On the 18th local time, the German Bundestag and Bundestag passed the amendments to the Infection Protection Act with 415 votes in favor, 238 votes against, 8 abstentions, and 49 votes in favor of 69 votes. . With the signing of German President Steinmeier that day, this new bill will come into effect on the 19th.
According to German media reports, the amendment bill is mainly aimed at improving the legal basis of Pandemic prevention policy. It specifically lists a series of measures that the federal and state governments can take when the Coronavirus Pandemic spreads, including mask injunctions, safe social distancing regulations, travel restrictions, contact restrictions, closing business premises and different types of institutions, and suspending religious activities and so on .
At the same time, the validity period of the restriction order is generally 4 weeks, and the state government must provide credible reasons when extending the period.
Both the Coalition Party and the Social Democratic Party, which make up the German coalition government, believe that the amendment will ensure that the government’s Pandemic prevention measures can be implemented under a stronger legal framework.
\In the debate in the Federal Parliament, Germany’s Federal Minister of Health, Spane, described Coronavirus Pandemic as a “serious event in a century.”
In his view, no matter what measures the government adopts, it cannot completely avoid the negative consequences of the Pandemic. Therefore, the key lies in how to strike a balance between health and economic loss.
Span also reiterated once again that Germany will not implement the Coronavirus vaccination obligations.
However, many critics have emerged from the opposition parties, claiming that the bill is still not clear enough, is a bad check, and gives the state government too many rights, which may violate the basic rights and freedoms of citizens.
It is worth mentioning that the German government’s vote on the amendment to the Infection Protection Act that day also triggered large-scale demonstrations in Berlin.
During the period, clashes between the police and the protesters caused at least 9 police officers to be injured and nearly 200 violent demonstrators were temporarily arrested.
