In October, not only will the corona rules for unvaccinated people change. There are also new regulations for cash patients or users of social networks. The most important changes at a glance.
There will be some new regulations for consumers in October. For those who have not been vaccinated, it can be expensive because of stricter rules for corona rapid tests and quarantine, while health insurance patients benefit from new services. And when it comes to stalking, the law is being tightened. All important innovations at a glance.
Quarantine and rapid tests
Unvaccinated people are normally no longer compensated for loss of earnings due to an ordered corona quarantine. There is no nationwide uniform start date, but the federal states want to implement this regulation in the course of October. In the federal-state resolution, November 1, 2021 is provided as the latest date. As early as October 11, rapid tests, which unvaccinated people often need to access restaurants or events, usually have to be paid for themselves. They are generally free for anyone who cannot be vaccinated, including children under 12 years of age.
Energy cost comparison
From October 1st, larger filling stations are obliged to display a cost comparison of various energy sources such as petrol, diesel, electricity, natural gas or hydrogen in euros per 100 kilometers at fuel pumps or in the sales room. The new ones are intended to help sensitize consumers to alternative drives.
Newborn screening
From October 1st, the screening will be expanded to include rare congenital diseases in babies in the first days of life. In the future, it will also include sickle cell disease, in which red blood cells are crooked in the shape of a sickle and are not as good at transporting oxygen. The screening now also includes spinal muscular atrophy at health insurance costs, in which motor nerve cells in the spinal cord die off.
Hepatitis-Tests
From October 1st, legally insured persons aged 35 and over have the right to be tested once for the viral diseases hepatitis B and hepatitis C. This offer is a new component of the health check-up, which can be done every three years.
Stalking
Anyone who regularly ambushes another person or harasses them repeatedly ends up in court faster than before. Last had to the perpetrators “need” Re-enactment behavior can be proven to affect the life of the victim “serious” impaired. From October it is enough to have someone “repeated” to harass and his life with it “not insignificant” to affect. The sentence will also be tightened: Whereas previously a maximum of three years in prison could be imposed for stalking, now five years imprisonment are also possible. In addition, the digital will also be available from October “Cyberstalking” expressly under penalty – for example if someone accesses the social media accounts or the movement data of his victim.
Electronic prescription
After a test phase in Berlin and Brandenburg, medical practices can voluntarily issue electronic drug prescriptions nationwide from October 1st. Patients can then manage them via smartphone, for example, but a paper printout is also possible. Starting in January, the e-prescription for prescription drugs will be a must.
Collection fees
For debtors of small amounts: Collection service providers usually have to inform those affected at the first contact on whose behalf they are acting, which contract is involved and what costs could arise in the event of default. In the case of small claims of up to 50 euros, the collection costs that debtors have to pay in addition should not be higher than the claim itself. Important parts of the law come into force on October 1st.
Social networks
At the “Network Enforcement Act”, which is supposed to fight hatred and agitation on the net, becomes a “Counter-presentation procedure” introduced. Social networks like Facebook must give their users the opportunity to defend themselves out of court against the blocking of supposedly illegal content. For example, those affected can request individual reasons for deleting their posts.
minimum wage
Scaffolders are paid better. The minimum wage in the scaffolding trade has risen from 12.20 euros per hour to 12.55 euros. A further increase to EUR 12.85 has already been agreed for October next year. The collectively agreed wages in the industry are, however, significantly higher: Here, the basic hourly wage increases to 17.47 euros on October 1st.
Fight against doping
A leniency program comes into force in the anti-doping law. It enables a reduction in sentences or an exemption from punishment for high-performance athletes who do doping, if they provide the investigators with information about the people behind the crime and criminal networks.
view in the future
The Expo 2020 promises a glimpse into the future, which starts on October 1st in Dubai with a one-year delay. 191 countries are taking part in the first world exhibition in the Arabic-speaking region with their own pavilions. Highlights of the huge event in the desert: Visitors should be able to come into contact with more than 100 robots on the site. And a Hyperloop vehicle is to be presented in the Spanish pavilion, which will one day reach a speed of up to 1000 kilometers per hour. It’s a little easier to get a glimpse of the future at the world’s largest book fair in Frankfurt am Main (from October 20th) and at the Essener Spielemesse, the world’s largest fair for board games (from October 14th).
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
