“Every day of waiting and hesitation is a lost day. The whole of Germany is heading for an emergency, the coming federal government can no longer sit and watch,” says Markus Söder (CSU). The Bavarian Prime Minister is therefore calling for a “federal emergency brake” to be adopted this week. “Unfortunately we have to shut down the whole country even harder.” This is essential to protect the German health system.
Söder referred to the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, which sounded the alarm on Saturday and recommended extensive contact restrictions. “From a medical and epidemiological point of view, it is immediately effective to significantly reduce the number of contacts for a few weeks from the beginning of next week,” was the Leopoldina statement. “Due to the decreasing immunity, these measures would have to apply temporarily to vaccinated and convalescent people who have to receive a booster vaccination during this time.”
Italy calls for EU action
Nobody can currently estimate how the new Omikron variant will work. “That is why all flights from South Africa must be stopped. Incidentally, more vaccine is needed for the countries, extensive compensation for the economy as in the previous year and a compulsory vaccination for everyone from January,” said Söder.
In the fight against the Omikron variant, Italy is meanwhile calling on the EU to take Europe-wide preventive measures. “We will work out a containment strategy at European level in the next 24 to 48 hours,” said State Secretary for Health Sileri.
“It was the right decision by Italy to block flights from some African countries. Now, however, Community decisions are needed on new restrictions. We could reintroduce the double-entry and post-quarantine obligation, but only for those who do come from countries that have the virus variant, not for individual cases, “said Sileri.
South Africa, on the other hand, sees itself wrongly punished by the travel restrictions. “Outstanding science should be praised, not punished,” said the Department of International Relations, referring to the work of South African scientists who sequenced and identified Omikron.
Source From: Nachrichten
