Bundestag Weekly Updates

The German Bundestag is currently debating a draft bill aimed at amending the Infection Protection Act, with discussions taking place on November 18, 2021. This bill introduces a series of measures designed to further control the spread of the pandemic.

Key components of the bill include extending the legal basis for public health interventions, enabling targeted protective measures such as restrictions on public gatherings, mask mandates, and testing requirements. The bill also seeks to introduce or reinforce vaccine mandates, particularly for high-risk groups and healthcare workers.

One of the significant decisions made shortly after the initial discussion was the implementation of a vaccine mandate for health workers in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' offices, and similar facilities. This mandate, effective from March 2022, requires proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.

The bill also empowers authorities to respond flexibly to evolving pandemic conditions based on infection data. This flexibility allows for measures proportional to infection risks and settings, with the aim of avoiding blanket lockdowns.

Other measures discussed in the bill include the requirement for home office where operationally feasible. The bill also addresses the issue of forged health certificates, including vaccination and test certificates, with penalties for their falsification, preparation, and trade.

As of now, more than two-thirds of German citizens are fully vaccinated, and the use of forged vaccine certificates and test certificates will be comprehensively penalized. The laws on the forgery of health certificates are also being expanded to ensure strict enforcement.

Contact tracing will be allowed for federal states, and doctors who issue false health certificates will face criminal charges. Social security contributions will be stabilized below 40 percent, and an additional seven billion euros will be added to the SHI subsidy in 2022, bringing it to a total of 28.5 billion euros.

The draft bill also includes a limited state opening clause, allowing states to cancel events or temporarily close leisure facilities if agreed by a majority. This clause provides states with options to enforce pandemic measures while respecting fundamental rights.

The amendments aim at strengthening public health response capabilities without reinstating blanket lockdowns, focusing instead on measures proportional to infection risks and settings. The discussions also included considerations for general vaccine mandates, though their implementation has been delayed or limited due to legal and political challenges.

As the pandemic continues to evolve, the draft bill represents a significant step towards strengthening Germany's response capabilities and protecting vulnerable populations. The discussions in the Bundestag this week will be crucial in shaping the final form of the bill and the measures it will introduce.

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