New Lockdown Rules in Munich: What Changes From May 11

Thanks to Munich’s 7 day incidence being below 100 for 5 days straight (as of May 9th), the emergency brake will no longer apply from Tuesday, May 11, with even more relaxations planned for Wednesday, May 11.

So what does this mean, and what will change?

You can read the full list of changes on the official Muenchen.de page here, but below you’ll find a quick summary of all the changes in English.

How Changes in Lockdown Measures Work

Since there is a lot of confusion around how/when easing measures are decided, we figured it would be helpful to give a brief explanation on the process.

As of right now, lockdown rules in Bavaria are bound to the Twelfth Bavarian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance (Zwölfte Bayerische Infektionsschutzmaßnahmenverordnung).

For now, these regulations will apply until June 2nd, 2021, although an extension is still possible.

These legal regulations form the basis of Bavaria’s lockdown rules.

Long story short, the regulations list out the various measures to be taken depending on a region’s 7 day incidence (meaning the number of cases for 100,000 residents in 7 days).

This means that the rules which apply to your area depend on the 7 day incidence, hence why some areas might have stricter measures, and others more relaxed ones.

Contrary to popular belief however, according to BR’s interview with a spokesperson from Bavaria’s Ministry of Health, these measures aren’t implemented automatically. 

Rather, the process goes like this: Once the 7 day incidence reaches under 100 five days in a row, the respective district administrative authority may then apply for relaxations in gastronomy, culture and sport, etc. with the Bavarian Ministry of Health.

In Munich for example, once the relaxations are approved, they are formally announced in a General Decree (like this one published on May 10).

Only once this General Decree is posted do we know the exact rules around any potential relaxations.

So, on that note, what is changing in Munich this week? There’s a lot! Here’s a summary broken up by date.

What Lockdown Changes are Coming to Bavaria Starting Tuesday, May 11

As of May 11, the Emergency Brake in Munich will no longer apply.

This means all of the following relaxations will begin on Tuesday, May 11:

• You may now meet with one additional household besides your own, as long as a total of five people is not exceeded (not including children under 14 years of age)
• There will be no more exit restrictions or curfew
• Museums and cultural sites may reopen with appointments and mandatory FFP2 masks
• Click and meet shopping appointments can be made even without a negative test
• “Körpernahen Dienstleistungen” (body-contact services e.g. nail salons, tanning salons, etc.) may be allowed so long as they follow the same rules as hairdressers (minimum distance, hygiene concept, FFP2 mask requirement, square meters per customer, etc.)

What Lockdown Changes are Coming to Bavaria Starting Wednesday, May 12

In addition to the relaxations starting on May 11 thanks to the emergency brake coming to an end, there will be further relaxations kicking in one day later, as explained in the General Decree posted here.

All of the following will be permitted to open once again starting on Wednesday, provided they follow the rules listed below:

• Outdoor restaurants/dining areas like beer gardens
• Theaters
• Concert halls
• Opera houses
• Cinemas 

Contact-free indoor sports and outdoor contact sports will also be possible again.

New Rules for Outdoor Dining

For Biergärten und Schanigärten, the following rules apply:

• If people from several households are sitting at the same table, guests must show either a) a negative rapid test that is no longer than 24 hours old or b) a negative PCR test that is no longer than 48 hours old*
• *The following groups will not need a test: those who have been fully vaccinated, those who have recovered, as well as children under 6 years of age
• Establishments must close by 10pm at the latest
• Prior booking (with contact details for potential follow-up) is required
• Known hygiene measures e.g. FFP2 mask requirement and social distance rules apply 

New Rules for Theatres and Cinemas

For theatres and cinemas, the following rules apply:

• Visitors must show a) a negative rapid test that is no longer than 24 hours old or b) a negative PCR test that is no longer than 48 hours old*
• *The following groups will not need a test: those who have been fully vaccinated, those who have recovered, as well as children under 6 years of age
• Contact tracing must be made possible
• Usual hygiene measures like an FFP2 mask requirement and compliance with social distance rules apply 

New Rules for Contact-Free Indoor Sports and Outdoor Contact Sports

For contact-free indoor sports and outdoor contact sports, the following rules apply:

• All participants must show a) a negative rapid test that is no longer than 24 hours old or b) a negative PCR test that is no longer than 48 hours old*
• *The following groups will not need a test: those who have been fully vaccinated, those who have recovered, as well as children under 6 years of age

What Lockdown Changes are Coming to Bavaria from May 21

Several more upcoming changes were also announced on Monday, including upcoming relaxations for the tourism industry.

From May 21, hotels, guesthouses, holiday apartments and campsites are allowed to reopen to tourists if the 7-day incidence remains stable. 

The following rules will apply:

• Guests must present a negative corona test that is no more than 24h old, and a negative test result must also be proven again every 48h
• The following groups will not need a test: those who have been fully vaccinated, those who have recovered, as well as children under 6 years of age
• In hotels, gastronomy must close before 10pm

From May 21st, other tourist offers will also allowed once again, such as city and guest tours, as well as tourist train and bus services.

More Information About Munich’s Current Lockdown Rules

For more details, visit the official Muenchen.de announcement here.