(Credit: dpa)

The Senate of Berlin has announced its intention to dramatically reduce contacts in order to combat an incoming SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection wave.

“We intend to close more,” said the Senator for Health of the City of Berlin Dilek Kalayci.

For some measures, however, the legal framework must first be adapted at the federal level. The Senate will therefore initiate a parliamentary resolution in the Bundestag. Additionally, a special session of the Senate will be held until Dec. 3, 2021.

Per Kalayci’s words, the Senate will initially reduce the capacity for events. The capacity for indoor events will be reduced to 200, while capacity for outdoor events will be reduced to 1,000. The Senate further intends to shut down bars, discos, clubs, restaurants, theaters, opera houses, and museums, pending a vote in the Bundestag and the severity of the epidemiological situation.

Prime Ministers of German federal states have previously worked out measures to temporarily reduce contacts faced with a running Delta wave. Chancellor Designated Olaf Scholz has announced upcoming amendments of the Infection Protection Act which will enable further restrictive measures.