How did banning fireworks slow the spread of COVID in Germany?

Germans believe in celebrating New Year with gusto. It includes elaborate fireworks for several nights. But not only did the German government restrict the extent of the celebrations, they also banned fireworks entirely for the second year in a row. The Germans are so upset with this, that they are crossing the border to purchase firecrackers illegally from shops and factories in Poland! But why did the government ban fireworks in the first place?  

What is the relation between corona virus and German fireworks?  
Germany is already experiencing a terrible fourth wave, and fears a fifth coming on as Omicron spreads. The fears of government authorities were compounded by the insistence of the public to celebrate Sylvester, or bursting of firecrackers before and after first January. This is an old tradition. Newspaper house The Guardian said that the country’s environment authorities reported a whopping 200 million Euros are spent by citizens on an average Sylvester celebration. Controlling crowds in that situation would be impossible.  

What’s more, every year, German hospitals received a large number a patients with burns and even blown off limbs and fingers from fireworks accidents. The hospitals are already busy with COVID patients, and did not want this new crowd of emergency cases.  

Finally, the vaccination rate in Germany so far is one of the lowest in Europe, and several regions actually oppose vaccination. The government just does not want more trouble on its hands through corona and fireworks.  

With the country in the midst of an aggressive fourth wave and the health minister warning of a “massive fifth wave”, officials imposed a ban on the sale of fireworks to prevent large gatherings in the run-up to January 1. German lawmakers also feared that firework accidents on New Year’s day would overburden Germany’s hospitals, which are already struggling to accommodate a growing number of Covid cases. 

Did the fireworks ban in Germany have a negative impact?  
According to Reuters, the Association of the Pyrotechnic Industry (VPI) said the government was being panicky, and the ban had cost them the loss of over 3,000 jobs. Media reports are still coming out in this regard, since the Association has threatened to take legal action. Losing German customers to Polish fireworks makers has gotten the Association further fired up.