Band countries are largely restricting public life in Germany in view of the sharp rise in the number of corona infections. After an online conference with the Prime Ministers of the federal states, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) announced the agreement on Wednesday afternoon. She spoke of a “national effort”, of “tough” and “burdensome measures”. These should apply from November 2nd until the end of the month. All prime ministers support the agreement, said the Chancellor. You don’t expect individual countries to pull out.
“The point here is that the pace of the virus and its spread are particularly high,” said Merkel. You experience an exponential increase in the number of infections. The value doubles in ever shorter intervals. The health system can cope with it today, but “within weeks, the limits of the performance of this system are reached,” said Merkel. “We have to act, and now, (…) to avoid an acute national health emergency.”
“This is no longer abstract”
The health authorities have “come to the limit of what they can track”. Now it has to be a matter of “restoring the traceability of the contacts”. In three quarters of all cases, the path of the infection can no longer be traced. Therefore, one can “no longer say that a certain area does not contribute to the infection at all”.
Merkel thanked the citizens “for their common sense and their solidarity” and said that politicians knew what to expect from people with these decisions. “That is why today is a difficult day for political decision-makers as well.” At the same time, the Chancellor announced an aid program for companies affected by the new restrictions and self-employed people.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) also said that the decision was difficult for him. He has kept in close contact with the Berlin Charité in the past few days. “It is a very clear picture that is emerging,” said Müller. The intensive care beds are now being used as much as in April, and that is still increasing. “This is no longer abstract.” And: “If we watch now, we will not be able to help many people.”
“A month of truth”
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder called the new corona measures a “bitter pill”. However, a situation has now arisen in which contact tracking in the event of infections is no longer guaranteed. Therefore a “big approach” is now required. Söder praised the federal aid program for companies, as part of which ten billion euros should be made available for November. That is “generous” and can “build a financial bridge” for both restaurateurs and self-employed people.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) said the corona restrictions were preventive measures. “We are not in an emergency. Rather, it is a preventive measure to prevent us from getting into an emergency at some point. “November is” the month of decision “, in which it will become clear whether a complete lockdown can be prevented.
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