Is it really fast now? Söder is pushing for easing – Vice names concrete steps for Bavaria

The corona situation in Munich, Bavaria and Germany remains tense. Prime Minister Markus Söder is still pushing for easing – and he is not alone.

Update from February 3, 9:55 a.m .: Bavaria’s Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (free voters) has spoken out in favor of easing the corona measures in Bavaria. In an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine, Aiwanger spoke out in favor of easing as soon as the situation in the hospitals allowed. You have to “complete the return to normality,” said the Free Voters boss.

Corona in Bavaria: Söder is pushing for easing – Aiwanger follows up directly

Aiwanger told the newspaper that there are currently intensive calls to relax the curfew or to lift it entirely. The current strict contact restrictions for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated and the ban on body-related services such as visiting the hairdresser for the unvaccinated cannot be maintained for months if the intensive occupancy continues to drop significantly, said the Free Voter boss.

Update from February 3, 6:50 a.m .: In the debate about easing corona restrictions, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder is putting pressure on. The CSU chairman called for “consistent opening steps” in the “Bild” newspaper (Thursday). Söder suggested: “With an FFP2 mask, we can do without the 2G rule in retail. You only stop in shops for a short time. That could be implemented nationwide.” In gastronomy, the 2G rule (i.e.: vaccinated or recovered) can be retained, but there is no need for an additional test. In addition, more spectators could be admitted to stadiums again. The principle should apply: “Where FFP2 masks are worn, contact restrictions can be reduced.”

The German Medical Association also advocated a step-by-step plan for possible relaxation. “If the infection process develops as epidemiologists predict, the number of cases will gradually decrease from the end of February,” said the President of the Chamber, Klaus Reinhardt, the editorial network Germany (Thursday). “The federal and state governments should therefore be prepared and, if possible, prepare phased plans for openings, which can then hopefully be implemented soon.”

Corona in Bavaria: highest incidence at almost 2700 – no abatement in sight

Meanwhile, the corona numbers continue to rise in Bavaria. On Thursday (RKI, as of 3.48 a.m.) the incidence there was around 1550. A one hundred percent accurate statement is currently not possible, since the health authorities and the RKI have been overloaded with the flood of new infections since the beginning of the omicron wave. However, the trend still shows a strong daily increase. Incidence leader in Bavaria is still the district of Dachau. It is in second place in Germany with an incidence of 2630.9. The districts of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen (2281.8), Erding (2179.4), Starnberg (2170.4) and the city of Nuremberg (2148.4) follow in the Free State. In the state capital of Munich, the incidence is currently 1770.5.

Update from February 2nd, 3:50 p.m.: The omicron wave is still on the rise. Some schools in Bavaria are now reporting major problems with class cancellations due to the high number of corona infections among teachers. In Munich and the surrounding area, several schools have informed parents about the many cases of illness in the past few days, and it is said that there are similar difficulties in Nuremberg.

A Munich primary school writes of “extreme staff shortages”, which is why the lessons have been reduced. This Thursday, Minister of Education Michael Piazolo (Free Voters) is to report to the Education Committee on the situation. According to the Ministry of Education, 1.9 percent of the teachers were unable to teach on Wednesday because of a positive corona test – a multiple of the rate on January 12, when 0.57 percent of the teachers were reported to be corona positive.

Corona in Bavaria: Lessons in Bavarian schools are canceled due to the high number of infections

Another half percent of Bavarian teachers are currently in quarantine. Several schools have sent information letters to parents, with varying degrees of drama. Another Munich headmistress simply informed the parents that the increased number of infections did not stop at the students or the teachers.

Some schools are no longer able to organize substitute classes, and the children are then sent home early. “Unfortunately, the sickness rate is also increasing among the teaching staff,” writes a high school director from the Munich area. “As a result, we are currently no longer able to implement the substitution concept in the usual way, so that your child may come home earlier than usual in the coming days.” The number of infections in Bavaria is very high due to the omicron wave. On Wednesday, the Robert Koch Institute reported 36,865 new infections.

Corona in Bavaria: Despite high numbers, Söder wants easing in the pandemic

Update from February 2, 10:53 a.m .: CSU boss Markus Söder has repeatedly spoken out in favor of easing the corona pandemic. Although the incidence numbers increased, hospital occupancy did not increase in the same way, said Söder on Wednesday in Berlin at the start of the two-day winter retreat of the CSU state group in the Bundestag. He added: “Because the Omicron Wall is steep, but perhaps a wall with doors and windows into a more hopeful future, we need the concept of prudence and hope in addition to the concept of caution.”

Corona: Söder speaks of easing – “Need a way out of the pandemic”

For him, “the picture is clear: start with relief earlier, bit by bit,” said Söder. There will not be a day when everything will be lifted. “But we need a way out of the pandemic”, which is why a phased plan is responsible. What is needed is a clear recommendation from the Federal Government’s Expert Council. The high incidence number is no longer reliable, since the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) estimates the numbers because contact tracing is becoming more difficult. “We cannot justify any restriction of freedom with this incidence,” said Söder.

Not only the virological, but also the social, psychological and economic side must be taken into account, said Söder. The mask is an important form of protection, with it alone there will be much more freedom in retail or with more spectators in sports and culture. People must be given hope in difficult times.

Update from February 1, 1:17 p.m .: Finally, Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU) speaks. It cannot be ruled out that Bavaria will go its own way when it comes to compulsory vaccination. This is currently not yet regulated at the federal level. This continues to be one of the “big issues” that need to be addressed now. It is particularly about a company-related vaccination requirement. This ends the Corona section of the press conference.

Corona: Bavarian cabinet on the current situation – no new decisions

Update from February 1, 1:10 p.m .: Minister of Education Piazolo (free voters) now has the floor. “A high level of protection is important to us,” said the minister. Face-to-face teaching remains the top priority. According to Piazolo, infected students continue to isolate themselves. Children who test negative stay in school. The measures will always be reassessed according to the pandemic situation, but at the moment the current regulations will remain in place.

Update from February 1, 1:01 p.m .: The ministers have arrived. The press round begins. The head of the State Chancellery, Florian Herrmann (CSU), takes the floor. “The Omikron wave keeps rolling,” says Herrmann. Despite rising numbers, a slowdown in momentum can be observed, which allows for cautious optimism. On the other hand, an increase in hospital admissions is observed, but hardly in the intensive care units, the minister continued.

It is optimistic that there may be a “decoupling” of incidence and hospitalization. “The logic when dealing with Omikron has to be different than with Delta,” says Herrmann. No new resolutions were passed today. The regulation will therefore remain exactly as it is. “It remains the case that we will continue on the course of the past few weeks,” said the minister. Most recently, CSU boss Söder promised easing. For the CSU boss, this is conceivable around mid-February, but the cabinet has not yet commented on this.

Update from February 1, 12:32 p.m .: The press conference from Munich will begin in just under 30 minutes. We start our live ticker as soon as the protagonists step onto the podium.

Corona: Bayern update on the current situation – press conference LIVE

Update from February 1st, 10.40 a.m .: For months, there has been a curfew from 10 p.m. for gastronomy in Bavaria. The head of the Munich CSU, Manuel Pretzl, is now calling for this to be extended to midnight. “In view of the delta wave that led to more hospital admissions last fall, these regulations were understandable and helped,” says CSU parliamentary group leader Pretzl. “On the one hand, a blocking time at 10 p.m. ensures that the crowds in local public transport in particular increase at certain points and that celebrations continue uncontrolled in private spaces. On the other hand, the risk of infection does not increase if you sit together in the same group at the table longer than 10 p.m.,” says Pretzl.

Corona in Bavaria: Cabinet advises on the current situation – PK today LIVE

From ministerial circles it is said that the curfew is not an issue in today’s meeting. Nevertheless, such steps are conceivable in the course of February. In an interview with the Munich newspaper, Alexander Dobrindt, head of the regional group, showed understanding for the curfew considerations, but rejected an early adjustment: “The state government’s consideration is understandable: 2G in gastronomy instead of 2G+ and a curfew for it. At the moment I don’t see any need for change.”

First report from February 1, 2022: Munich – The corona situation could not be more opposite. While the numbers are constantly increasing, incidence records are being broken in rows and the number of new infections every day is taking on dizzying proportions*, the call for easing is getting louder and louder. The reason: The Omikron variant is responsible for significantly fewer hospital stays than its “predecessor”, the Delta variant. Gar CSU boss Söder emphasized in an interview with ARD that one would soon have to think about easing.

Corona: Söder is pushing forward and wants to “into a new era” – eagerly awaited press conference

“In one to two weeks, the ‘peak’ of the omicron wave will be reached,” explained the corona expert Hendrik Streeck on RTL. It is therefore necessary to start developing easing strategies now, since measures would have to be withdrawn when the numbers drop. The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder went in a similar direction on ARD: “Caution, yes, but also with hope,” the Prime Minister added to his demands. In the omicron wall you have to “look for a door” that offers an exit “into a new era”.

Video: Listen to the entire press conference

Corona: Will there be easing despite Omikron? PK live from Munich

The Bavarian cabinet will meet on Tuesday, February 1st, from 10 a.m. At 1:00 p.m., those responsible will provide information on the results of the deliberations at a press conference. As usual, we always report on all events and developments from Munich. * tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

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