Berlin In view of the spread of the highly contagious Omikron variant, the federal and state governments are aiming to shorten the quarantine periods in order to avoid large-scale staff losses. A corresponding proposal from the Ministry of Health is currently being discussed within the federal government, and they are in close contact to change the model quarantine regulation if necessary, said a spokesman for Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD).
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had told RTL / N-TV that during the deliberations of the heads of government from the federal and state levels next Friday, “definitely new decisions will be made” so that the Omikron wave does not become too big.
The seven-day incidence, which has been falling for a long time, is now increasing again. The value, which indicates the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days, rose to 232.4 on Monday, after 222.7 the previous day.
The CSU state group canceled its closed meeting planned for Thursday and Friday on Monday due to several corona cases. The exam will be rescheduled for a later date.
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According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the Omikron variant is spreading rapidly. In the week from December 20 to 26, 17.5 percent of the corona evidence examined for variants was due to Omikron, a week earlier it was only 3.1 percent, according to the current RKI weekly report.
Countries such as Great Britain, the USA, France or Italy have adjusted their quarantine rules because, in view of the rapidly increasing number of infections, there is a risk of restrictions on public life if those infected with Omikron and their contacts have to isolate themselves. Although the variant is considered to be more contagious, according to initial study results, it is also less dangerous than the delta mutation.
Experts fear that the highly contagious Omikron variant could lead to staff losses in the critical infrastructure.
(Photo: dpa)
Nevertheless, the RKI has so far recommended a 14-day quarantine for contact persons of infected people who have been infected with the Omikron variant – even if they have been vaccinated or have recovered. Politicians like Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) or the health policy spokesman for the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Tino Sorge (CDU), had spoken out in favor of relaxing the quarantine rules, at least for certain contact persons.
Health ministries do not want to anticipate the prime ministerial conference
The health ministries of the federal states were still cautious in a Handelsblatt survey. Possible loosening or shortening of quarantine or isolation times for certain groups of people should basically first be evaluated from an infection-medical and scientific perspective, what is done by the RKI, according to Thuringia, for example. The Federal Ministry of Health will submit a proposal for the Prime Minister’s Conference on Friday in coordination with the RKI. However, this proposal is not yet available.
The health ministries in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt also declared that they did not want to anticipate the recommendation of scientists and the federal-state consultations.
According to a government spokesman, the Federal Government’s Expert Council will meet again this Tuesday. A statement on the subject is also expected from the RKI in the course of the week.
The Berlin Senate said that shortened quarantine periods had been discussed in the crisis team and that the situation was being monitored continuously. “Should the RKI come to this recommendation, Berlin will implement it. This would only apply to contact persons without symptoms. “
The Thuringian Ministry of Health advocated a nationwide approach to the quarantine rules: “Uniform national procedures strengthen the acceptance and feasibility of these measures.”
Baden-Württemberg is also in favor of a uniform line. The Ministry of Social Affairs will adjust the state rules on segregation accordingly if the RKI recommendation is available. “As far as necessary in individual cases, exceptions to quarantine regulations can be made by the health department,” said the department.
The municipalities would like more leeway with the quarantine obligation.
(Photo: imago images / Metodi Popow)
In any case, the municipalities would like more leeway in the quarantine obligation to maintain critical infrastructure, such as fire brigade, water supply and garbage disposal. At a press conference of the municipal umbrella organizations, the general manager of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, referred to proposals on Monday to exempt employees with booster vaccinations from the obligation to quarantine if they did not show any symptoms of illness.
Retail requires concessions to avoid supply bottlenecks
In addition to the CDU health expert Sorge, the economic policy spokesman for the Green parliamentary group, Dieter Janecek, brought such a regulation into play. Landsberg emphasized that the federal and state governments must create the conditions for the municipalities to be able to decide this locally.
The retail association HDE demanded concessions from politicians on Monday in the event of an Omikron wave in order to avoid supply bottlenecks. Should there be massive staff shortages in logistics, for example, the strict regulations on night-time noise protection would have to be lifted, or at least relaxed in favor of the critical area in retail. “In addition, the Sunday work and driving bans, driving and rest times should then be checked and defused,” said HDE managing director Stefan Genth of the Reuters news agency.
More: “Omikron is everywhere”: America closes again