The number of new infections has risen sharply in the past few days. The seven-day incidence jumped from 106.3 to 110.1 on Monday. The value indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants were infected with the coronavirus within a week. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of new infections was 6573.
The value that is decisive for further, statutory corona measures – the hospitalization rate – has also risen across Germany. It is currently 2.77 and indicates how many people per 100,000 people with a corona disease will be admitted to hospitals within a week. The previous high was around Christmas 2020 at more than 15.
The federal government referred to a still comparatively large number of unvaccinated people. In addition, there are now more contacts indoors and, because of the autumn holidays, there is also more travel.
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The RKI also reports more corona outbreaks in facilities such as nursing homes, said Seibert. Therefore, the elderly and people with previous illnesses should take advantage of the booster vaccinations offered now. In general, anyone who can get vaccinated. “The higher the vaccination rate, the better we will get through autumn and winter together.”
Debate about the “epidemic situation”
However, the federal government is currently not considering additional measures. Several European countries had adopted stricter corona rules in view of the increasing number of cases. Most recently, Austria announced a step-by-step plan that provides for a curfew for unvaccinated people when the intensive care units are used at a certain level. At a lower level, the model already prohibits unvaccinated people from entering bars, cultural and sporting events and the use of hotels.
In Germany, the access rules based on the 3G and 2G models are not uniformly regulated. Many countries allow event organizers and operators of facilities to decide within the framework of the so-called option model whether they only allow access to vaccinated and convalescent people (2G).
In federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, such access restrictions are mandatory for unvaccinated people, depending on the infection situation. There is – similar to Austria – a tiered model in which the 2G principle comes into force at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) reiterated his demand to let the “epidemic situation” expire on November 25th. “The state of emergency, established by the Bundestag, can be ended in my opinion because four out of five adults are vaccinated,” said Spahn on Sunday on ZDF.
Spahn said that an end to the “epidemic situation of national importance” did not mean that the pandemic would be declared over. “Like many others, I keep saying that we still need precautionary measures in autumn and winter, especially 3G – vaccinated, recovered, tested – indoors, especially medical protective masks, AHA rules, on buses and trains, in retail. “
Special protective measures for schools and care facilities
A change in the law would make it possible for the federal states and the authorities to take these measures independently of the state of emergency. “I expressly support that,” said Spahn.
He also strongly promotes the fact that there are special protective measures in schools and care facilities, for example. Not everything is as it was before Corona. “We are now in a state of particular caution where certain protective measures continue to apply.”
At the end of August, the Bundestag extended the “epidemic situation of national importance” for a further three months. It expires automatically if it is not renewed by Parliament. The “epidemic situation” gives federal and state governments powers to issue regulations on corona measures.
The minister-presidents of the federal states had warned against the expiry of the rules after joint consultations. “The expectation of the Prime Minister’s Conference is that the federal government will ensure that there is still a legal basis for the measures after November 25th,” said the then North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU), who has since resigned from office.
More: Concern about fourth wave – countries continue to insist on corona measures