Weekly updates from the German Federal Parliament, the Bundestag
In an effort to strengthen the legal framework for managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the German government has proposed amendments to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). While the latest detailed draft from 2025 is not yet available, the legislative approach in recent years, including amendments from 2021 and ongoing adjustments, provide clear context on how the bill aims to address the virus.
The draft bill focuses on using hospitalization rates as the key metric for introducing or easing COVID-19 restrictions. This approach ensures that measures are proportional to the healthcare system's impact. The bill also aims to maintain and possibly expand vaccine mandates and infection control measures in healthcare and public settings.
Hospitalization incidence, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents over seven days, is the primary benchmark used to determine the severity of the pandemic and trigger tiers of public health measures. Specific thresholds for hospitalization incidence trigger graduated interventions, such as the "2G" rule (access only for vaccinated or recovered individuals) and the stricter "2G+" rule (vaccinated/recovered plus negative test).
The 2021 amendment introduced a vaccine mandate for health workers in hospitals, reflecting the act's role in mandating protective measures for vulnerable settings. The anticipated 2025 draft is likely to extend or refine these provisions further to maintain flexibility in responding to COVID-19 waves, emphasizing hospitalization data for evidence-based decisions rather than just infection counts.
In addition to public health measures, the draft bill also provides clear thresholds and legal backing for phased pandemic responses, including access restrictions, testing requirements, and contact limitations. These measures reflect lessons learned during the pandemic to manage virus spread while avoiding overly broad or untargeted restrictions.
The draft bill also includes provisions for the monitoring of gas storage levels, requiring operators to meet specific minimum filling levels at designated dates. If gaps still remain, the Market Area Coordinator can purchase and store gas and storage capacities.
Other provisions of the bill include the extension of the Social Service Deployment Act (SodEG) to continue providing social services, the permanent monitoring of vaccination quotas for stationary care facilities, and the continuation of childcare leave for parents. The bill also introduces a one-off heating cost subsidy for households receiving housing allowance, BAföG recipients, and others.
The government is also introducing a bill to reduce the EEG surcharge on electricity from 3.723 cents/kWh to zero as of July 1, 2022. This early reduction is aimed at protecting consumers and businesses from high energy prices. Companies and consumers who purchase electricity will benefit from the reduction starting July 1, 2022. The revenue losses for transmission network operators will be offset by around 6.6 billion euros from the Energy and Climate Fund (EKF).
On a separate note, the German Navy and Air Force vessels and aircraft are participating in the NATO maritime security operation "SEA GUARDIAN" in the Mediterranean. The mandate of the German Armed Forces in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is to be extended until March 31, 2023, following a request from the Federal Government. The cap on deployed German Armed Forces personnel in the NATO maritime security operation has been reduced from 650 to 550.
Finally, the Federal Government's Media and Communications Report 2021 explores ways to promote the creation of cooperative media platforms. This report reflects the government's ongoing efforts to address various issues in the country.
[1] Source: [Link to the original source if available]
- The upcoming amendments to the Infection Protection Act in Germany are aimed at using science and evidence-based decisions, such as hospitalization rates, to manage medical-conditions like COVID-19 and implement health-and-wellness measures, including vaccine mandates and infection control policies.
- The German government is also focusing on policy-and-legislation, such as reducing the EEG surcharge on electricity, to support consumers and businesses during times of economic stress, like high energy prices.
- On the global stage, German forces are participating in politics and general-news events, like NATO's maritime security operation "SEA GUARDIAN" and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, reinforcing the country's commitment to international cooperation and peacekeeping efforts.
