be reopened to visitors after booking an appointment in advance.
the operators have to follow a strict hygiene concept; the number of visitors is limited by the requirement, that a minimum distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained.
wearing FFP2 masks is mandatory for visitors.

In the whole of Bavaria, further opening steps for gastro, culture and sports are suspended until April 26th at least, according to a decision of the Bavarian Council of Ministers on April 4th.
With a 7-day incidence below 50:

The above-mentioned cultural sites can open for visitors even without prior appointment booking and contact data collection.

More information at muenchen.de/corona.

Shopping and services: What is allowed to open and what is not?

VALID FOR MUNICH: If the 7-day incidence exceeds 100 :
The opening of retail stores with customer traffic is prohibited for commercial, service and craft businesses.
Those excluded are:

the food trade including direct sales, delivery services, beverage markets, health food stores, baby product stores
Pharmacies, medical supply stores, drug stores, opticians, hearing aid acousticians, gas stations, automobile repair shops, bicycle repair shops, banks and savings banks, pawn shops, mail order and mail-order businesses, dry cleaners and laundromats

The number of customers present in the store at any one time shall not exceed one customer per 10 sq. ft. for the first 800 sq. ft. of the sales area, plus one customer per 20 sq. ft. for the portion of the sales area exceeding 800 sq. ft.
The collection of pre-ordered goods in retail stores (“Click & Collect”) is permitted.
Services where physical proximity to the customer is essential (such as massage practices, tattoo studios or similar businesses) are prohibited.
Hairdressing services (necessary for hygiene or care) as well as non-medical foot, hand, nail and facial care may be offered. Staff must wear a medical face mask and customer access must be controlled by prior appointment reservation.
Markets are prohibited except for the sale of food.
If the 7-day incidence is between 50 and 100:

In addition, the opening of stores for individual customers is permitted for a fixed limited period after prior appointment booking (“Click & Meet”). The number of customers present in the retail store at the same time shall not exceed one customer per 40 m² of retail space. The operator shall collect the contact details of the customers.

Since April 12, the following has also applied in Munich:

In its meeting on April 7, the Bavarian Cabinet decided that, irrespective of incidence, only those stores conclusively listed in the Bavarian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance, such as grocery stores and pharmacies, may now open.
For other stores such as flower stores, garden centers, nurseries, hardware stores and bookstores, the same conditions now apply as for the rest of the retail trade.
Appointment shopping offers (“Click & Meet”) will now be allowed if a negative test is presented, even if the 7-day incidence is between 100 and 200 (max. 48h old PCR or 24h old rapid test).
For a 7-day incidence above 200, only the collection of pre-ordered goods in retail stores (“Click & Collect”) remains permissible even without a test.

Measures for Sports in Munich

Professional sports events can only take place without spectators. Recreational and amateur sporting events are permitted as follows:
VALID FOR MUNICH: If the 7-day incidence exceeds 100

only non-contact sports are permitted, subject to contact restrictions. Team sports are prohibited.

With a 7-day incidence between 50 and 100:

only non-contact sports are permitted, subject to the contact restriction, and additional outdoor sports are permitted in groups of up to 20 children under 14 years of age.

only non-contact sports are allowed in groups of up to 10, or in groups of up to 20 children under 14 for outdoor sports.

Schools: step model since March 15

Instruction has taken place in the following stages since March 15:

At a 7-day incidence below 50, face-to-face teaching takes place in elementary school grades. At all other school types and grades, face-to-face instruction only applies if the minimum distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained continuously and reliably. Where this is not possible, alternating instruction will take place.
CURRENTLY VALID IN MUNICH: With a 7-day incidence of 50 to 100, alternating or face-to-face instruction with a minimum interval of 1.5 meters takes place at all school types in all grades. Only students who have a negative corona test (rapid antigen test or PCR test) no more than 48 hours old at the beginning of the school day may participate in face-to-face instruction and face-to-face periods of alternate instruction. The testing requirement applies twice a week.
In the case of a 7-day incidence of more than 100, face-to-face instruction takes place in the final grades, provided that the minimum distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained continuously and reliably. Where this is not possible, alternating instruction takes place at the final classes. Distance instruction takes place at all other school types and grades.

For details, please refer to the information provided by the Munich Department of Education and Sports (German)
In general: On Friday of each week, the relevant incidence classification is made according to the latest publication of the Robert Koch Institute. The relevant regulation for the incidence area then applies to the following calendar week from Monday until the end of the following Sunday.

Daycare centers, day nurseries and similar services

If the 7-day incidence is below 50, regular operation is possible in day care centers, day care centers, vacation day care and organized play groups for children.
CURRENTLY VALID FOR MUNICH: For a 7-day incidence between 50 and 100, care is provided in limited regular operation in fixed groups.
For a 7-day incidence above 100, only emergency care is available.

For mild, recent, non-progressive cold or respiratory symptoms (such as a cold and cough, but without fever), attendance or activity at the child care facility is only possible if a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 (PCR or POC antigen rapid test) is provided.
Children and employees with a cold or cough of allergic origin, nasal congestion (without fever), occasional coughing or sore throat may continue to attend the childcare facility without testing.

Leisure facilities remain closed

The operation of amusement parks and comparable fixed recreational facilities is prohibited.
Recreational activities may not be offered commercially either outdoors or indoors.
Open-air playgrounds are open to children only when accompanied by adults.
City and guest tours, mountain, cultural and nature tours as well as tours in show caves and visitor mines are prohibited.
The operation of cable cars, river and lake navigation in excursion traffic as well as tourist rail transport and river cruises is prohibited.
The opening and operation of bathing establishments, hotel swimming pools, thermal baths and wellness centers and saunas is prohibited.
Brothels, prostitution establishments, gambling halls, casinos, betting shops, clubs, discotheques, other places of entertainment and similar recreational facilities are closed.

Universities, libraries and archives

There are no classroom events at the universities. Practical and artistic training sections as well as events requiring special laboratory or work rooms at the universities are permitted under minimum distance rules.
Libraries and archives may be opened.

Mask: FFP2 masks mandatory in retail stores and public transport

There is currently an obligation to wear an FFP2 mask at the following places:

in the sales rooms, or the sales area, in the entrance and waiting areas in front of the sales rooms and in the associated parking lots
for visitors to church services
in public long-distance passenger transport and the associated facilities for passengers and passengers, as well as for control and service personnel, as long as they come into contact with passengers and passengers
in local public transport and similar facilities
school transport system
when visiting a doctor’s office
in old people’s and nursing homes
in music schools, unless active music-making is hindered due to mask requirement
for theoretical and practical driving school lessons as well as driving school exams
for visitors to cultural sites (e.g. museums, castles)
in Hellabrunn Zoo
for employees of outpatient care services and semi-inpatient care facilities, as long as they are in contact with people in need of care

The fine for an intentional first offense is 250 euros .
In Munich, there is currently a general obligation to wear a mask in the heavily frequented places in the city’s old town. Since March 10th, the period of validity of the mask requirement in the city center has been from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m daily.
Due to the current high number of corona cases, you have to wear a mask at the following places:

Altstadt-Fußgängerzone (including Neuhauser Strasse, Kaufinger Strasse, Theatinerstrasse)
Marienplatz
Karlsplatz Stachus and the Stachus-Untergeschoss
Odeonsplatz in front of Feldherrnhalle
Rindermarkt
Viktualienmarkt
Sendlinger Strasse and Sendlinger-Tor-Platz
Rosental between Sendlinger Straße and Rindermarkt
Dienerstrasse
Schrammerstrasse
Landschaftstrasse
Sidewalks on both sides in Tal (in the area of House numbers 1 to 48)
Schützenstrasse

The mask requirement is indicated by signs at the entrances to the respective areas.
Public buildings : Mouth and nose covering is also required at meetings and areas with traffic, including elevators and public spaces.
Work : Furthermore, it is also mandatory to wear a mask at meetings and areas with traffic at the workplace, especially in elevators, corridors, canteens and entrances; The same applies to workplaces where the minimum distance of 1.5 meters cannot be reliably maintained.
In schools and daycare centers wearing a mask is mandatory. Teachers must wear medical masks.
For larger gatherings in the open air, such as demonstrations, a mask is required throughout.
At church services, wearing a mask is now mandatory also when seated.
The obligation to wear masks has been relaxed for employees in the cash desk or counter areas of stores and at reception desks. If reliable protection can be ensured by transparent protective walls made of acrylic glass or similar, the obligation to wear masks does not apply to them.
Children between the ages of six and 15 only have to wear a mouth and nose cover instead of FFP2 masks. Children below 6 years are exempt from the obligation to carry.
More about the mask obligation in Munich (in German)

Hotel sector: No more tourist overnight stays

Overnight accommodations may be provided by hotels, lodging establishments, school hostels, youth hostels, campsites and all other commercial or paid accommodations only for credibly necessary, and in particular professional and business purposes.
Guests who do not belong to the same household are not allowed to stay in one room or accommodation unit.
Overnight stays for tourist purposes are prohibited.

Ban on Events and regulations for religious services

Events, gatherings and festivities of all kinds remain prohibited.
Excluded are constitutionally protected areas such as church services and gatherings in accordance with the Bavarian Assembly Act.
During church services, the 1.5-meter minimum distance must be observed, FFP2 masks must also be worn when seated, and congregational singing (choir) is prohibited.
Services with the features of a large event are prohibited.
In the case of religious services and meetings of faith communities, where visitor numbers are expected to lead to capacity utilization, participation is only permitted after prior registration

Ban on alcohol consumption: Current situation

Alcohol consumption is currently prohibited in the pedestrian zone in the Old Town and on the Viktualienmarkt. Additionally, consumption will be prohibited on Gärtnerplatz and on Wedekindplatz from April 16 onwards.
The ban in those two areas and in the pedestrian zone applies daily from 6 pm to 6 am. On Viktualienmarkt, it applies 24/7.
See where the ban on alcoholic consumption applies (in German)

Travel: Mandatory testing upon return from risk areas and entry ban

Since Tuesday, March 30th, all air travelers are required to be tested before departure to Germany. Transport by the airline is only permitted with a negative test certificate.
Stricter entry controls: Due to the spread of Corona mutations in the Czech Republic, controls at the Bavarian borders to the Czech Republic have been intensified since February 14. For the time being, entry is only possible in exceptional cases, e.g. for commuters. Meanwhile, the controls at the border with Tyrol have been suspended again.
Since January 30, 2021, persons from virus variant areas are generally prohibited from entering Germany.
Exceptions to the entry restrictions are possible in individual cases with appropriate justification and credible evidence.
Every person who has stayed in a risk area within 10 days before entering Bavaria must present a negative Corona test to the responsible district administration authority after entry. (In Munich by e-mail to corona-einreisende.gsr@muenchen.de)
The requirements and deadlines to be met depend on whether the person concerned has stayed in a high incidence area, a virus variant area or another area. Further information on the Corona testing obligation when entering from risk areas in the FAQ of the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care.
Important: In addition to the testing obligation, there may also be an obligation for domestic quarantine after entry into Bavaria according to the regulations of the Entry Quarantine Ordinance (EQV). Further information on the Entry Quarantine Ordinance in the FAQ of the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care
Obligation to register: In addition, all entrants from risk areas must make an entry registration at www.einreiseanmeldung.de before entering the country. There are exceptions to this registration requirement.
If typical symptoms of a Corona infection appear within ten days of entry (e.g. cough, fever, cold, loss of smell and taste), the responsible district administrative authority must be informed immediately. (In Munich, by e-mail to gs-is-mw.gsr@muenchen.de)

An up-to-date listing of worldwide risk areas is provided by the Robert Koch Institute.
Further information in the national Coronavirus Entry Ordinance (CoronaEinreiseV) and the General Order on the Testing of Persons Entering the Country issued by the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care.

This is how the application of the incidence-dependent rules works

If a value of the 7-day incidence (the exceeding or non-exceeding of which is subject to regulations) is exceeded or no longer exceeded for three consecutive days, the competent district administrative authority shall officially announce this without delay.
The regulations applicable to the new incidence area shall then apply from the following day after the occurrence of the condition – at the earliest, on the day after the official announcement.