The corona numbers are increasing – and further action is being discussed in the Bundestag and with the heads of government of the federal and state governments. It’s about relaxed protective requirements and the question of whether vaccination will be compulsory.
The corona numbers in Germany keep reaching new highs. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the health authorities reported 294,931 new infections within 24 hours on Thursday morning.
On March 10, the number had passed the 250,000 mark for the first time in the pandemic. The RKI now gives the seven-day incidence as 1651.4 – also a record. Across Germany, 278 deaths were recorded within 24 hours.
FDP leader Christian Lindner nevertheless defended the plan to let most of the nationwide corona requirements expire on Sunday. “It’s a step towards normality, and I say we need it too,” said Lindner on ARD. A structural overload of the health system is currently not visible. In old people’s and nursing homes and other facilities with particularly vulnerable people, as in local public transport, the mask requirement remains. Where the health system could be overloaded regionally after a mass outbreak, “additional measures are needed”.
A corresponding draft law by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) is to be passed in the Bundestag this Friday. The federal states should largely be able to re-enact corona requirements themselves through state laws. There should be a transitional period until April 2nd. The federal states also want to use the transition period to a large extent according to their previous announcements and decisions.
Lauterbach also defended the plans. “I have to find compromises that work, but I can’t do it at the expense of the health of the population or my own credibility,” he said on RTL on Wednesday evening. He understands the condition of the FDP that all measures in the future must be justified with a possible overload of the health system in a region. The countries should use their opportunity now.
This Thursday, the Bundestag is advising on a general corona vaccination requirement. The agenda includes the first reading of several bills and motions. The decision as to whether vaccination will be compulsory is expected to be made in three weeks. Then the vote is scheduled. In addition, the corona pandemic is also an issue at the Prime Ministers’ Conference. It was unclear in advance whether the round with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) would make decisions.
After the deliberations in the Bundestag, a vote without party pressure is planned on the subject of compulsory vaccination. However, the CDU/CSU and AfD have submitted their own motions as parliamentary groups. Scholz and Lauterbach have spoken out in favor of general vaccination, but a majority is not certain.
There are several proposals on the table:
Vaccination obligation from 18:
The proposal comes from a group around the Green politician Janosch Dahmen and the deputy SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese. According to dpa information, 235 MPs from various parties had recently joined the application. The Bundestag has 736 members. According to this draft law, compulsory vaccination would take effect from October 1st and would be limited to the end of 2023. As a rule, adults should be able to show proof of vaccination or recovery from October, otherwise there is a risk of a fine.
Possible compulsory vaccination from the age of 50:
A group of deputies around the FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann advocates compulsory advice and a possible vaccination requirement from the age of 50. According to Ullmann’s office, 45 politicians have so far endorsed the proposal. Unvaccinated adults should first go to a mandatory medical vaccination consultation. Depending on the corona situation and the status of the vaccination campaign, the Bundestag could later decide in a second step to make vaccination compulsory from the age of 50 – limited until the end of 2023.
«Vaccination Prevention Act»:
As a parliamentary group, the CDU and CSU make their own proposal: A vaccination register should be set up so that it is clear who has been vaccinated and who should be specifically addressed. The Union rejects a vaccination decision at this point in time and instead advocates a “graded vaccination mechanism”. This could provide for compulsory vaccination, but only for certain population and occupational groups that are particularly at risk.
Applications against compulsory vaccination:
A group of deputies led by FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki has submitted an application against the introduction of compulsory vaccination. According to information from Kubicki’s office, 50 MPs from various parties have joined. In addition to this cross-party application, the AfD has also submitted an application against the introduction of compulsory vaccination.
Source: Stern
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