This emerges from a paper from the Ministry of Health for the Prime Minister’s Conference next week. A government spokeswoman stressed on Wednesday in Berlin that the goal was to prevent a new hard lockdown. “We can influence the course of the pandemic.”
She appealed to the population to get vaccinated, but added: “We do not want any compulsory vaccination, not even through the back door.”
In Germany, 53 percent of the population are currently fully vaccinated, 62 percent have been vaccinated at least once. The vaccination rate has recently slowed down significantly. With regard to the vaccination quota, the paper by the Ministry of Health stated that in the long term the taxpayer would not be able to bear the costs of tests.
It is proposed that the offer for free citizen tests expire in mid-October. Depending on the development of the infection process, further restrictions may also be necessary, especially for unvaccinated people. “These include, in particular, contact restrictions and the limitation of participation or the exclusion from participation of non-vaccinated people in events and in the catering trade,” it said.
Mask requirement extended until 2022
In addition, the German Ministry of Health wants to extend the mask requirement in local public transport and retail until spring 2022. This should also apply to vaccinated and convalescent people. The proposed actions should help “significantly flatten” the fourth wave curve. “The tools are there. We just have to use them”.
Next Tuesday, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) wants to discuss the next steps in the pandemic with the Prime Ministers of the countries. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health emphasized that discussions about the planned resolutions were ongoing.
Germany’s Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) said the government had to be very creative to achieve a higher vaccination rate. In principle, social life should be open to all vaccinated, tested and convalescent people. “It should stay that way.” However, there is freedom of contract for providers of services, such as restaurants or hotels. You could put restrictions in favor of those who are vaccinated. For groups that could not be vaccinated, such as pregnant women or people with certain pre-existing conditions, tests would still have to be free of charge.
Accusation of “mandatory vaccination through the back door”
FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing accused the federal government of a change in the subject of mandatory vaccination. “The discrimination against unvaccinated people and their exclusion from social life is nothing more than compulsory vaccination through the back door,” he told the RTL / ntv broadcasting group. “This change of course is incomprehensible and also not fair to people who cannot be vaccinated at all.”
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported 3,571 new corona infections on Wednesday. That is 803 more than on Wednesday a week ago. The seven-day incidence rose to 18.5 from 17.9 the previous day. 25 more people died who tested positive. This increased the number of corona deaths in Germany to 91,704.
