Berlin to lift restrictions on indoor dancing for vaccinated and those recently recovered from Covid-19

Berlin is the latest major nightlife destination to announce a resumption of indoor music events with dancing. The decision was made following a court ruling to overturn laws imposing heavy restrictions on clubs and other venues. Crucially, though, the decision only relates to those who have been vaccinated or have recently recovered from COVID-19. 

Having green-lit outdoor parties on 18th June, the German capital’s clubs remained unable to fully operate legally with indoor dancing until now. RBB reports that a resumption of inside events is now on the cards after the local judiciary voted in favour of the nightlife sector when one venue owner sued the government. 

The announcement that the pandemic rules were fair and sensible but “likely to be disproportionate” for those who have been vaccinated or recently recovered was made on Friday 20th August, effectively approving indoor parties for those who fall into either category. Official statistics show that on the previous day there had been 475 new cases of COVID-19 in Berlin. An appeal to reimpose the previous restrictions is possible through the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg. 

Earlier this month, six venues in the city were involved in a series of indoor test events for 2,000 consenting PCR-tested attendees. These took place at Salon Zur Wilden Renate, Kitkat, SO36, Crack Bellmer, Festsaal Kreuzberg, and Metropol. Meanwhile, the Arena nightclub hosted its own series of vaccination parties in early-August, with DJs spinning while clubbers received Pfizer-BioNTech jabs.