The fourth corona wave hits Germany with full force. Stricter rules now apply in Bavaria. But are such restrictions enough to break the wave? Politicians and experts are also calling for free rapid tests to be reintroduced.
The number of new corona infections in Germany continues to rise steeply. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gave the seven-day incidence on Sunday morning at 191.5. The day before, the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week was 183.7. A week ago it was 149.4. The health authorities reported 23,543 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. In view of the force of the fourth wave, more and more politicians and doctors are calling for free corona tests to be offered to everyone again.
The German Medical Association has called for the rapid reintroduction of free corona rapid tests. “The expiry of the assumption of costs for corona citizen tests apparently did not motivate those unwilling to be vaccinated,” said medical president Klaus Reinhardt to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Sunday editions). The federal and state governments should have the courage to correct this wrong decision quickly and consistently.
Especially in the cold season with many indoor leisure activities, low-threshold, free test offers are needed again to slow the spread of the virus. “The new regulation must now come quickly, if possible with the amendment of the Infection Protection Act in mid-November,” demanded Reinhardt.
Bavaria tightened corona rules
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), Greens boss Robert Habeck and representatives of doctors, municipalities and retailers had already called for the return to free tests. North Rhine-Westphalia’s new Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst now demanded free corona tests for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered. “The high numbers of infections among unvaccinated people are leading to more and more breakthroughs among those who have been vaccinated,” said the CDU politician of “Bild am Sonntag”.
Since October 11th, corona rapid tests have only been free in exceptional cases. The federal government has stopped funding. Many test stations are now closed. This was justified by the fact that everyone now has the opportunity to protect themselves through a vaccination. Since then, free tests have only been available for people who cannot be vaccinated, including children under the age of 12, as well as temporarily for 12 to 17 year olds and pregnant women.
In Bavaria, stricter rules have been in effect again since Sunday. The reason is the high number of occupied intensive care beds. Access to inns and events in closed rooms is now only granted to those who have been vaccinated, who have recovered and who have a negative PCR test. A rapid antigen test is no longer enough. In addition, FFP2 masks must generally be worn again. In regions where the number of new infections and intensive care patients is particularly high, even stricter rules apply.
Göring-Eckardt for 2G and tests in the workplace
The Green Group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt is in favor of further corona containment measures in view of the rapidly increasing number of infections. “We need clear, binding regulations for 2G in public life in the federal states,” she told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday editions). “With the changes to the Infection Protection Act, we want to create the basis for this. However, these regulations must then also be enforced and monitored.”
For nursing homes, Göring-Eckardt suggested vaccination as an entry requirement. “Residents, carers and visitors must be tested regularly, including those who have been vaccinated or have recovered,” she said. “And where that is not enough, we should discuss the need for proof of vaccination.”
Consistent protection at the workplace is also necessary. “Tests have to be offered, but also accepted.” Goering-Eckardt described the decision of several federal states to lift the mask requirement for schoolchildren as a “mistake”. In addition, the Greens parliamentary group leader advocated offering the corona rapid tests, which have been paid for around a month, by trained staff again free of charge.
2G is controversial
The new President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas (SPD) sees further restrictions on unvaccinated people as the number of infections increases. “As long as we do not have a compulsory vaccination, we should at least expand the 2G and 3G rules,” said Bas the “Tagesspiegel”.
However, the 2G rule is controversial. Some experts criticize that it lulls people into a false sense of security because people who have been vaccinated could become infected and transmit the virus. They call for people who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered to be tested regularly – especially where people at particular risk live.
The traffic light parties are currently working on a successor regulation for the so-called epidemic situation of national scope, which expires at the end of November and is currently the legal basis for many corona containment measures. The new regulation is to be discussed for the first time in the Bundestag next week.
Traffic light parties are working on the revision of the Infection Protection Act
“The federal government and the states need a legally secure basis, decided by the middle of the Bundestag, in order to be able to take the necessary measures,” said Göring-Eckardt, explaining the procedure. “The rapidly worsening corona situation is dramatic, we have to act urgently,” she emphasized.
According to a report by “Bild am Sonntag”, the SPD, Greens and FDP are already planning to include some of the measures required by Göring-Eckardt in the new regulation of the Infection Protection Act. This includes a daily test obligation for all employees and visitors in nursing homes, reported the newspaper, citing “negotiating circles”.
In addition, the corona premium for clinics should be reactivated: Hospitals would then again receive state compensation if they keep part of their intensive care beds free for possible corona patients.
In order to accelerate the corona booster vaccinations for seniors, according to the report, doctors should be obliged to write to their older patients and inform them about the third vaccination. A lockdown for unvaccinated people or a nationwide 2G rule should, however, be dispensed with.
Source From: Stern
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