New general decree of the city of Jena

The new general decree of the city of Jena will apply from Friday. Important regulations to clarify the ordinances of the state of Thuringia remain in place. The general decree will be published in the official gazette of the city of Jena, which can be viewed on the homepage. It comes into force on Friday, 28.08. and is valid until 30.09.2020.

Mouth and nose coverings and hygiene concepts

The general ruling extends the previous regulations. This means that face masks must continue to be worn in craft and service businesses, especially where services are provided to people, and healthcare facilities such as medical and therapy practices. Face masks must be worn in enclosed spaces where people meet in close proximity, e.g. in elevators, corridors and foyers, as well as in places where food and drinks are served in enclosed spaces and in covered circulation areas of shopping centers. Staff are exempt from the obligation if other infection protection measures are taken.

Stores, service providers, craft businesses and other establishments open to the public must include measures in their infection control plans to restrict the number of people present to protect against infection on the basis of the state ordinance. In order to make these state-wide regulations manageable in practice, the city specifies a guideline value of 10 square meters of sales area per person in its ordinance, whereby staff are not included in this calculation.

Obligation to register for returning travelers

The obligation to register returning travelers will also be retained. All persons returning to Jena from a risk area are obliged to report this immediately to the hotline 03641-49 2222 , stating their personal details and the circumstances of their stay (period, location, contacts) or via the web form . They must also go into home quarantine immediately. All persons with symptoms of the disease must report to the hotline 03641-49 3333, regardless of whether they report to their family doctor or the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.

The designation of the risk areas can be found at: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html

Appeal to the population

"In addition to the social distancing rules and the obligation to wear a face mask, the obligation to report returning travelers is particularly important right now. With the end of the vacations, many vacationers are returning and may bring back more than just nice souvenirs. The number of coronavirus infections is already on the rise again. As not only are holidaymakers returning to work, but school is also starting again, the risk of a second wave of infection is increasing. It is therefore particularly important that everyone adheres to the applicable hygiene and social distancing rules and the obligation to wear a face mask, that all returnees from risk areas first go into quarantine and that everyone who shows symptoms adheres to the applicable entry bans," Mayor Thomas Nitzsche appeals to the population.

Criticism of the state

He also expressed his lack of understanding for the new easing of restrictions by the Free State of Bavaria. "Against the backdrop of rising infection figures, we don't see why the state has decided to ease restrictions even further right now. We would have welcomed it if the state government had waited until the weeks directly after the vacation season and the start of school," he emphasizes.