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Germany to ban unvaccinated from bars
By Melita KielyUnvaccinated people in Germany will be banned from bars unless they have recently recovered from Covid-19.
Outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel announced new restrictions for people who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, as Germany battles its fourth wave of the virus.
Merkel said unvaccinated people would be barred from many public places, including non-essential shops, events and hospitality venues, unless they have recently recovered from Covid-19.
Germany introduced ‘2G’ restrictions earlier this year. ‘2G’ refers to only allowing free movement for leisure activities from the ‘geimpft oder genesen’, meaning ‘vaccinated or recovered’.
Yesterday (2 December), Merkel said: “Access to leisure, sports and cultural activities will be limited Germany-wide to those who are vaccinated or have recovered, irrelevant of the incidence rate.
“Additional testing, the so-called G2-plus rule, could be applied in some instances. 2G rules will be extended to the retail sector, with the exception of shops selling everyday needs.
“To be quite honest, the fact that we are now in the middle of such a strong fourth wave does not make me happy, it depresses me, especially when I look at certain regions. That’s why I have worked hard up until the end so that we can break this fourth wave as quickly as possible.”
The government is also considering mandatory vaccinations, which will be discussed and voted on in the German Bundestag and the government and the German states will ask the Ethics Council to work out a recommendation by the end of the year.
If approved by parliament, mandatory vaccinations could be introduced by around February 2022.
Last month, The Spirits Business explored the state of the on-trade around the world, covering Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Africa and the Middle East.