A large majority of Germans consider the relaxation of the corona virus to be premature. The RKI reports almost 300,000 new infections. The news ticker.
- For around two-thirds of Germans, the relaxation of the corona comes too early (see update from March 18, 4:36 p.m.) .
- The Corona * pandemic is picking up speed again (see original message) .
- Telephone sick leave for a cold because of Corona extended (see update from March 18, 5:31 p.m.) .
- This news ticker on the Corona * pandemic is continuously updated.
Update from March 18, 5:31 p.m .: Because of the ongoing risk of infection with the corona virus, you can still get sick leave from your family doctor by phone until May 31 for mild respiratory infections. The Federal Joint Committee extended the corresponding special rules by a further two months.
For the vast majority of Germans, the relaxation of the corona virus comes too early
Update from March 18, 4:36 p.m .: Around two thirds (64 percent) of citizens in Germany consider the relaxation of the corona from March 20 to be premature. This emerges from a survey published on Friday by the Forsa Institute for the RTL/ntv trend barometer. A third (34 percent) think the lifting of the measures is correct.
Despite the high number of infections, the Bundestag and Bundesrat passed an amended Infection Protection Act on Friday that abolished most of the nationwide corona protection rules. There was strong criticism from the federal states.
In the survey, 65 percent stated that the obligation to wear a medical mask should largely remain in place for the time being.
According to the survey, a large majority (74 percent) of those surveyed continue to reduce social contacts. According to the trend barometer, 26 percent stated that they were no longer so cautious in this regard.
Only nine percent believe that the pandemic will end in the summer of 2022. The vast majority (87 percent), on the other hand, believe that after the fourth corona wave there will be another one.
Update from March 18, 1 p.m.: Virologist Streeck calls for more personal responsibility – and more freedom. He gives an assessment for summer, autumn and winter.
Minister of Health Lauterbach defends new corona rules
Update from March 18, 12:10 p.m .: Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has again defended the planned new legal regulations in the corona pandemic. It is a “difficult compromise,” said the SPD politician on Friday in the Bundestag during the final consultation on changes to the Infection Protection Act, which will soon phase out many corona measures.
“But that’s not the compromise between team freedom and team caution,” said Lauterbach. You have to consider the legal situation. “We cannot continue to protect the entire country to protect a small group of those unwilling to vaccinate and those unwilling to take the measures to protect them, the balance will be changed.”
With the Omikron variant, there is no longer any need to fear that hospitals will be overloaded across the board. Lauterbach pointed out that in areas where this is to be expected, the so-called hotspot solution with stricter measures can be used.
That’s the right compromise. Should the situation change, one is always ready to adapt the Infection Protection Act again. Lauterbach warned that the pandemic is unfortunately not over yet and that further protective measures are needed. “We’re not at the point where a Freedom Day could come.”
Corona in Germany: the federal government is apparently planning to extend the deadline for free quick tests
Update from March 18, 10:45 a.m .: According to a report, the federal government is planning to extend the deadline for free rapid corona tests. The Business Insider portal reported on Thursday evening that the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Finance are in talks to ensure that the federal government finances the so-called citizen tests for at least four more weeks.
The current Corona Test Ordinance, which also regulates the financing of citizen tests by the federal government, expires on March 31st. Most recently, Berlin’s governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) announced that without this funding there could no longer be any citizen tests.
How long the period for the free quick tests will be extended depends on the Federal Ministry of Finance, reported Business Insider from circles in the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Finance is skeptical about an excessively large extension. According to the report, the citizen tests have already cost the state 10.7 billion euros since they were first introduced last spring.
RKI reports record values – Corona mass outbreak in prison confirmed
Original notification from March 18, 2022: Berlin – The corona pandemic has picked up speed again in Germany. The number of new infections registered in Germany also rose to a new high on Friday. The incidence also breaks a new record. Meanwhile, there is a mass escape in a prison.
Corona: Robert Koch Institute reports almost 300,000 new infections – incidence and hospital admissions are also increasing
According to the Robert Koch Institute, the number of new infections registered within 24 hours has risen to a new high. The health authorities reported 297,845 new infections in 24 hours. A week ago there were 252,836 new infections recorded. The RKI gave the seven-day incidence as 1,706.3 – this is also a high. For comparison: the previous day the value was 1651.4, a week ago it was 1439.0 (previous month: 1371.7).
Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data. One reason is the limited capacity of health authorities, for example, and contacts are often only tracked to a limited extent. According to the new information, 226 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 249 deaths.
Meanwhile, the number of people who need treatment in a hospital is also increasing. The number of corona-infected patients who came to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was 7.58 according to the RKI on Thursday (Wednesday: 7.45). Among them are many people with a positive corona test who have another main illness.
Corona in prison: more than 100 cases in Oldenburg JVA in Lower Saxony
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice confirmed a mass breakout in the Oldenburg prison in an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung . More than 100 prisoners and employees have tested positive for the corona virus. Since March 9, 98 inmates and 18 employees have been infected by a PCR test.
Testing was ordered on a case-by-case basis. “The prisoners predominantly have a mild course of the disease; some said they didn’t notice anything at all,” the ministry said. There is no case with severe symptoms. A total of 300 people were imprisoned in the Oldenburg JVA. *Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
