NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) is focusing on the worries, problems and needs of children and young people in the corona pandemic. The question of what effects the pandemic will have on children and young people was a very important topic on Saturday at a joint retreat between the NRW CDU and the party leaders of the European Parliament, the Bundestag and the designated federal chairman Friedrich Merz in Düsseldorf. Luscious literally: “What are the consequences of the pandemic, do the restrictions caused by the pandemic have for children and young people?”
To this end, the party invited Silvia Schneider from the Ruhr University in Bochum as an expert to the exam. Schneider is Professor of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Head of the Research and Treatment Center for Mental Health at the Ruhr University. Wüst was obviously impressed with her presentation. “Professor Schneider has shown us very profoundly what effects the restrictions have on children and adolescents, on the psyche of children and adolescents,” said Wüst, who listed numerous “negative consequences”: “School problems, fewer social contacts, also more arguments in the families through the pressures that arise there. More signs of child welfare risk, etc. up to an increase in suicidal thoughts in children and young people. “
This warns “to set clear priorities also in the next few weeks, to stop schools and day-care centers,” said the current chairman of the conference of prime ministers. The aim is to “guarantee as much normality as possible” to children in the pandemic and to “hold up the associated infrastructure” for as long as possible. That was a very important point. ” In short: Closing daycare centers and schools is the last option, also in view of the Omikron wave in the fight against pandemics.
Wüst sees his party going into the year 2022 stronger overall: “The discussions of the last months and weeks have shown that the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia is united, united and strong.” The federal CDU is about to restart: “The weekend after next is the federal party conference at which Friedrich Merz is elected federal chairman.” After that, the preparation for the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on May 15, 2022 will come to the fore. Wüst wanted to discuss the “timetable for the state elections” during this retreat. “In April we will start the state election campaign.” The aim of the CDU is to provide Armin Laschet’s successor, Wüst, as prime minister in the most populous federal state in the coming years.
In addition, Wüst announced that in the sport and leisure sector, people would be exempted from the additional test requirement with a booster vaccination. When asked whether the compulsory test for “boosted” should also be dropped in sport, Wüst said on Saturday: “The equation of the boosted with the tested should generally apply. That is my conviction. “
The importance of “sport for young people, for children” was particularly addressed. «We want to make various things easier. In some cases, children may not be boosted at all. Depending on the age, we also have other ideas, ”emphasized Wüst.
The 46-year-old from Rhede spoke out in favor of «rapid group tests» in these areas. Children and adolescents do not have to go to an official test station, but rather first do a quick test together, which is to be checked by the group leaders. «We want to make it as simple as possible. We all want to set incentives for boosting, because vaccination, and especially boosting, is the way out of this crisis, ”said Wüst.
The federal-state round with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) did not take any new decisions on sport on Friday. Currently, according to the Corona Protection Ordinance in North Rhine-Westphalia, which applies until January 12, people with a booster vaccination must also prove a current negative test before doing indoor sports (2G plus). This applies, for example, to fitness studios or indoor tennis. This additional test requirement would then no longer apply to those who have been boosted. The Corona Protection Ordinance in North Rhine-Westphalia is to be updated by Tuesday in order to implement the decisions of the federal and state governments.
Further restrictions were decided on Friday for the catering trade. Access is restricted to vaccinated and convalescent people (2G). In addition, when visiting restaurants, pubs and other catering establishments, either a daily test or proof of a booster vaccination should be required, so the 2G-plus rule should apply here.
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