Corona relief: First federal states delete the "plus" in 2G plus for booster-vaccinated people

The incidence in Germany is rising again, the RKI reported more than 74,000 new cases on Friday. The first federal states are removing the “plus” in 2G plus for those vaccinated with boosters. The news ticker.

Update from December 3, 8:45 p.m.: Curiosity about the Corona rules in Berlin. The Senate passed stricter corona rules there on Friday. The governing mayor Michael Müller (SPD) said after a special session of the Senate that there are “significant restrictions for unvaccinated people”. “We have to reduce dangers wherever possible.”

The capital goes a separate way. The new regulations coming into force on Wednesday also include a lower upper limit for major events. Only a maximum of 5,000 participants are allowed outdoors, 2,500 in closed rooms. This was “another significant reduction” compared to the upper limit decided at the federal-state meeting, explained Müller. This should also reduce contacts in the vicinity of such events, for example in local transport.

However, the view of Berlin’s popular club scene is a bit confused. Because of legal issues, the clubs will not be closed for the time being. But if you are looking forward to an exuberant dance evening, look into the tube, because: “You can no longer dance,” said the head of the Senate Chancellery, Christian Gaebler (SPD), after the Senate meeting. The federal government had decided to close clubs with high incidence values above 350, but the legal process is still ongoing. If the federal government adjusts the laws next week, they will also be discussed again in Berlin. According to the Infection Protection Act, the ban on dancing is also possible without the involvement of parliament. It will apply from Wednesday, because then the new ordinances will come into force.

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People with a booster vaccination do not need to stick to 2G plus in Baden-Württemberg

Update from December 3, 5.48 p.m.: As part of new corona measures, Baden-Württemberg also announces a special innovation for third-vaccinated people. As the SWR reports, people who have already received their booster vaccination are exempt from the associated test requirement with the 2Gplus rule. According to the ministry, this measure is taken to take into account the high level of protection against infection in boosted people. In addition to Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate have already announced that they want to take this step.

Update from December 3, 5:32 p.m.: On Friday, the Air Force flew six intensive care patients with a special aircraft from Bavaria to North Rhine-Westphalia for further treatment. This measure is intended to create admission capacities in Bavarian hospitals. The clinics are heavily overloaded due to the corona pandemic.

First Omikron case detected in Lower Saxony

Update from December 3, 3:32 p.m.: The first case of the Omikron variant of the corona virus was detected in Lower Saxony. This was announced by the State Health Office in Hanover on Friday afternoon. The infected person had previously been in South Africa and then had cold symptoms. Sequencing then confirmed the suspicion.

Several trade associations are calling for vaccinations to be compulsory

Meanwhile, trade and industry are warning of massive problems caused by the new corona rules. On the one hand, the stricter requirements would mean more effort, but on the other hand they are also associated with higher costs, said the President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) of the Rheinische Post . An extension of the Corona economic aid is therefore correct. DIHK President Peter Adrian saw an important signal that the decisions made on Thursday would avoid another lockdown in Germany for most of the economy. The trade association HDE went one step further in its criticism and described the rules as “pure symbolic politics.” Several trade associations spoke out in favor of a general vaccination requirement, since “vaccination appeals are obviously not enough,” such as Wolfang Weber, the chairman of the Central Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry told the world .

Medic compares situation in intensive care units with Russian roulette

Update from December 3, 1.30 p.m.: The Prime Minister’s Conference has set new nationwide rules to combat the corona pandemic. Baden-Württemberg is now stepping up and tightening up. Only 750 visitors are allowed at soccer games.

Update from December 3, 12.30 p.m.: The situation in many intensive care units is currently more than tense, a doctor is now talking about Russian roulette with Markus Lanz.

Corona in Germany: RKI boss Wieler and Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn inform on PK

Update from December 3, 11:23 a.m.: Are the corona numbers actually much higher? When asked about the under-reporting of the current incidences, Health Minister Spahn explained at the press conference on Friday with RKI boss Wieler that there had been an under-reporting from the beginning of the pandemic because not all people who were positive were tested. The laboratory capacity is currently at its limit.

Lothar Wieler also pointed out that the plateau in the numbers in the past few days could be due to an underreporting in some federal states. There could be no talk of an easing of the situation, on the contrary. “Slightly more than one percent of the population is currently infected, we are assuming an under-reporting by a factor of two or three,” said Wieler.

Update from December 3, 9:50 a.m.: Large events are prohibited in view of the worsening corona crisis in Baden-Württemberg. The German press agency learned this on Friday from government circles. According to this, a “hard upper limit” of 750 people will apply to all events such as football matches or cultural events in the future. The rules are due to come into force on Saturday.

Those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered will also have to show a negative corona test in Baden-Württemberg in the future when they go to a restaurant. The 2G plus rule will apply to gastronomy in the future, as the German press agency learned from government circles on Friday. This should go into effect on Saturday.

Over 74,000 new corona cases: But RKI expresses concerns – infection numbers could also be wrong

Update from December 3, 6:30 a.m.: After the seven-day incidence had decreased for three days in a row, the Robert Koch Institute is now reporting a rising value again. The incidence per 100,000 population per week climbed to 442.1 on Friday morning. For comparison: the previous day the value was 439.2, a week ago it was 438.2 (previous month: 169.9). The health authorities in Germany reported 74,352 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. Exactly one week ago there were 76,414 infections.

However, the actual number of new infections could be much higher. Many experts currently suspect that the recording of the numbers is influenced by a noticeable under-recording. Many health authorities and clinics can currently no longer keep up with reporting cases in individual regions. As the dpa reports, the RKI should also find it difficult to assess the situation.

The slowed rise in the seven-day incidence could “on the one hand be a first indication of a slightly weakening dynamic in the transmission process due to the significantly intensified measures to reduce contact,” says the RKI weekly report on Thursday evening. However, the development could “regionally also be due to the increasingly overloaded capacities in the public health service and the exhausted laboratory capacities”.

And the number of deaths is also rising again. According to the new information, 390 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 357 deaths. The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was given by the RKI on Thursday at 5.47 (Wednesday: 5.61). The value plays an essential role in assessing the occurrence of the infection. If limit values 3, 6 and 9 are exceeded in the federal states, stricter measures to combat the pandemic can be imposed there.

Corona: There are now four confirmed Omikron cases in Germany

Update from December 2, 7:58 p.m .: In Germany there are now four confirmed cases of infection with the Omikron variant of the coronavirus. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced this in its weekly report on Thursday evening. The mutation, which was first detected in South Africa, could be detected in the patients by means of genome sequencing. In all four cases it was a question of travelers returning from South Africa. All those affected are vaccinated and show only mild symptoms. In addition, there is a suspicion of an infection with the Omikron variant in eight other cases, which has yet to be confirmed.

Corona: RKI uncertain about interpreting the Corona numbers – two scenarios are conceivable

Meanwhile, the RKI is not clear about the interpretation of the 7-day incidence, which had fallen slightly again in the past few days. “The sharp rise in the 7-day incidence in recent weeks did not continue in the past week,” confirms the institute in its weekly report. However, the reasons for this are unclear.

This could “on the one hand be a first indication of a slightly weakening dynamic in the transmission process due to the significantly intensified measures to reduce contact”. However, the development could “regionally also be due to the increasingly overloaded capacities in the public health service and the exhausted laboratory capacities”, according to the RKI. The current figures cannot necessarily be interpreted as an indication of relaxation.

After Corona summit: Industry complains about a “death blow” from measures

Update from December 2, 6.10 p.m.: After the representatives of the federal and state governments adopted uniform regulations in the afternoon to cope with the corona pandemic, criticism is now coming from the retail sector and gastronomy in particular. The Dehoga gastronomy association complained that the situation in the industry was “really getting more dramatic every day”. It is expected that even more staff will turn their backs on the industry.

The managing director of the Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE) also complained on Thursday about the new restrictions for his industry. The federal and state governments tried “to hide the failures in the state vaccination campaign on the back of the trade”. The outlook from the fireworks manufacturers appears even more dramatic. After the federal and state governments agreed on a “firecracker ban” for New Year’s Eve on Thursday, the industry warned of the consequences. The decision means “in all probability the death knell for the entire fireworks industry in Germany”. The industries were united in their calls for more government aid.

Coronavirus in Germany: The federal and state governments agree on stricter restrictions

Update from December 2nd, 3:30 p.m .:To break the fourth corona wave in Germany, the federal and state governments have agreed on significantly stricter requirements and restrictions nationwide. These range from significant contact restrictions for those who have not been vaccinated and those who have not recovered to 2G regulations for visiting restaurants, cinemas, theaters and other leisure facilities. In addition, a current test – i.e. 2G plus – can be prescribed. Also in stores – with
Except for those for daily needs such as groceries – now only vaccinated or convalescent come. This is true regardless of the incidences. The shops must check that the rule is being observed.

The Bund-Länder-Round with the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and her designated successor Olaf Scholz as well as the
Prime ministers also decided to significantly reduce the number of spectators for national sports, cultural and similar major events. In future, a maximum of 30 to 50 percent of the space can be used. However, there may be a maximum of 5,000 visitors indoors and a maximum of 15,000 outdoors.

According to the resolution, private gatherings in public or private spaces in which unvaccinated and unconcealed people take part are to be limited to one’s own household and a maximum of two people from another household. Children up to the age of 14 are exempt from this. Spouses or partners in a cohabiting partnership are considered to be one household even if they do not have a common place of residence. The regulation does not apply to private gatherings in which only vaccinated and convalescents take part.

Corona summit: Strict measures decided – sales of fireworks prohibited on New Year’s Eve

In circles with a seven-day incidence of more than 350, a limit of 50 people (vaccinated and convalescent) indoors and 200 people (vaccinated and convalescent) outdoors applies to private celebrations and gatherings. The sale of firecrackers and fireworks on New Year’s Eve will be banned this year. There should also be a ban on fireworks in particularly popular places. Compensation is provided for companies affected as part of the planned economic aid.

It was also agreed that clubs and discos must be closed if there are high numbers of corona infections due to the risk of infection. This applies at the latest from an incidence of 350 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days. In schools, a mask is generally required for all grades. In order to accelerate the vaccination campaign, dentists, pharmacists and nursing staff will also be able to participate in the future. There will also be a statutory regulation later on.

In the resolution paper, the federal government promises to initiate a facility-related vaccination requirement for employees, for example in hospitals and geriatric care facilities. The federal and state governments also welcome the fact that the Bundestag wants to decide on a general vaccination requirement as soon as possible.

Corona in Germany: Merkel and Co. decide on numerous measures at the Corona summit

Update from December 2, 3 p.m.: The Managing Chancellor Angela Merkel described the situation in the corona pandemic in Germany as very serious. The fourth wave must be broken, said Merkel on Thursday in Berlin after consultations with the federal and state governments. The aim of the measures decided is to use the new measures to improve the situation in
to break the intensive care units. “To do this, the fourth wave has to be broken.” The infection situation has calmed down, but at a much too high level.

Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz called again to get vaccinated. Merkel said the vaccination status would be with one
double vaccination cannot be recognized permanently. It is also being discussed at EU level that the second vaccination will lose its validity after nine months, so boosting is very important. The transition will be such that everyone has a chance to renew their vaccination status.

Corona in Germany: Stiko chairman admits failure

Update from December 2, 2.30 p.m .: The criticism of the belated booster vaccination in the middle of the fourth corona wave is growing. In the ARD political magazine “Panorama”, the STIKO chairman Thomas Mertens admits negligence.

The chairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO), the retired virologist Thomas Mertens from Ulm, admitted in an interview with the ARD political magazine “Panorama” for the first time that certain decisions of the commission “from today’s perspective” were made too late. According to Mertens, it would “probably have been cheaper to start boosting earlier”.

Mertens explained in “Panorama” why the STIKO took so long to make its decision: “We first define which data we need in order to be able to come to a recommendation. And when that is determined, this data has to be collected and worked out. And when these data are available, the STIKO begins to discuss these data. “

Corona in Germany: Stiko boss would not vaccinate his own child

Update from December 2, 12.15 p.m .: While Markus Söder introduced compulsory vaccinations for children aged 12 and over on Thursday (see update from December 2, 9.20 a.m.), the chair of the Standing Vaccination Commission positions itself in the “FAZ podcast for Germany “is currently clearly against child vaccinations for children under 12 years of age. Thomas Mertens would currently not have his own seven-year-old child vaccinated against the corona virus.

There is currently no data on the tolerability of the vaccine in younger children. Mertens explained that one must first be sure of any long-term effects before immunizing children between the ages of five and eleven against the virus. The Stiko chairman also stated in the podcast that Stiko is currently in the process of finalizing its recommendation for this age group. This should take place before the vaccine is available for younger children in Germany. A decision could therefore be made before December 11th.

Corona summit with Merkel and Scholz has started

Update from December 2, 11.25 a.m.: The Corona summit has started, the heads of the federal and state governments started their deliberations on Thursday around 11 a.m. In the switching conference of the Prime Ministers with the Executive Chancellor Angela Merkel and her likely successor Olaf Scholz, a comprehensive package of measures was to be decided. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, as chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK), had demanded consistent decisions in the fight against the dramatically high corona numbers before the start of the round.

A number of proposals for stricter conditions are on the table. These would hit the unvaccinated particularly hard. Massive contact restrictions are under discussion for them. In addition, the 2G rule is also to be extended to the retail sector: Only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered would have access to shops. Unvaccinated people are only allowed to enter shops for daily needs such as supermarkets, drug stores and pharmacies.

Corona in Germany: The number of vaccinations administered is increasing again

Update from December 2, 10:50 a.m.: The corona numbers continue to rise in Germany, but the number of vaccinations given has recently increased again drastically. Germany is getting closer to the number of one million corona vaccinations per day. On Wednesday a total of 987,000 people were given the spades. However: four out of five people who wanted to be vaccinated received a booster, as shown on the vaccination dashboard of the Robert Koch Institute on Thursday
emerges.

On Tuesday there were 807,000 doses administered. The record so far was reached on June 9th with 1.4 million cans. Fully vaccinated – a booster vaccination is not yet required for this status – are now 68.7 percent of the population and 79.3 percent of all adults over 18 years of age.

The federal and state governments want to administer 30 million vaccinations by Christmas – for this purely arithmetically the pace would have to be increased significantly.

Corona in Germany: Federal Health Minister Spahn finds lockdown important for unvaccinated people

Update from December 2, 9:40 a.m.: There are probably mostly restrictions for unvaccinated people who will play a major role at the Corona summit on Thursday. The executive Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn said in front of the Bund-Länder-Runder: “What is really important is a kind of lockdown for the unvaccinated”, said the CDU politician on Thursday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”.

The large number of unvaccinated people is what “poses a challenge to the health system”. “If you look at the intensive care units, if you look: where is the dynamics at all with the infections, then with this too large number of unvaccinated people.” That is why contact restrictions are important for unvaccinated people. In addition, the minister called 2G (ie access only for vaccinated and convalescent people) “consistently in almost all areas of life”, the cancellation or significant reduction of major events and closings of bars, clubs and discos. “We see, in the regions in Germany – in Saxony, in Bavaria – where very far-reaching measures have been taken, the situation seems to be stabilizing and improving,” said Spahn. “The measures are working.”

You need “massive contact restrictions and reductions in order to bring this dynamic out now”. He also warned: “Even if there were no more infections in Germany from tomorrow, we will still likely see over 6000 Covid-19 intensive care patients in Germany in the next few days.”

Corona in Germany: general compulsory vaccination for children from 12 years?

Update from December 2, 9:20 a.m.: The discussions about the general compulsory vaccination are still in the room, as the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder is already bringing a compulsory vaccination for children from the age of twelve into play. “You have to discuss that,” he said on Bayerischer Rundfunk. “In general it would of course be good if the vaccination was compulsory at least for those with
where the vaccine has already been tested – from twelve onwards – would also take place. ”That would be quick and the schools“ make absolutely safe ”. In addition, his feeling with the young people is: “They also want to be vaccinated because they say:” Then I have freedom “.”

Corona in Germany: Corona summit on Thursday – first details known

Update from December 2, 7.15 a.m .: Today there will be another corona summit (see also first report) . The goal is a common strategy in the fight against the fourth corona wave. It’s about tightening corona measures – that much is clear. Details on the new rules are to be worked out this Thursday. Unvaccinated people must expect sensitive restrictions. It concerns the following points:

The number of corona deaths increases compared to the previous week – are vaccinations required and lockdown coming?

Update from December 2nd, 6.13 a.m .: Is it already a positive trend? The Germany-wide corona incidence fell again for the third time. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported a value of 439.2 on Thursday morning. A high of 452.4 was reached on Monday, the value was 452.2 on Tuesday and 442.9 on Wednesday.

RKI: Corona incidence drops to 438.2

73,209 new corona infections were recorded within 24 hours (previous week: 75,961 new corona infections). However, according to experts, the number of unreported cases in the current fourth corona wave is large. Experts assume a significantly higher infection rate.

388 people died in connection with a Sars-CoV-2 infection within one day. A week ago there were 351 deaths. The number of corona deaths rose to 102,178 on Thursday morning since the pandemic began.

4,664 Covid patients have to be treated in the intensive care units in Germany. Of these, 2,439 are artificially ventilated. That comes from the data of the DIVI intensive register on Thursday morning.

Corona summit wants “extensive contact restrictions”: Will there be a lockdown and mandatory vaccination tomorrow?

Berlin – At the beginning of the week, the incidence in Germany fell for two days in a row *. The good news was quickly overshadowed, however: On Wednesday (December 1), the Robert Koch Institute * (RKI) reported a sharp increase in corona * deaths. In addition, the Omikron variant *, which is classified as worrying, ensures alertness.

With this mixture in mind, the federal and state governments will meet again on Thursday, just two days after the last deliberations. After no new measures were decided on Tuesday, the course is now to be set for the coming days, weeks and months at the renewed Corona summit. Germany is heading towards broad contact restrictions and compulsory vaccination. This is shown by a draft resolution that is available to Münchner Merkur *.

Corona in Germany: Summit of the federal and state levels is pending – “extensive contact restrictions”

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The possible corona measures were discussed by the federal and state governments on Tuesday. After the round, “extensive contact restrictions, especially for the unvaccinated, including at private meetings” were announced. “The expansion of the 2G rules to the retail trade and restrictions on major events” is also to come. The resolutions on this will probably be taken on Thursday. *

“Many measures are now being taken that are now important to reduce contacts,” said Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz (SPD), who took part in the talks next to the outgoing incumbent Angela Merkel * (CDU), on Tuesday evening ARD – “Topics of the Day”. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) spoke out on Wednesday, in addition to the introduction of the 2G rule in retail, for the restrictions on family celebrations at Christmas.

Corona summit by the federal and state governments: Will vaccination be compulsory on Thursday?

Schwesig went on the ZDF – “Morgenmagazin” with a view to the Christmas season “firmly on the assumption” that the 2G rule in retail will be passed across Germany on Thursday. With the exception of supermarkets, unvaccinated people “should then no longer go shopping so easily.” There would also no longer be large family celebrations with 50 people, she said. She also called for 2G-plus (vaccinated, recovered and tested) for restaurants and the closure of clubs and discos.

A general compulsory vaccination is now to be initiated. To this end, Scholz announced a legislative procedure * “promptly”. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert announced that “in addition to facility-related vaccination requirements, a prompt decision on general vaccination requirements is also being prepared”. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) welcomes the compulsory vaccination. Because the difficult pandemic situation was mainly caused by the unvaccinated, he said. In parts of the FDP, Scholz’s project continues to meet with skepticism. Will the decision be made on Thursday? (jo / AFP) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

List of rubric lists: © Sina Schuldt / dpa