Berlin's coronavirus lockdown exit plan: The key dates to know
The German capital has unveiled a plan for reopening public life. Here's some key dates to know.
On Friday, Berlin loosened more of its requirements as restaurants and cafes were allowed to open again under strict hygienic conditions.
Berlin and neighbouring state Brandenburg are coordinating their lockdown exits together; however there may be some regional differences.
May 15th
Restaurants and cafés will be allowed to open again from Friday May 15th onwards. Both indoor and outdoor dining will be allowed but special distancing and hygiene measures will have to be in place, such as maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres between chairs.
Restaurants and cafés will allowed to be open from 6 am until 10pm.
The establishments may only be visited alone, with members of your own household or with people from one other household.
However, there is no upper limit on how many people can sit at a table. But because the eateries have to observe the rule on distance, they will have fewer guests than usual.
Some outlets will ask that guests leave their contact information, in case there is a coronavirus case reported, although it's not a requirement.
Since mid-March food outlets in Berlin have had to operate on reduced opening hours and only offer takeaway.
Bars, pubs and clubs are excluded from opening. These were the trouble spots at the beginning of the pandemic, said Berlin mayor Michael Müller.
Sports
Also from May 15th, sports clubs will be allowed to resume training as long as it is outdoors and only in smaller groups. No contact will be allowed.
Open-air swimming pools will also be able to open again on May 25th. A concept for how to do this safely is being developed, Müller said.
Gyms will remain closed for the time being.
READ ALSO: 'First phase of coronavirus pandemic is behind us,' says Merkel
May 25th
Hotels will be allowed to accept guests again from May 25th, but distance and hygiene rules will have to be enforced.
There will be other rules such as hotels will not be allowed to serve breakfast buffets. Instead, guests will have to be offered an individual breakfast.
In the leisure and wellness areas, the number of people per sauna should be limited. When dealing with guests, staff will have to keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres and to avoid physical contact such as shaking hands.
Cleaning staff in hotels should, if possible, be assigned their own floor with the same rooms at all times, according to guidelines being drawn up.
Domestic tourism will play an increasingly important role in the coming weeks, because international tourism has come to a standstill, said Müller.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about travelling within Germany this summer
May 9th
Which restrictions have already been lossened
From Saturday May 9th, size restrictions for the retail trade was dropped, in line with Germany-wide restrictions.
That means all shops were allowed to open their doors – but there are strict social distancing conditions.
Retail outlets can only admit a limited number of people to ensure there's only one customer per 20 square metres.
Relaxing of social distancing rules
Also from May 9th and in line with Germany-wide guidelines, people from two separate households could meet in public (or in restaurants when they open), such as two families, two couples, or the members of two shared flats.
When meeting, 1.5 metre distance must be maintained where possible.
The previous requirement meant that only two people could meet in public.
May 11th
From Monday May 11th, personal services such as beauty salons and cosmetic studios were able to open their doors again to visitors, again with strict hygiene measures in place. Hairdressers were allowed to reopen across Germany from May 4th.
More pupils were able to return to schools in Berlin from May 11th. The aim is to get all pupils back in the classroom at least on a part-time basis by May 29th.
Music schools and youth art schools could be opened for individual lessons and small groups also from May 11th. Cinemas and concert halls will remain closed for now.
Der Senat hat im Anschluss an das Gespräch zwischen Bund und Ländern heute weitere Lockerungen für Berlin verabredet. Wichtig bleibt weiterhin, dass Hygiene- und Abstandregeln eingehalten werden. (1/9) #COVID19 #Coronakrise @klauslederer @RamonaPop pic.twitter.com/jcAk3FfrSE
— Der Regierende Bürgermeister von Berlin (@RegBerlin) May 6, 2020
Lockdown could return
In line with Germany-wide rules, if the number of coronavirus infections spikes, lockdown measures will be imposed again.
If more than 50 new infections per 100,000 residents are detected within seven days then action must be taken.
"1,800 to 2,000 new infections per week would be permitted under this cap," said economics minister Ramona Pop. "We are looking at the figures Berlin-wide."
As of Friday May 15th Berlin had a total of 6,397 confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University figures and about 177 deaths.
Nearly 5,737 people are reported to have recovered from Covid-19 in Berlin.
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On Friday, Berlin loosened more of its requirements as restaurants and cafes were allowed to open again under strict hygienic conditions.
Berlin and neighbouring state Brandenburg are coordinating their lockdown exits together; however there may be some regional differences.
May 15th
Restaurants and cafés will be allowed to open again from Friday May 15th onwards. Both indoor and outdoor dining will be allowed but special distancing and hygiene measures will have to be in place, such as maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres between chairs.
Restaurants and cafés will allowed to be open from 6 am until 10pm.
The establishments may only be visited alone, with members of your own household or with people from one other household.
However, there is no upper limit on how many people can sit at a table. But because the eateries have to observe the rule on distance, they will have fewer guests than usual.
Some outlets will ask that guests leave their contact information, in case there is a coronavirus case reported, although it's not a requirement.
Since mid-March food outlets in Berlin have had to operate on reduced opening hours and only offer takeaway.
Bars, pubs and clubs are excluded from opening. These were the trouble spots at the beginning of the pandemic, said Berlin mayor Michael Müller.
Sports
Also from May 15th, sports clubs will be allowed to resume training as long as it is outdoors and only in smaller groups. No contact will be allowed.
Open-air swimming pools will also be able to open again on May 25th. A concept for how to do this safely is being developed, Müller said.
Gyms will remain closed for the time being.
READ ALSO: 'First phase of coronavirus pandemic is behind us,' says Merkel
May 25th
Hotels will be allowed to accept guests again from May 25th, but distance and hygiene rules will have to be enforced.
There will be other rules such as hotels will not be allowed to serve breakfast buffets. Instead, guests will have to be offered an individual breakfast.
In the leisure and wellness areas, the number of people per sauna should be limited. When dealing with guests, staff will have to keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres and to avoid physical contact such as shaking hands.
Cleaning staff in hotels should, if possible, be assigned their own floor with the same rooms at all times, according to guidelines being drawn up.
Domestic tourism will play an increasingly important role in the coming weeks, because international tourism has come to a standstill, said Müller.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about travelling within Germany this summer
May 9th
Which restrictions have already been lossened
From Saturday May 9th, size restrictions for the retail trade was dropped, in line with Germany-wide restrictions.
That means all shops were allowed to open their doors – but there are strict social distancing conditions.
Retail outlets can only admit a limited number of people to ensure there's only one customer per 20 square metres.
Relaxing of social distancing rules
Also from May 9th and in line with Germany-wide guidelines, people from two separate households could meet in public (or in restaurants when they open), such as two families, two couples, or the members of two shared flats.
When meeting, 1.5 metre distance must be maintained where possible.
The previous requirement meant that only two people could meet in public.
May 11th
From Monday May 11th, personal services such as beauty salons and cosmetic studios were able to open their doors again to visitors, again with strict hygiene measures in place. Hairdressers were allowed to reopen across Germany from May 4th.
More pupils were able to return to schools in Berlin from May 11th. The aim is to get all pupils back in the classroom at least on a part-time basis by May 29th.
Music schools and youth art schools could be opened for individual lessons and small groups also from May 11th. Cinemas and concert halls will remain closed for now.
Der Senat hat im Anschluss an das Gespräch zwischen Bund und Ländern heute weitere Lockerungen für Berlin verabredet. Wichtig bleibt weiterhin, dass Hygiene- und Abstandregeln eingehalten werden. (1/9) #COVID19 #Coronakrise @klauslederer @RamonaPop pic.twitter.com/jcAk3FfrSE
— Der Regierende Bürgermeister von Berlin (@RegBerlin) May 6, 2020
Lockdown could return
In line with Germany-wide rules, if the number of coronavirus infections spikes, lockdown measures will be imposed again.
If more than 50 new infections per 100,000 residents are detected within seven days then action must be taken.
"1,800 to 2,000 new infections per week would be permitted under this cap," said economics minister Ramona Pop. "We are looking at the figures Berlin-wide."
As of Friday May 15th Berlin had a total of 6,397 confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Johns Hopkins University figures and about 177 deaths.
Nearly 5,737 people are reported to have recovered from Covid-19 in Berlin.
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