Markus Söder initially does not want to implement the institution-related vaccination requirement in Bavaria. “Not at all” is the opinion of Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser. The news ticker.
- Markus Söder* splits the mood in Bavaria with his Corona course.
- The incidence in Bavaria is increasing, but infections are declining slightly.
- This news ticker is updated regularly.
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Update from February 13, 10 a.m.: The virologist Oliver Keppler warns of the unreliability of rapid corona tests with a view to the omicron variant. According to Keppler in the BR24 Rundschau, his institute at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich examined nine tests that are frequently used in Germany. Only two of the tests would have shown results within a reasonable range at higher viral loads.
With a lower viral load, however, even these supposedly good tests would only have detected ten percent of the infections. The study is currently being reviewed and will be online next week, according to Keppler. The virologist warned against taking negative rapid tests as a free pass: the tests often failed, especially in the early phase of the infection, and one could still be contagious. Keppler has always been considered a great representative of the “Team Caution”. He has repeatedly warned against classifying the novel omicron variant as mild and relying too much on the effect of the vaccines.
Update from February 13, 8:35 a.m .: It should come soon, the facility-related partial vaccination throughout Germany. The federal government decided the regulation, which applies primarily to medical staff and nursing staff, for mid-March. The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), on the other hand, surprised last week with the announcement that he did not want to implement compulsory vaccination immediately. Then, according to Söder, there is a risk of supply chaos due to the absence of the previously unvaccinated staff. Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) later put Söder’s statement into perspective slightly after criticism had come from many quarters.
Vaccination debate in Bavaria: Federal Interior Minister Faeser criticizes Söder going it alone
The new Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser (SPD), also sharply criticized Söder’s announcement in an interview with bild.de. The compulsory vaccination protects against severe corona courses and death, which is why they consider compulsory vaccination to be constitutional. You need a high vaccination rate in order to be able to live again without restrictions on freedom. The fact that Söder now wants to go his own way in Bavaria “is not possible”, as Faeser thinks. “The Basic Law also applies in Bavaria. The Bavarian Prime Minister must also abide by the law,” said Faeser.
Söder himself was there when the Federal Council decided on the institution-related vaccination requirement. The federal government demands compliance with the regulation. She cannot imagine that Söder would question the basic principles of the constitution, says Faeser and makes a clear announcement: “I expect Mr Söder to implement the vaccination requirement. Point.”
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer also advocated postponing the facility-related compulsory vaccination by a few months. The President of the Professional Association of Paediatricians, Thomas Fischbach, considers these announcements that the regulation will not initially be enforced to be “highly irresponsible”, as he told the Ärzte-Zeitung on Sunday.
Update from February 13, 7.10 a.m .: The corona incidence in the Free State has fallen again somewhat and is 1798.3 on Sunday. The Eichstätt district remains the leader in Germany – and by a large margin – with 3773.4. But Bavarian districts also took third place (Straubing-Bogen, 2686.1), four (Regen, 2681.3), five (Neu-Ulm, 2595.2) and sixth (Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, 2582.6). Find.
Even if the daily reported incidence figures are slightly declining, the chief physician of infectiology at the Munich Clinic Schwabing and corona expert Clemens Wendtner does not yet see the Free State over the mountain. “I’m skeptical that we in Bavaria have already reached the peak of the omicron wave. I don’t expect that for the next few weeks,” Wendtner told the German Press Agency.
Corona in Bavaria: No trend reversal in the numbers – expert Wendtner warns of critical weeks
Wendtner does not yet consider the current slight decline in numbers to be a trend reversal. “I would attribute that to delays in reporting and the limited capacity of PCR tests,” he said. The State Office for Health and Food Safety has also been clearly pointing out the uncertainty of the numbers for some time.
Wendtner sees Bayern still facing “critical weeks”. “In terms of hospitalizations, you can see a significant increase – both in our clinic and in the figures from the LGL,” emphasized Wendtner. According to official statistics, it was more than 20 percent compared to the previous week and there was “already a slight increase” in the occupied intensive care beds. And even if the peak of the new infections is reached, the infection process is not over yet: “It usually takes two to three weeks before the patients come to us.”
The expert therefore warns: “There is no point in starting a massive opening debate. That does not lead to enthusiasm in the clinics because we are the ones who have to absorb it in the end.”
First report from February 12th: Munich – At the beginning of the week it was said that Bavaria wanted to suspend the institution-related vaccination requirement, which will apply from mid-March. Then it was rowed back over the course of the week. One does not question the obligation to vaccinate as such, said Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU). The only problem is the way it is to be implemented. However, this zigzag course is not well received by the people.
After Söder advance: Dispute about the introduction of facility-related compulsory vaccination
Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) announced on Monday at a press conference after the CSU board meeting that he wanted to suspend the partial vaccination requirement in March – which was also decided by voters from the Union. It cannot be implemented in its current form, and the federal government must improve it. Health Minister Holetschek then softened tones on Thursday. The state government will “move within the framework of law and order” and does not question the obligation to vaccinate as such. The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe also contributed to the discourse. In an urgent procedure, the green light was given for the partial vaccination requirement.
However, calls had already been made that Bavaria could not defy applicable law. On the other hand, Söder’s initiative also found supporters. The Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU), for example, even called for a nationwide suspension of partial vaccination. So the issue is dividing opinions. This has now been confirmed by a survey by the opinion research institute Civey on behalf of the Augsburger Allgemeine .
Survey: Majority of Germans in favor of implementing partial vaccination
5002 people were asked: “How do you rate the fact that Bavaria will probably only introduce the institution-related corona vaccination later?” The result was clear. 54 percent of those surveyed thought Söder’s plan was wrong. Only 38 percent followed the head of state and his possible suspension of partial vaccination. The rest was undecided.
In Bavaria*, however, the situation was completely different. Here it became apparent that the population in the Free State is of divided opinion. 48 percent think it is right to suspend facility-related compulsory vaccination. 45 percent of respondents are against it.
If you look at the survey results in terms of party affiliation, supporters of the FDP and AfD in particular support Söder’s initiative. In the Union, on the other hand, opinions are divided. As expected, the SPD and the Greens reject the suspension. Older respondents (over 65) don’t think much of the CSU leader’s zigzag course. 64 percent are against a suspension. Among the 18-29 year olds, however, it is only 41 percent.
Corona in Bavaria: Infection numbers are falling – incidence is increasing
While politicians are still arguing about compulsory vaccination – whether facility-related or general – the Robert Koch Institute* is delivering facts again on Saturday. Accordingly, the number of corona infections fell slightly to 40,677 cases. The incidence in the Free State is 1823.7. The day before, 45,868 people had contracted the virus. The incidence was given as 1811.4.
The Eichstätt district is still the frontrunner in incidence in both Germany and Bavaria with 3853. According to the district office, the high number is due to a large number of late registrations. “The Eichstätt health department – like in many places – is overwhelmed with the recording of new infections,” writes the Donaukurier . The actual incidence would probably be at a comparable value in the neighboring counties – i.e. in the mid-2000s.
Eichstätt is followed by the districts of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen (2586.7) and Regen (2584.3). Only the districts of Regensburg (928.6) and Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad-Windsheim (639.9) have less than 1,000. The state capital Munich is just over 2000 corona infections with 2006.3. (tel) *Merkur.de/bayern is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
List of rubrics: © IMAGO / Sven Simon
