Lockdown Restrictions in Bavaria from March 8 Onwards

Confused about current lockdown restrictions in Munich (and throughout Bavaria)?

With new easing measures being introduced weekly, and a lot of “ifs” and “buts” when it comes to which rules apply, we totally understand if you’re confused about how many people you can meet, what kinds of shops are open, and what sports you’re able to practice.

So, in this post, we’ll be summarizing the lockdown restrictions announced on March 5 for Bavaria, including the easing plan and new adjustments that will be introduced weekly throughout March.

First: Where to Find the Official Lockdown Restrictions and Rules for Bavaria

From March 8th onwards, the Twelfth Bavarian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance (12th BayIfSMV) is in effect.

You can read the full thing (in full German legalese) here.

Of course, if you don’t feel like sifting through confusing pages of a lengthy German document, below, we’ll summarize the most important updates in English.

For the most part, we have only included updates on lockdown restrictions that are changing, so if you don’t see us mention a particular industry/area, it’s likely because rules haven’t changed since March 8.

Of course, you can refer to a more robust list of changes from the official Muenchen.de website here.

NOTE: Pretty much all adjustments are dependent on the 7 day incidence of any particular region. This means that rules might differ from Munich to say, Nuremberg, depending on case numbers. We have tried to represent these differences as clearly as possible below. You can find the latest 7 day incidence for Munich here.

Lockdown Adjustments From March 8, 2021 Onwards

From March 8, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence exceeds 100:

• A curfew between 10 pm and 5 am comes into effect (with exceptions granted only for essential reasons)
• You may meet with members of your own household as well as one additional person*
• *EXCEPTION: Unpaid and reciprocal supervision of children under 14 years old in permanent, family or neighborhood childcare arrangements is allowed, so long as the children are from no more than two households
• The opening of retail stores with customer traffic is prohibited for commercial, service and craft businesses EXCEPT for essential shops like those in the food trade, pharmacies/drug stores, florists, garden centers, hardware stores, bookstores, pet supply stores, and wholesalers
• Retail stores offering ‘Click and collect’ is permitted
• Museums, exhibitions, memorials, sights belonging to the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, zoological and botanical gardens, and comparable cultural sites will remain closed
• You may practice only non-contact sports, so long as you comply with existing contact restrictions. Team sports are prohibited.

From March 8, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence is between 50 and 100:

• [In effect for a 7-day incidence from 35-100] You may meet with members of your own household, in addition to members of another household, as long as a total number of 5 people is not exceeded. Children under 14 do not count for this total
• The opening of retail stores for individual customers is permitted for a fixed limited period, so long as you make an appointment in advance, and the number of customers present at the same time does not exceed one customer per 40 m² of retail space
• Hairdressing services, as well as non-medical foot, hand, nail and facial care may be offered, so long as staff wear a medical face mask and prior appointments are made
• Markets are prohibited except for the sale of food, plants and flowers
• Museums, exhibitions, memorials, sights belonging to the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, zoological and botanical gardens, and comparable cultural sites may open so long as visitors make an appointment in advance, minimum 1.5m distance can be maintained, and visitors wear FFP2 masks
• You may practice non-contact sports, so long as you comply with contact restrictions, and additional outdoor sports are permitted in groups of up to 20 children under 14 years of age

From March 8, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence is under 50:

• Museums, exhibitions, memorials, sights belonging to the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, zoological and botanical gardens, and comparable cultural sites may open without prior appointments
• You may practice non-contact sports in groups of up to 10, or in groups of up to 20 children under 14 for outdoor sports

From March 8, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence is under 35:

• You may meet with members of your own household and members of two other households, as long as a total number of 10 people is not exceeded. Children under 14 do not count for this total

Lockdown Adjustments From March 15, 2021 Onwards

From March 15, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence is over 100:

• Face-to-face (in-person) teaching takes place in the final grades, ONLY if a minimum distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained continuously and reliably. Where this is not possible, alternating instruction takes place at the final classes
• Distance teaching takes place at all other school types and grades
• For daycare, day nursery and similar services, facilities are closed

From March 15, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence is between 50 and 100:

• Face-to-face (in-person) teaching takes place at all school types in all grades ONLY if the minimum distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained continuously and reliably. Where this is not possible, alternating instruction takes place
• For daycare, day nursery and similar services, facilities can only open if care is provided in fixed groups

From March 15, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence is under 50:

• Face-to-face (in-person) teaching may take place in elementary school grades
• At all other school types and grades, face-to-face instruction only applies if the minimum distance of 1.5 meters can be maintained continuously and reliably. Where this is not possible, alternating instruction will take place
• For daycare, day nursery and similar services, facilities may open

NOTE ON HOW SCHOOLING MEASURES ARE DETERMINED: Generally speaking, according to Muenchen.de here, each Friday, the relevant incidence classification is made according to the latest publication of the Robert Koch Institute. The relevant regulation for the incidence area then applies for the following calendar week from Monday until the end of the following Sunday.

Lockdown Adjustments From March 22, 2021 Onwards

From March 22, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence stays under 100 for at least 14 consecutive days, and the trend in the incidence of infection appears stable or is declining:

• The opening of outdoor dining areas may be permitted with prior appointment booking and documentation for contact tracing. NOTE: If people from multiple households sit at the same table, a daily COVID-19 rapid or self-test is required
• Theaters, concert halls, opera houses, and movie theaters may open for visitors with a daily COVID -19 rapid or self-test
• Openings for indoor non-contact sports and outdoor contact sports may be allowed, provided all participants have a daily COVID-19 rapid or self-test

From March 22, 2021 onwards, if the 7-day incidence stays under 50 for at least 14 consecutive days and the infection incidence appears stable or is declining:

• More extensive relaxations may be permitted for opening outdoor dining.
• More extensive relaxations may be permitted for the opening of theaters, concert halls, opera houses, and movie theaters
• More extensive relaxations may be allowed for indoor non-contact sports and outdoor contact sports

What Remains Closed in Bavaria Right Now

The following facilities/activities will still be prohibited for the next few weeks:

• On-site consumption at catering establishments of any kind (take-out and delivery are allowed)
• Overnight stays for tourist purposes
• Events, gatherings and festivities of all kind, unless in constitutionally protected areas like church services or gatherings according to the Bavarian Assembly Act
• Amusement parks and comparable fixed recreational facilities
• Commercial recreational activities either outdoors or indoors
• City and guest tours, mountain, cultural and nature tours as well as tours in show caves and visitor mines
• The operation of cable cars, river and lake navigation in excursion traffic
• Tourist rail transport and river cruises
• The opening and operation of bathing establishments, hotel swimming pools, thermal baths and wellness centers and saunas
• Brothels, prostitution establishments
• Gambling halls, casinos, betting shops
• Clubs, discotheques, other places of entertainment and similar recreational facilities

Where Masks are Mandatory in Munich

Mask regulations are a bit confusing right now as well, with an obligation for FFP2 masks in some areas, and just regular masks in others.

Based on this article on masks from Muenchen.de, here is a summary of where and when you need to wear a mask, along with what type of mask is mandatory:

An FFP2 mask is currently mandatory in the following situations:

• Local public transport
• At retail stores
• At doctor’s appointments
• At hairdressers and when visiting other body-related services (e.g. pedicures and manicures)
• At church services
• When visiting hospitals, care facilities, and retirement homes
• When visiting the zoo

Additionally, regular nose/mouth coverage (not necessarily FFP2 masks, but some form of coverage) is mandatory in the following situations:

• In front of wholesale and retail stores and their parking lots
• “Public areas” where you would encounter others e.g. elevators of public buildings
• In schools (although medical masks are mandatory for teachers)
• In public areas of a workplace or in a workplace if 1.5m distance cannot be maintained
• At driving school/tests
• In music schools
• (From 9am-9pm only) Heavily visited locations in the Old Town including the entire Altstadt-Fußgängerzone, Marienplatz, Karlsplatz, Odeonsplatz, Rindermarkt, Viktualienmarkt, Sendlingestr , Tal, and more. Keep an eye out for signs indicating this mask requirements

More Information About the Current Lockdown Restrictions in Munich

Again, at the moment, the Twelfth Bavarian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance (12th BayIfSMV) is in effect.

You can read the full thing here for more details on everything discussed above.

NOTE: We’ve tried our best to summarize/simplify the regulations so they’re easy to understand. If you notice any mistakes or confusing parts, please let us know in the comments so we can address them. Thanks so much!