The corona numbers are increasing continuously, the clinics and intensive care units are working at the limit. There are increasing voices from politics and experts calling for tougher corona measures.
In view of the increasing number of infections, the Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina considers nationwide measures to combat pandemics to be “extremely important”. With a crisis team like the one the new government is planning, the “cacophony” in dealing with the virus could be ended, said Robert Schlögl on Monday on rbb’s Inforadio.
In addition, the contacts would have to be reduced as quickly as possible. Regarding a possible lockdown, Schlögl said: “You shouldn’t say the word, but of course the first measure if you are thinking about containing the current pandemic is simply reducing contact, because vaccination does not work immediately.”
An immediate compulsory vaccination for health care workers is also important, emphasized Schlögl. In addition, the booster vaccinations would have to be organized efficiently.
Significantly reduce contacts, postpone planned operations
In view of the dynamic corona infection situation, the Leopoldina had recommended, among other things, immediate comprehensive 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,” said a statement published on Saturday. “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.”
The Green health expert Janosch Dahmen has called for plannable medical interventions to be stopped in all federal states. “In the countries where operations that can be planned are still taking place, the regular program must now be stopped in order to create capacities for patients from the regions where the system is already at the limit,” said Dahmen to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “We now have to switch to emergency operation everywhere.”
It is obvious that the infection dynamics lead unchecked to the fact that the burden in the health system and the number of sick and dying people increase far too quickly, said Dahmen. He therefore called on those responsible to exhaust the legal options in the fight against the pandemic: “Where further measures are possible, they must now be implemented,” emphasized Dahmen, who is himself a doctor.
Lucha: “Epidemic situation of national importance” should return
“It is incomprehensible to me why one and a half weeks after the decision of the Bundestag 2G-Plus does not apply nationwide for events and why no regulations on contact restrictions are issued in the most severely affected regions,” said the Green politician. “Full football stadiums, crowded Christmas markets or schools in which there is no mask requirement are definitely not helpful in fighting pandemics,” said Dahmen.
Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Health Manfred Lucha (Greens) is demanding that the “epidemic situation of national scope”, which has only recently expired, be returned in the coming days in order to be able to decide on more stringent measures in the corona situation. On Monday, he also spoke out in favor of a federal emergency brake, as it was in force from the end of April to the end of June 2021, also to be imposed this week. “Then it would be clear to everyone what applies,” Lucha told Deutschlandfunk on Monday. Only in a declared emergency situation can state governments take far-reaching measures by simple ordinance.
The minister also expects further tightening in Baden-Württemberg. Contacts would have to be cut back by 70 to 90 percent in order not to overload hospitals further, he said, adding: “We have to reduce that significantly now. The basic message is not to make contacts that are not necessary.” Among other things, major events could be canceled. Lucha also believes that nationwide vaccination is essential, as is the quick occupation of the Ministry of Health in Berlin.
CSU General Secretary Blume called for “emergency braking all over Germany”
The nationwide seven-day incidence of new corona infections has again reached a high: According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Monday morning, the value increased to 452.4. According to the RKI, 29,364 new infections were recorded nationwide within 24 hours.
Politicians from the Union, SPD, Greens and FDP were united in their demand to massively reduce contacts and cancel large events. The still managing Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) also renewed his demands for comprehensive 2G rules throughout the country and for an immediate Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK) on the ARD program “Anne Will”. “The virus does not forgive half-heartedness,” warned the CDU politician.
CSU General Secretary Markus Blume called for an “emergency stop across Germany” against the fourth wave. Another prime ministerial conference is needed “to anchor a federal emergency brake,” said Blume on Sunday evening on Bild TV.
Blume also advocated a 70 percent reduction in contact. This is necessary to break the wave. In Bavaria, regional lockdowns have been created as an option. “We firmly believe that such a model would be good for all of Germany.”
“See whether and how the measures of the Infection Protection Act work”
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) told the DPA: “The situation is more serious than most people think.” He told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”: “We now need consistent contact restrictions for those who have not been vaccinated, a lockdown for hotspot regions, masks in all schools and football games without spectators.” Every day of waiting and hesitation is a wasted day.
SPD parliamentary group vice-president Dirk Wiese has spoken out against hasty decisions about possible stricter measures to contain the corona pandemic. Wiese told the German Press Agency: “We now have to see for a few days whether and how the measures of the Infection Protection Act work.” Some of these only came into force last Wednesday in some countries. The federal states could have acted beforehand within the framework of this.
The changes to the Infection Protection Act include 3G in the workplace as well as in buses and trains. The federal states can also make regulations on, for example, stricter contact restrictions or 2G and 2G-plus regulations.
Source From: Stern
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