pandemic
Berlin (dpa) – After weeks of increasing corona infection numbers in Germany, nationwide easing of everyday restrictions are specifically on the agenda. The scientific forecasts showed that the peak of the omicron wave was in sight, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Friday.
“This allows us to take a first step towards opening up next week at the federal-state meeting and then to look at more for spring.” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) said that “moderate easing” could be discussed during the consultations this Wednesday, but not massive ones. New rules apply to entitlement to free PCR tests from Saturday – before that you must have a positive quick test from a test center.
With a view to possible openings, Scholz said in the Federal Council that scientific expertise would continue to be used as a guide. “Because we don’t want to jeopardize our success now.” For the time being, the government kept a low profile on specific starting points. It’s not about opening everything at once, but about a staggered approach, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. Lauterbach referred to the increasing number of cases and emphasized: “We are approaching the peak, but a massive easing would only prolong or possibly exacerbate the problem.”
Develop opening perspectives
The federal and state governments had recently decided at the end of January that far-reaching restrictions such as access rules only for vaccinated and recovered (2G) should remain. However, it has already been announced in principle that opening perspectives will be developed for the moment “at which an overload of the health system can be ruled out”. Calls for easing have been heard from the countries – especially after the 2G rule in retail has been abolished, although this has already been lifted in many countries.
Lauterbach for “loosening prospects”
A new test regulation will apply from this Saturday, as Lauterbach said. The principle that you first have to do a quick test is intended to ensure that as few PCR tests as possible are used for negative results. Even with a red tile on the Corona-Warn-App you have to do a quick test first.
The first vaccination requirement for staff in sensitive facilities, which has already been decided, can now take effect as planned in mid-March after the Federal Constitutional Court has given the go-ahead. In summary proceedings, the judges refused to suspend the provisions for the time being. This means that a number of constitutional complaints have not yet been decided. The law stipulates that employees in nursing homes, clinics and other facilities must submit proof of being vaccinated or recovered by March 15th. The CDU had called for a suspension with reference to unresolved practical questions, Bavaria had announced a corresponding step.
Draft for compulsory corona vaccination
The proposals for general corona vaccination from the age of 18 are now taking concrete shape. Seven members of the Bundestag from the SPD, Greens and FDP presented a draft for a “law on education, advice and vaccination of all adults against SARS-CoV-2” on Friday. According to this, the health insurance companies should initially contact all adults personally by May 15 and inform them about counseling and vaccination options. From October 1st, all adults resident or habitually resident in Germany must have proof of three vaccinations or have recovered and present it to the authorities or the health insurance company on request.
Citizens who cannot be vaccinated and women at the beginning of pregnancy should be exempt. The law is to be limited to December 31, 2023. Until then, the federal government should check the effectiveness every three months and report to the Bundestag. The proposal comes from the SPD deputies Dirk Wiese, Heike Baehrens and Dagmar Schmidt, the Greens Janosch Dahmen and Till Steffen as well as Katrin Helling-Plahr and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from the FDP. They explained: “If we wait until the next wave of infection is in sight, it is too late to act proactively.” Then the population and the health system could only be protected with restrictive measures. “Freedom for all is only possible with solidarity from everyone.”
Counter initiative by Kubicki
According to the plans of the traffic light coalition, the Bundestag should decide on a possible regulation without the usual parliamentary group specifications. There is also an initiative by a group led by FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki against a general obligation to vaccinate. A group led by the FDP politician Andrew Ullmann is working on a proposal for a “middle way”: With counseling sessions for all adult unvaccinated people and – if after a certain time the necessary vaccination rate is not reached – an obligation to prove a vaccination from the age of 50. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr said on ZDF on Friday: “We will stick to the schedule, so we will make a decision at the end of this first quarter.”
Union proposes vaccination register
The Union first proposed setting up a vaccination register. You use a sense of proportion, said the health policy spokesman Tino Sorge (CDU). The plans for compulsory vaccination from 18 or 50 are bogus solutions that would not find a majority in the Bundestag. “But what we absolutely need now is a register,” said CDU MP and former Berlin Senator for Justice Thomas Heilmann. In an application, the government should be asked to draw up a law for this. In addition, there should be a “graded vaccination mechanism” that the Bundestag and Bundesrat could put into effect if the pandemic situation worsened. This could then also provide for compulsory vaccination, but only for vulnerable population and professional groups.
The official number of cases could gradually approach a plateau. For the first time since the end of December, the health authorities reported fewer new cases per day to the Robert Koch Institute than on the same day of the previous week: now 240,172 after 248,838 on Friday last week. The seven-day incidence rose to 1472.2 after 1465.4 reported new infections per 100,000 population and seven days the previous day. It is difficult to say whether the numbers reflect what is happening in real life or whether there are effects of an overloaded reporting and testing system.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220211-99-80432/9
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