Due to the corona pandemic and in order to slow down the spread of the virus, the Bavarian Government has subsequently decided upon a number of measures:
Restrictions of free movement
With effect from 6 May 2020, the general movement restriction ceased to apply. The existing contact restriction and the distance rule will continue to apply. Everyone is therefore required to reduce physical contact with other people outside the members of their own household to an absolutely necessary minimum. Wherever possible, a minimum distance between two persons of 1.5 m must be maintained. Accumulations in public spaces remain prohibited.
In future, it will be permitted to meet or visit not only one other person but also the immediate family, i.e. spouses, partners and partners in an unmarried partnership, as well as relatives in the straight line and siblings.
Trade and service companies
Since 11 May 2020, the opening of all trade and service businesses (wholesale and retail customer traffic) have been permitted under certain conditions (e.g. masking requirement). The previous restriction to a sales area of 800 sqm was lifted.
The operator must ensure that a minimum distance of 1.5 m between customers can be maintained and that the number of customers present in the shop at the same time does not exceed one customer per 20 m² sales area. The operator must draw up a protection, hygiene and parking concept.
Shopping centres and weekly markets can also reopen under special conditions.
Gastronomy, hotel business, tourism, leisure facilities
A gradual opening of the gastronomy, hotel and tourism sectors is being sought. Strict conditions apply to all conceivable steps, which in particular include:
- Restriction of opening hours,
- Development of hygiene concepts by the companies,
- Limiting the number of guests,
- Securing of distance (separate entrance/exit, compulsory reservation)
Gastronomy has opened gradually since 18 May 2020, initially outdoors (e.g. beer gardens), and indoors since 25 May 2020.
The Whitsun weekend (30 May) is the date for a possible opening of hotels (including holiday apartments and camping) and other tourism offers, e.g: castles, lake navigation and leisure parks. Strict conditions apply to the opening of hotels, which include in particular
- no opening of offers with common use within hotels, especially wellness, swimming pool,
- Obligatory hygiene protection concept as in the catering trade,
- Catering only with distance and limited admission.
Bavaria will reopen further entrepreneurial areas of the tourism value chain. The decision is subject to the proviso that the development of corona infection continues to be favourable. In line with the possible opening of accommodation facilities on 30 May, outdoor leisure facilities such as amusement parks should also be able to resume operations from this day. Guided tours of the town and its guests, mountain, cultural and nature tours as well as tours of show caves and visitor mines will also be possible. In addition, tourist bus and train services, cable cars and river and lake navigation will be able to start. The objects of the Palace Department will also open their doors again in principle from 30 May. The objects with a large number of visitors, in particular the castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof and the residences in Munich and Würzburg, will be open to visitors again from 2 June.
Since 11 May the following facilities and businesses have reopened:
- Animal parks and botanical gardens with conditions (admission, 20 sqm rule, distance, outdoor facilities only, no gastronomy, no petting zoo)
- Libraries, museums, galleries, exhibitions and memorials with conditions (20 sqm rule, distance, no catering business)
From 15 June 2020, the resumption of theatre, concert and other cultural events is possible on the basis of the corresponding concept of the Ministry of Science in coordination with the Ministry of Health (up to 50 guests indoors, up to 100 guests outdoors)
From 15 June 2020, the resumption of cinema operations is possible in principle. The Digital Ministry will develop and publish a concrete hygiene concept in coordination with the Ministry of Health, which will be based on the concept for cultural institutions, especially with regard to the total number of visitors allowed and the hygiene regulations to be observed.
Playgrounds (not football grounds) have reopened since 6 May.
Sports: Since 11 May 2020 contact-free individual sports with distance (e.g. tennis, athletics, golf, sailing, riding (also indoors) or aviation) are permitted again. From 8 June 2020, further facilitations in the field of sport will be made, provided that the necessary distance regulations and protection/hygiene concepts are observed:
- The operation of outdoor swimming pools and outdoor facilities of bathing establishments (including the outdoor area of swimming pools, spa facilities, hotels, etc.) can be resumed.
- The restriction of training operations to the term “individual sports” in the Infection Prevention Measures Ordinance (§ 9 para. 1 sentence 2 of the 4th BayIfSMV of 5 May 2020) shall not apply without replacement.
- The training of rehabilitation sports groups and the training operation for national and state cadre athletes of so-called non-Olympic sports will be permitted again in sports facilities.
- Outdoor training is permitted in groups of up to 20 persons.
- Indoor sports facilities may resume operation.
- Competitive operation for contactless outdoor sports is permitted again.
- Dance schools for contactless dance and couple dance with a fixed dance partner as well as fitness studios can open again.
Events and assemblies
Events and assemblies are prohibited nationwide. This also applies to meetings in churches, mosques and synagogues as well as meetings of other religious communities. Exceptional permission can be granted on application by the responsible district administrative authority, as far as this is justifiable in individual cases from the point of view of infection protection law. This applies up to and including 10 May 2020. Major events remain prohibited at least until 31 August 2020.
Assemblies (in accordance with the Bavarian Assembly Act) are permitted since 4 May under the following conditions:
- Maximum number of participants: 50.
- Only outdoors and stationary, with a basic minimum distance of 1.5 m and without distribution of flyers etc.
- Maximum duration: 60 min.
- Maximum one meeting per calendar day with the same organiser or participants.
Divine services are permitted since 4 May under the following conditions:
- Maximum number of participants: Outdoors 50. In buildings as many people as there are seats, with a minimum distance of 2 m to other seats
- Basic minimum distance: Outdoors 1.5 m, in buildings 2 m.
- Maximum duration: 60 minutes.
- Obligation to cover the mouth and nose, exception for liturgical speaking and preaching.
- Churches and religious communities draw up infection protection concepts.
Transport / Coach Companies
People have to wear a mouth-and-nose cover when using public transport.
From 30 May 2020, the operation of coach companies will be possible again, provided that it does not involve explicit group travel. Only individual bookings may be made.
Overnight Accommodation
All accommodation facilities, such as hotels, holiday homes, guest houses and campsites, will be open to holidaymakers again from the Whitsun weekend (30 May 2020), subject to strict compliance with hygiene regulations. The applicable contact restrictions must also be observed for overnight stays: Only guests who are allowed to have contact with each other – such as members of a household or life partners – may occupy an apartment or room. Group overnight stays are currently not possible.
! We highly recommend that you contact your booked accommodation immediately if you are planning a trip to Bavaria.
- For daily updates on the Coronavirus please also check the website of the Federal Ministry of Health as well as The Robert Koch Institute(Germany’s public health institute)
- The Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) has set up a hotline for questions: +49 9131 6808 5101. The task force can also be reached by e-mail coronavirus@lgl.bayern.de.
Keep well!
