The number of new infections in Germany is increasing, but the “epidemic situation” is expected to expire in November. Experts assume that many corona protective measures will still apply.
Berlin – In view of the corona vaccination quota in Germany, the German Hospital Association has no concerns about letting the so-called epidemic situation of national scope expire.
“I can understand the step and do not consider that to be a problem,” said General Manager Gerald Gaß of the editorial network Germany (RND).
Spahn: Moderate risk for vaccinated people
The “epidemic situation” is the basis for central corona measures in Germany. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) spoke out on Monday in discussions with his country colleagues in favor of letting the regulation expire on November 25th. According to information from “Bild”, he pointed out, among other things, that the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) classifies the risk for vaccinated people as moderate.
Gass supported this plan. In view of the high vaccination quota in Germany, it should no longer be necessary for the federal government to adopt measures to control pandemics beyond state competencies, he said. “I also no longer expect the same high number of Covid patients in the hospitals for autumn and winter as in the past.”
The Bundestag has decision-making power
The decision on an end to the “epidemic situation of national scope” lies with the Bundestag. Parliament first established it in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic and then repeatedly extended it, most recently for three months at the end of August. It expires if it is not extended by the Bundestag. The “epidemic situation” gives federal and state governments the power to issue regulations on corona measures or the procurement of vaccines.
SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach assumes that central protective measures will be continued even after they expire. “No federal state would be so crazy, given the current number of cases, to forego access restrictions for closed rooms or to bury the mask requirement in buses and trains,” he told the editorial network Germany.
Vice President reckons with higher incidences
The President of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, suggested introducing a Germany-wide regulation for vaccinated and convalescent people (2G) in certain areas. “I advocate that all federal states introduce 2G without mask and space as an option for the hospitality industry, for sport and the event industry,” he told the newspapers of the Funke media group. That would be a good way to get back to normal.
For the near future, the medical president expects again higher incidences. “The number of corona infections will certainly increase in the coming weeks,” said Reinhardt. However, there is currently no reason to panic in view of the vaccination rate and the situation in the hospitals. It is important that all adults now have themselves vaccinated against corona, “who for whatever reason have not yet done this”.
Debate about corona tests in schools
Parent representatives called for teachers to be vaccinated. Ines Weber, member of the board of the Federal Parents’ Council, told the Funke newspapers that this must be “legally stipulated by the federal government”. However, the Association of Education and Upbringing had already pointed out in July that the overwhelming majority of teachers had been vaccinated.
The president of the professional association of paediatricians, Thomas Fischbach, called for the abolition of the regular corona tests in schools. “We no longer need the cause-free corona mass tests in schools,” he told the “Bild”. Because children rarely got seriously ill with Covid-19. The huge logistical effort of the quick tests is not worthwhile and often leads to incorrect results.
3G principle at universities
The Education and Science Union (GEW), in turn, asked universities, students and employees to offer free corona tests and medical protective masks at the start of the winter semester. Hygiene rules that include the 3G principle – that is, access only for those who have been vaccinated, tested or recovered – are still required, said the deputy GEW chairman Andreas Keller of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. dpa
