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On October 1st, 2022, a new concept will be introduced in the Infection Protection Act, which is intended to define the future regulations regarding corona protection measures. The so-called phase or stage concept provides for a periodic weakening of the necessary measures in two separate steps.
First stage
The first “stage” will come into effect on October 1st, 2022 and should be active until April 7th, 2023. The measures in the first stage provide for a general obligation to wear an FFP2 mask in long-distance public transport, for patients and visitors to hospitals, medical practices and the like. It is also up to the state governments to order masks to be worn in public transport, publicly accessible interiors and the like, or to order negative corona test results instead.
Second stage
The second stage aims to take more concrete actions based on the developments during the first stage. The state parliaments should be able to recognize specific dangers for the health system and critical infrastructure and react to them specifically by ordering mask requirements, distance requirements, etc.
In general
Since March 16, employees in health and care facilities have had to provide proof of vaccinations. With the 01.10. an FFP2 mask and test certificate obligation for access to hospitals, care facilities and comparable facilities will also be introduced. The FFP2 mask requirement continues to apply on public transport. Employers are obliged to assess the risk of their employees and to take measures based on this. However, the Corona Occupational Safety and Health Regulation only specifies test steps. For example, the employer only has to order a mask requirement if the minimum distance can no longer be maintained in the case of work-related physical contact or if several people are indoors at the same time. Furthermore, employers must offer SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations during working hours.
Anyone who has received two corona vaccinations or one vaccination after surviving the infection is considered to be fully vaccinated. This vaccination status will no longer apply from September 30th, 2022, so that a booster vaccination (third vaccination) must be carried out from October in order to continue to maintain the vaccination status.