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Corona crisis in the capital region: Court lifts nationwide alcohol ban in Brandenburg – Berlin

Schools first: Senate has plans to exit lockdown

After seven weeks of tough lockdown to contain the corona pandemic, the Berlin Senate has concrete plans for a restart. “Of course there are such plans. We think about it, of course, ”said Interior Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) on Thursday at a digital discussion event of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). “Just as we think about the question of lockdown, what are we going back in which order, there is of course one Series of plans that we already have in the drawer, what are we going to restore in which order.

Geisel did not give details of a possible timetable, but sketched a rough scenario. “The first step – February 15th is the date we are currently considering – is to enable the beginnings of school again“, he said. “Retail, gastronomy, hotel business are the next steps. In the field of sport, too, we simply have to give opportunities to get back up bit by bit. ” This also includes team sports.

Geisel made it clear, however, that Opening steps depend on the development of the infection process are. “We don’t want to give any contrary signals,” he said. “The opposite signal would be if I now present a plan based on incidences and data, and at the same time the situation is still so uncertain that we have to say that the quick easing hopes associated with it will not materialize.”

Decisions about relaxation should be “justifiable” and should not result in “setbacks” in the number of infections. “And at the moment when it is responsible, we will make these decisions,” said Geisel. “Maybe we will have to take a certain risk. Because we don’t have absolute certainty in these decisions, ”he added. “But I do believe that we cannot always tell people that the situation will go on and on as it is.

So far, the lockdown with many closed shops and schools as well as daycare centers is in the Emergency operation scheduled until February 14th. Next Wednesday (February 10), the federal and state governments want to discuss how to proceed afterwards. Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) also named schools and daycare centers as the first candidates for possible opening steps on Tuesday. And after that, retail, gastronomy and hotel industries certainly played a role.

At the same time, Müller had emphasized that he considers a debate about possible easing to be premature. Because the infection numbers are still too high despite the recent downward trend. “We can’t go on like this in the long run,” said Geisel, referring to the restrictions that have been in place for many weeks. “The Prime Minister’s Conference is on February 10th. It is quite possible that they will say that we will leave February in lockdown. But then they will have to give a perspective. “

In Berlin, the corona infection rate has been declining for a few weeks – probably due to the lockdown and strict contact restrictions. On Wednesday, the so-called incidence – the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week – was 80.6. However, the Berlin Corona traffic light is still on red: The limit for yellow is 30, that for green is 20. The rate of intensive care beds occupied by Covid-19 patients also shows a downward trend and was 27.2 on Wednesday Percent. (dpa)

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