In order to prevent lockdowns in the fight against the corona pandemic, Federal President Steinmeier and the scientists at the Leopoldina are calling for contact restrictions.
Berlin – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged citizens in Germany to prevent a lockdown through voluntary contact restrictions. He also pleaded again for vaccinations against the corona virus. The scientists at the Leopoldina had previously called for contact restrictions and a phased mandatory vaccination.
The Leopoldina is one of the world’s oldest scientific learned societies and operates independently of economic or political interests. In its statement published on Saturday (November 27th, 2021) it says: “These days, Germany is facing a renewed, intensified escalation of the Covid-19 crisis. It is to be feared that parts of politics and the public will not grasp the drama of the situation to its full extent. “
Leopoldina and Steinmeier agree on Corona: Contact restrictions immediately necessary
One of the reasons for underestimating the situation is the habituation effect. Immediate countermeasures are therefore urgently required. The signatories of the opinion advocate contact restrictions and a phased mandatory vaccination. “The main problem in Germany is the far too high number of people who have not yet been vaccinated,” the statement said.
Comparisons with other countries showed that the infection rates could have been kept flatter through consistent vaccination. This was confirmed not only by the calculations of the Robert Koch Institute from July 2021, but also by a more recent model by scientists from several German universities. As a result, unvaccinated people are involved in the majority of new infections (around eight to nine out of ten infections).
Fight against Corona: Contact restrictions in the federal states
Some federal states, in which the number of new corona infections is increasing particularly drastically, are already relying on contact restrictions. Decisions on nationwide regulations could therefore be based on these models. Thuringia, for example, has been restricting large parts of public life since Wednesday (November 24th, 2021). Clubs, bars and discos had to close. Christmas markets, folk festivals, trade fairs and congresses were banned. Swimming pools and leisure pools, thermal baths, adventure pools and saunas are also to be closed. There is a curfew at 10 p.m. in the catering trade. In addition, there is a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for some time and only for people who have neither been vaccinated nor recovered.
In Saxony, there has been a partial lockdown for unvaccinated people since Monday (November 22nd, 2021) for large parts of public life. With the exception of libraries, all cultural and leisure facilities are closed. A 2G certificate is required for restaurants. In regions with a weekly incidence of more than 1000, night curfews are due. The serving and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in public places. The 2G rule applies to retail.
Corona measures: contact restrictions, partial lockdowns and curfew
In Bavaria, the rules have also been stricter since Wednesday (November 24th, 2021): With the exception of retail, the 2G rule applies everywhere, including for body-friendly services such as hairdressers, in universities, as well as music and driving schools. A maximum of five people from two households are allowed to meet. In addition, the 2G-plus rule applies: even vaccinated and convalescent people only get access with a test. This applies to theaters, operas, stadiums as well as in leisure facilities and at trade fairs. The Christmas markets have been canceled.
Clubs, discos, bars, taverns and brothels should also close again. In the rest of the catering trade there is a curfew from 10 p.m. Cultural and sporting events may only take place with a maximum occupancy of 25 percent of spectators. For corona hotspots with an incidence over 1000, a lockdown applies again.
In the winter of 2020, there was also a tough, nationwide lockdown during the Christmas season, including in Hesse. Local measures against the corona pandemic had not shown sufficient effect. Only meetings with up to five people from a maximum of two households were allowed. Children under the age of 14 were exempt from this rule.
Corona regulations: Contact restrictions are to be set by the countries
After the epidemic situation of national scope has expired, not all corona measures are valid nationwide. In an amendment to the law, the Bundestag and Bundesrat have adopted changes to the Infection Protection Act and other laws. After that, 3G will now apply at work and in local and long-distance public transport. The obligation to work from home has been reintroduced. Additional test obligations apply to employees, employers and visitors in special facilities such as care facilities, rehabilitation facilities and facilities for integration assistance. They also apply to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.
However, the federal states can also impose stricter regulations if and as long as there is a specific risk of the epidemic spread of the coronavirus and the parliament in the country concerned determines this. It is currently no longer possible to close schools and daycare centers, restaurants and retail outlets across the board as a precautionary measure. Church services and meetings may not be banned across the board, and sports may not be prohibited. Likewise, travel and accommodation offers must not be prohibited.
Prime ministers are calling for a quick meeting due to the corona situation
The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) does not rule out a further lockdown, even for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered, in view of the current Corona situation. You always have to act proportionately, said Kretschmann of the “Schwäbische Zeitung”. However, this “always harbors the risk that we are too slow”. Kretschmann is in favor of a “quick ministerial president conference” and “the full range of instruments” from the Infection Protection Act: “I do not rule out a lockdown for everyone.”
In view of a suspected Omikron case in Germany, the Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) has also spoken out in favor of a quick Prime Minister’s Conference. (n / A)
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Frank Rumpenhorst
