Courtesy Translation: Elementary schools start up again on 22 February - hairdressers can open on 1 March

Courtesy Photo | Rheinland Pfalz crest to use with courtesy translations  

WIESBADEN, HE, GERMANY

02.12.2021

Story by Nadine Bower 

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden   

Press Release from the State Government of Rheinland-Pfalz; from 12 FEB 2021

Courtesy Translation: Nadine Bower, Community Relations

Elementary schools start up again on 22 February - hairdressers can open on 1 March

"We have achieved a lot together, for which the people of Rheinland-Pfalz have my greatest thanks. Our 7-day incidence is at 55.3 as of February 10. This is the lowest value among all the German states. Especially our former hot spots have developed very well. And yet, we have one contrary development. A higher rate of infection due to mutated viruses is increasingly also occurring in Rheinland-Pfalz. We must take the warnings from the scientists seriously that 20 percent of the infection cases could already be mutations," said Minister President Malu Dreyer.

Even today, science cannot provide certainties. Therefore, the contact restrictions should be maintained until 7 March. The principle "We stay at home, keep distance and wear masks" remains the essential tool in the fight against the pandemic.

"I appeal to everybody in Rheinland-Pfalz: Please follow the rules, do not meet with many people and take care of yourself. Now the Fasching days begin and the urge to celebrate carnival and Fasching is high. We have achieved an incredible amount together in the last few weeks, and we must not jeopardize that," she said.

Wearing medical masks indoors significantly reduces the infection process – it is therefore still strongly recommended, and required by law anyway, in all situations where two or more people meet indoors.

Elementary schools start alternating classes on 22 February

"It was always clear to me that education is a priority. We start with the little ones in elementary school, for whom it is particularly difficult to do distance learning. In order to keep the groups small, we will start with alternating lessons. Starting 22 February, grades 1 through 4 are to return to school. The classes of the higher levels are to follow soon in March. This was particularly important to us in Rheinland-Pfalz. Children and young people have taken on a great burden, as have their parents. Corona protection measures remain important. Wherever possible, medical masks should be worn, ventilation and hygiene measures must be followed. But our schools are very well positioned," said Minister President Malu Dreyer.

"Since it is difficult to observe the distance rules, especially in daycare centers and elementary schools, and it is not possible to wear masks throughout the whole day, I am pleased that the Minister Presidents’ Conference and the Federal Chancellor follow the proposal from Rheinland-Pfalz and other states to prioritize educators, day care workers and teachers and other employees in elementary schools in the vaccination order. We have asked the Minister of Health to consider whether this can be done at the next update of the vaccination regulation," said Minister President Malu Dreyer. "If the Federal Minister of Health changes the vaccination ordinance at short notice, we will make a vaccination offer to employees in daycare centers and elementary schools in Rheinland-Pfalz before Easter."

Allowing quick tests for private use

"Rapid testing is designed to minimize the risk of infection. We have 215 test facilities in Rheinland-Pfalz. Educators as well as teachers can already be tested in Rheinland-Pfalz without a specific cause. This is very important to us. In addition, self-tests for the federal government's own use are now to be tested for approval and will be approved if that test is successful. The federal government must speed up the approval process here.

Hairdressers can reopen on March 1

"Hairdressers provide a very important hygienic service, especially for many older people. Of course, the protective measures remain important here too. Requirements for hygiene, control of access with appointments only and the use of medical masks should ensure safety," said Minister President Malu Dreyer. "We will proceed in stages. This gives us the opportunity to always consider the consequences of opening up," said the Minister President: "I intend to propose to my cabinet that we in Rheinland-Pfalz examine adjustments of the openings that have already taken place in the area of services and trade in the neighboring federal states. This applies, for example, to practical lessons and examinations in driving schools or even in small flower shops."

Create opening perspectives and keep control of virus development
"I regret that it was not yet possible in this conference to implement a step-by-step concept for all of Germany. We had worked with the “Rheinland-Pfalz plan”. However, it is a good thing that we act together, so we will proceed in the convoy of the states. The people need to know what to do without having to study different national regulations beforehand," said Minister President Malu Dreyer. The federal and state governments continue to work on the development of next steps to give culture, sport in groups, leisure, gastronomy and the hotel industry a realistic perspective. The next meeting will take place on 3 March.

7-day incidence of 35 as target for further openings due to virus mutations

"Especially because we have so little reliable knowledge about the mutations, we have to be very careful. For this reason, we provide that the next opening steps will only take place with a stable incidence of 35 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants. To this end, we are looking to opening up retail and museums and galleries. In order to prevent a lot of travel between states where retail has already been opened and those where it must remain closed, neighboring areas with higher incidences should take common precautions to avoid cross-border use of open offers as far as possible," the Minister President. In addition, this will be counteracted even more strictly in hot spots. In counties and non-district cities, which, due to their high 7-day incidence, are still not able to fall below the incidence of 50, further local or regional measures under the Infection Protection Act will be maintained or expanded in order to achieve a correspondingly rapid reduction in the number of infections.

Vaccination remains key in opening strategy

"In Rheinland-Pfalz, initial vaccinations were carried out in almost all nursing homes. We have 200 support teams and 460 soldiers in the old people's and nursing homes. This is an important milestone," said Minister President Malu Dreyer. "This is how we protect particularly vulnerable people in Rheinland-Pfalz in a sustainable and effective way."

"Currently, almost 150,000 people in Rheinland-Pfalz have received their first vaccination, which is 3.6 percent of the population. This is one of the top places nationwide. More than 75,000 people have already received their second vaccination, more than in any other federal state in terms of population.

If the federal government continuously and sufficiently promotes vaccines, the federal and state governments remain optimistic that all citizens can be offered vaccination by the end of the summer at the latest. This is achievable according to the status of the approval data and delivery volume currently promised by the manufacturers.

For the first quarter, the expected delivery volumes are now being clarified increasingly. Above all, it is very pleasing that BioNTech will deliver more vaccine quantities than previously calculated. I am glad that we have such a good company here in our home state. This will enable us to get into the concrete vaccination planning for March. Our aim is to make a vaccination offer to everyone in priority group 1 in March, if possible. We will present details of this in the coming week," said Minister President Malu Dreyer.

Economic aid

"It is quite clear that our businesses need financial support and they need this quickly," the Minister President said. Yesterday, the Federal Minister of Economics announced bridging aid III online. This means that applications could now be submitted immediately: advance payments of up to 100,000 euros per month and a maximum of 400,000 euros automatically for four months are starting.

Cultural workers are particularly affected by the pandemic, which is why the federal government has endowed the rescue and future program "Restart Culture" with a further one billion euros, which should also be distributed quickly.

Source: https://corona.rlp.de/de/aktuelles/detail/news/News/detail/grundschulen-starten-am-22-februar-friseure-koennen-am-1-maerz-oeffnen/

• Date Taken: 02.12.2021
• Date Posted: 02.16.2021 11:13
• Story ID: 388971
• Location: WIESBADEN, HE, DE