The future traffic light coalition wants to fight the pandemic with more stringent measures.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin In view of the worsening corona situation, the traffic light parties want to introduce new measures by law this week. This is based on a draft available to the Handelsblatt, which takes up the resolutions of the federal-state conference from last week. The law is to be discussed in the Bundestag for the first time on Tuesday and then passed on Friday.
The draft contains, among other things, details for the job-related vaccination requirement. In addition, it should be possible to close catering, leisure and cultural facilities as well as trade fairs again. The traffic light groups had ruled this out in November by changing the Infection Protection Act.
The Green health expert Janosch Dahmen told the Handelsblatt: “With the changes to the Infection Protection Act, we are now giving the federal states all the measures they want to combat the fourth wave.” They now have to be implemented consistently “so that we can manage the infection process to get to grips with in the coming weeks ”.
The proposed law is the first of the new traffic light government under the designated Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who is to be sworn in on Wednesday. On Monday, Scholz had presented the future ministers of the Social Democrats and announced, among other things, Karl Lauterbach as health minister, who will now succeed Jens Spahn (CDU) as the top corona fighter. Until Christmas time it is now a matter of greatly reducing the number of cases, said Lauterbach at his introduction to the new office.
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The Union parliamentary group criticized the schedule of the SPD, Greens and FDP. “With the legislative procedure, the traffic light chooses an elaborate procedure that takes time – even if we waive all deadlines,” said the deputy parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei (CDU) the Handelsblatt. “It would be easier to determine the ‘epidemic situation’ by means of a Bundestag resolution.”
Tougher restrictions
The entire instrument box would then be immediately available again. “An incidence of over 400 is permanently too much for Germany,” said Frei. “That would inevitably lead to an overload of the health system.”
In detail, the draft provides that the federal states can again impose tougher restrictions on leisure and sport in the event of a critical situation. Exit restrictions as well as general business and school closings are excluded after a first traffic light law.
Now, according to the draft, it should be specified that gatherings and events that are not protected demonstrations can be prohibited – especially sporting events with a larger audience. It should be made clear that it is possible to close catering facilities and bans on congresses – but fitness centers and swimming pools may not be closed.
In addition, the tougher measures decided by the federal states should be allowed to remain in force until February 15. Shortly before the end of the epidemic situation on November 25, individual federal states had adopted more comprehensive, tougher measures on this old legal basis, which would actually have expired on December 15.
The draft also provides details on the planned vaccination requirement for staff in facilities with vulnerable people such as nursing homes and clinics. According to the draft, there are “still relevant vaccine picks after a vaccination campaign lasting several months”. Employees should therefore have to submit proof of being fully vaccinated or recovered to the management by March 15, 2022 – or medical certificates that they cannot be vaccinated. Anyone who starts from March 16, must have proof. This should also apply to staff in medical practices and emergency services.
Higher vaccination speed
The Green health expert Dahmen said that the deadline gives everyone who wants to be vaccinated the necessary time to get an appointment. “In addition, the deadline equalized the extreme rush for booster vaccinations,” said Dahmen. If you factor in the necessary interval between the first and second vaccination, unvaccinated people have until the beginning of February to get vaccinated for the first time.
The draft also provides for the speed of vaccinations to be increased. In addition to doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians and dentists are also to be authorized to vaccinate people aged twelve and over for a limited period of time.
Prior medical training and suitable premises or involvement in mobile vaccination teams should be a prerequisite. Sample training concepts should be developed by December 31st.
In addition, the obligation to test for employees and visitors in medical practices, clinics and nursing homes is to be specified. The draft states that patients and “companions who only enter the facility or the company for an insignificant period of time” are not considered visitors – that is, parents at the pediatrician or assistants for people with disabilities. There had been confusion and criticism about this in some countries.
With agency material.
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