16:04: Lauterbach – We are better prepared for the impending corona wave
According to Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, Germany is better prepared for the upcoming crown wave than in the past two years. Although the pandemic isn’t over yet, there are now adapted vaccines and antiviral drugs like Paxlovid, Lauterbach said in Berlin. The use of these remedies and their combination with the use of masks could significantly reduce the death rate in nursing homes this winter.
However, the wave expected this fall and winter will not be limited. “It’s just that only those who have BA.5 are reasonably protected,” Lauterbach said. To fill existing vaccination gaps, especially in view of the fourth booster vaccination, Lauterbach has announced the start of a vaccination campaign in the coming weeks. In Germany, 62.2% of people received a booster vaccination, 9.9% received a second booster. A good 76 percent are basic immunized.
15:14: Bavaria considers the FFP2 mask requirement to be excessive
Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) has called for more judgment when implementing the mask requirement in vulnerable facilities. The mask requirement prescribed by the federal government since October 1 in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, the elderly and nursing homes and facilities for the disabled is excessive and impractical. The mask requirement should only apply in areas where there is indeed a risk of contact with vulnerable groups of people. Holetschek particularly criticized the requirement to wear masks in early and corrective laboratories, as well as in daycare centers. There, even children from six years old should wear FFP2 masks.
After children don’t have to wear masks in the morning in special schools, they should then wear masks in kindergartens in the afternoon, which is “just absurd”. The obligation to wear FFP2 masks makes no sense in nursery schools and curative education laboratories for the disabled. Furthermore, care is impaired because the mask makes communication difficult. Holetschek announced that he intends to apply an exception rule to the affected facilities in the Free State.
14:27: Lauterbach and the service industry make deals – the FFP2 mask requirement remains
The care industry, welfare and municipal associations have agreed with the Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) crown protection measures for those in need of care. In essence, these are the innovations brought about by the recent reform of the infection protection law. Participants defended the FFP2 mask requirements for nursing home residents that have been in effect since October 1. Lauterbach referred to the high risk of infection in the common rooms of the facilities and spoke of an extremely dangerous situation.
The new rules stipulate that nursing home residents must always wear FFP2 masks, except “in the premises intended for their permanent residence”. The mask can therefore only be left in the room and must be worn in the common rooms. It was also agreed that the concepts of protection and hygiene would continue. Facilities must appoint officers to take care of hygiene requirements, corona vaccinations, testing for staff, visitors and residents. Reporting to health authorities on home vaccination rates will be simplified. Visits shouldn’t be limited. There is no information that vaccinations for staff should expire at the end of the year.
1:21 pm: Significantly more air travelers in August, but fewer than before Corona
Significantly more people flew in August than a year ago, but according to the Airline Association (IATA), the level before the corona pandemic has not yet been reached. The number of passengers worldwide in August was 67.7% higher than the same month last year, IATA reported Thursday in Geneva. Overall, air traffic was 73.3% below the level before the corona pandemic. European airlines grew at an above average rate of 78.8%.
In international affairs, the number of passengers more than doubled in August: plus 115.6 percent. Overall, however, that was still only two-thirds of 2019 business, before the corona pandemic temporarily paralyzed air traffic almost completely. For internal flights, the recovery had started earlier. In August, traffic was 85.4% compared to pre-crisis levels.
12:17 pm: French firefighter rejects before the Court of Human Rights with a lawsuit against compulsory vaccination
A French firefighter has failed in his lawsuit against the legal vaccination requirement for nurses and firefighters before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In a ruling on Thursday, the court dismissed his request as inadmissible, albeit on formal grounds that all domestic remedies must first be exhausted before an appeal can be filed with the ECtHR.
Plaintiff, Pierrick Thevenon, had refused corona vaccination without seeking medical exemption. As a result, the French authorities suspended him from both his professional and voluntary work as a firefighter. On Twitter, where Thevenon now has nearly 35,000 followers, he was disappointed. “The ECtHR rejects the appeal against compulsory vaccination after more than a year, numerous discussions and enormous work by the union”.
10.44: Nursing Council: Politics did not recognize nursing competence
According to the president of the German Nursing Council, Christine Vogler, politicians have not yet recognized the competence of the professional nurse. At the start of German Nursing Day, Thursday in Berlin, Vogler reiterated the call for nursing rooms at the state and federal levels, as well as a separate law on health professions. So many issues could be independently regulated without political guidelines and the nursing profession could join the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA). This is the highest decision-making body for joint self-government in the German health system.
Ahead of the corona measures, Vogler called for the phasing out of the facility’s mandatory vaccination at the end of the year. At the same time, he stressed that the Nursing Council was clearly in favor of vaccinating nurses. He also called for greater recognition of the personal responsibility of health care workers when it came to the mask requirement.
8:59 am: Passenger numbers in bus traffic plummeted over the Corona years
The corona pandemic and related restrictions have hit bus travel hard. The number of passengers (excluding regular services) in the two years Corona 2020 and 2021 was more than three quarters (77%) below the level of the pre-crisis year 2019, as announced Thursday in Wiesbaden by the Federal Statistical Office. The number of companies making bus journeys away from long-distance bus lines decreased by around 320 to around 2650 between 2019 and 2021. To combat the corona pandemic, driving bans have been repeated for the bus industry. buses from March 17, 2020 at federal and state level in different time periods. Travel events such as school trips were also partially banned until 2021.
8:02 am: Travel restrictions in the Chinese region due to the corona virus
Travel restrictions have been imposed for China’s Xinjiang region due to the corona virus. Trains and buses to and from Xinjiang would be suspended on Thursday. In addition, the number of passengers on the aircraft was limited to a maximum of 75% of the capacity. The regional government has announced that the measures are aimed at preventing the spread of the virus. About 22 million people live in Xinjiang. It has not been announced how long the restrictions should apply. China is known for a strict “zero Covid” policy. The number of coronavirus cases in Xinjiang was relatively small. The National Health Commission of China reported 93 cases on Wednesday and 97 on Thursday, but all had no symptoms.
5:15 am: RKI reports 132,494 new infections – the incidence rises to 462.4
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of known infections in Germany has increased from 132,494 to over 33.65 million. That’s 53,631 more cases than Thursday a week ago, when 78,863 were reported. The seven-day incidence rises to 462.4 from 414.0 the previous day. The RKI records another 97 deaths related to the corona virus. The known total is 150,289.
