So the meeting between Chancellor Merkel and the sixteen Premier Presidents concluded last night (between 9 and 10). What can be said is that this went on for 8 to 9 hours (via a virtual meeting). I can't imagine handling a virtual meeting, with 16 participants, but somehow....it did.
This is probably the last ban rule meeting for 2020. There might be another as 2021 arrives....where more ban rules go into effect.
The chief changes or non-changes? I'll reference them from ARD public TV news.
1. This idea of bringing more school buses into the mix....to lessen contact? It means a heck of a lot extra money. The federal folks said 'no'....they'd likely not cover that cost. How many extra buses were in the mix.....literally thousands, if the plan was implemented.
2. Federal ban on fireworks for New Years Eve? No...this was argued a good bit but failed to be agreed upon. So each state makes it's own rules. For Hessen (my state), it'll be a city by city decision.
3. Bars, pubs, restaurants, and recreational facilities will remain closed (unless you are picking up food/carrying out) until 20 December. Some review will occur the week prior, and there is a slight chance they might allow an opening. Don't go expecting much, unless the infection rate drops by 50 percent (just won't happen).
4. More limited customer situation in stores, with per-square-meter rule going into effect. 800 square meter store or less.....1 customer per 10 square meter of sales area. Killing customer visits for Christmas? It'll be a challenge. Audits and fines being done? Yeah, more than likely.
5. Masks now required in parking lots in front of stores? Yes.
6. From the 23rd of December to the 1st of January, you can have 10 guests over at your house. If an 11th guy wanders in? Well, you'd be in violation and the cops could be called by a neighbor. Don't go laughing....there will be people having 15 to 20 guests, and neighbors will eyeball each single person entering, and get great enjoyment out of reporting you for a violation.
7. More seating limits will be put on railway operations. In the end, it'll make rush-hour a very miserable experience.
8. Federal aid will flow in December (17 billion Euro for the month is figured up) for companies in dire financial situations.
9. Sport ban rules remain in effect, with no changes.
10. Most states (not all) will begin Christmas holidays on the 19th of December (meaning schools are out and limited government office hours).
11. The idea of shutting down the border for the Christmas period? It didn't seem to go anywhere.
So that's it....a fairly robust ban-rule package already existed, and this was just the icing-on-the-cake. Miserability index? Maxing near a ten, with Germans just shaking their heads over how bad 2020 has been.
The only real relief here is this vaccine business starting up in approximately three weeks. Maybe by mid-summer, you might have the vast majority of Germans vaccinated. But as one virus 'guru' commented this past week....we're just an 'inch' away from the next new Covid-mess arriving on our doorstep, and repeating this exercise in five to ten years.
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