Berlin Neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria are showing the way, and now Germany is gradually withdrawing the corona measures.
“We are confident about the pandemic,” said Scholz on Wednesday afternoon after the consultations in Berlin. The situation will continue to improve in the coming weeks. The measures in force had contributed to the fact that the hospitals were comparatively underutilized.
These could now be withdrawn “piece by piece”. “After the two years of the pandemic, we deserved that things should get better again.” Nevertheless, the pandemic is not over and the number of infections is still high. In addition, with a view to the coming autumn and winter, it should not be forgotten that a high vaccination rate is still necessary. The key agreements at a glance:
- As a first step, all contact restrictions for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered should be lifted. This means: private meetings would be possible again “without limiting the number of participants”. So far, the number was limited to ten participants. In a first draft, there was talk of a higher limit, now it is to be completely abolished. If unvaccinated people take part in private gatherings, strict rules will continue to apply until March 19: In addition to people from your own household, a maximum of two people from another household may then take part.
- In addition, access to retail should be “possible nationwide for everyone without controls.” Only medical masks should have to be worn there.
- The second step is scheduled for March 4th, but depends on the “situation in the hospitals”. Exactly what that means is not explained in detail. In an earlier draft, the so-called hospitalization rate was mentioned as a criterion. It shows how many people with Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants were admitted to the hospital within seven days.
- Then the 2G access rules in restaurants and hotels should fall, instead people with daily tests should also have access (3G).
- Discotheques and clubs “are opened for those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated with a daily test or with a third vaccination (2G-Plus).” The 2G or 2G-Plus rule should continue to apply to major national events. Up to 60 percent of the maximum capacity and a maximum of 6000 people should be allowed to take part in indoor events. Outdoors it is 75 percent of maximum capacity and a maximum of 25,000 people.
- On March 20th, all “profound protective measures” should then fall, including the home office regulation. However, this step also depends on the “situation in the hospitals.”
However, the federal and state governments also want to enable “low-threshold basic protective measures” such as the obligation to wear masks, keeping your distance and hygiene rules afterwards. The obligation to provide evidence of the vaccination, recovered and test status should continue to be possible. Basic protective measures would also be needed for schools and daycare centers.
The Bundestag should create the legal basis for this – the measures regulated by the Infection Protection Act expire on March 19th. A Bundestag session is already planned for this at the beginning of March.
“It should be completed in good time before March 20, 2022 and also contain a regulation on additional protective measures in the event of a local outbreak in individual counties, districts or independent cities for additional protective measures that threaten to overload the local capacities of the health system”. , is it[calledInplainlanguage:Theendofthemeasuresislimiteduntilthenextwaveofinfections
Draft decision of the Union-led federal states
In the decision, the heads of government also ask the federal and state health ministers to ensure systematic data collection of the indicators relevant to the burden of the pandemic.
In the past there had been criticism that, for example, no reliable data on new infections or the occupancy of the intensive care units was provided over the weekends.
The heads of government also want to review and adjust the classification of high-risk areas. “In view of the new situation caused by the omicron variant and the high incidences in Germany, it is not justified to classify countries as high-risk areas, especially because of an incidence well above 100,” it says.
How long a vaccinated or recovered status is valid will no longer be decided by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), but by the federal government. If it is up to the federal states, the Bundesrat should also have to agree. The RKI under Lothar Wieler had unexpectedly reduced the recovered status from six to three months with effect from January 15th. Many citizens lost their right to go to restaurants, bars or gyms almost overnight.
Shortly before the meeting, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst spoke out in favor of a phased opening strategy in the corona pandemic. “We shouldn’t throw everything overboard that has proven itself as a protective mechanism in recent months,” said the CDU politician on Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday.
Far-reaching relaxation of the corona measures in sight
You should take 14 days between the individual stages and look in both directions to see whether the procedure is successful or whether you have to be more careful. “We shouldn’t rush anything now, but combine openness and mindfulness,” said Wüst, who is chairman of the Prime Ministers’ Conference.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also opposed a complete reduction in the measures. Lauterbach told the German Press Agency in Berlin that it was time to relax with a sense of proportion. However, it is still necessary to be able to react quickly and flexibly to the pandemic.
The virus does not go away overnight. “That’s why we have to formulate the Infection Protection Act in such a way that basic protection is guaranteed and can be extended if necessary.” The SPD politician announced: “We will supplement the text in the parliamentary procedure so that more is possible after March 20 as a mask and distance.”
Careful approach
The Federal Government’s expert council had warned of a cautious approach in the event of easing. “If all measures were dropped overnight, it would take significantly longer for the incidences to drop again.
You would risk a plateau or even an increase again,” said virologist Sandra Ciesek on Tuesday in the NDR podcast “The Corona Virus Update”. This is dangerous for people without sufficient immune protection and children under the age of five for whom there is no vaccination yet.
The nationwide seven-day incidence had fallen on Wednesday for the fourth day in a row. This increases the evidence that the omicron wave actually breaks. The RKI gave the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week as 1401.0. For comparison: the day before the value was 1437.5.
Another draft on compulsory vaccination is available
Meanwhile, the draft law for the possible introduction of compulsory vaccination from the age of 50 is the third formulated position of a group of parliamentarians on the controversial topic. According to the group around the FDP MP Andrew Ullmann, all people over the age of 18 who have not yet been vaccinated or have recovered should be given mandatory advice.
Then compulsory vaccination for people over the age of 50 is to be introduced – but only “subject to an assessment of the situation in autumn 2022”, according to the draft presented in Berlin on Wednesday. This is to be discussed in the Bundestag, as well as a draft for compulsory vaccination from the age of 18 and a motion against compulsory vaccination without party pressure.
The Union faction had also submitted its own application, which initially only provides for a vaccination register and then a graduated plan with a possible vaccination obligation for certain groups depending on the pandemic situation.
The draft by Ullmann’s group provides for all adults to be informed by their health insurance companies about counseling and vaccination options. “By September 15, 2022, these people must have either proof of vaccination or recovery or proof of having received medical vaccination advice,” according to the draft. Also from September 15, the Bundestag should be able to stipulate that people over 50 must have proof of vaccination or recovery.
With agency material.
More: Lauterbach sees the peak of the omicron wave reached – “moderate loosening” possible