Press comments on the Corona summit: The virus is not taking a Christmas break

Press comments on the Corona summit: The virus is not taking a Christmas break

The federal and state governments want to take tough measures against the Omikron variant after Christmas. The media welcome this in principle – but the regulations do not come quickly enough for everyone. The virus does not know about Christmas holidays.

The number of vaccinations is increasing every day, the incidence is falling slowly but steadily – and the new virus variant Omikron is on the advance. The federal and state governments therefore felt compelled to tighten the corona measures again in the fourth wave. From December 28th, contact restrictions will also apply to vaccinated and convalescent patients. But is it enough to only introduce this measure after Christmas? What the press says about the decisions:

“Rhein-Zeitung”: “So politics should not listen to those who decide against acting in solidarity and take it out onto the streets, but rather encourage those who willingly wait patiently again in the vaccination line If necessary, as required by science, then a uniform resolution would help a lot. Calmly, unanimously and clearly communicated, in order to be at least optimistic about spring 2022. That’s not much more than that. “

“New Osnabrück Newspaper”: “As is so often the case in this pandemic, politicians are once again faced with a dilemma. The declining infection figures show that the 2G rules and vaccination campaign are having an effect in the fight against the delta variant. However, the positive development of the figures also complicates preparations for the The next danger. The new Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz hits the right note in this situation, prudent but serious and clear in his description of the situation. However, the group could not decide to tighten contact restrictions before Christmas. Amazingly, two thirds of the population would take more far-reaching measures like still advocating a lockdown. “

“Heilbronn voice”: “The politically responsible have once again agreed on minimal restrictions. They do not want to spoil Christmas for the citizens again, but rely on the common sense of the people and on more speed with the vaccinations. That has only worked reasonably in the past. And there is little to suggest that things will work better now. Nobody should therefore be surprised if they find themselves in a real lockdown after the Christmas holidays. Even if politicians may call it different. “

OM media group: “The federal and state governments owe the big success to equip Germany for the next wave of Omikron. The new virus variant will soon also dominate in this country. We therefore need, as Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) from Düsseldorf said, a” Protective wall against Omikron “- at least for the time being. Unfortunately, it cannot be seen that the decisions made on Tuesday add up to such a protective wall. Wouldn’t have been possible anymore? Right now, during the holidays, there would be an opportunity to take drastic measures for a manageable period of a few weeks. Simply to slow down the spread of Omikron and to gain time to study the dangers of the virus variant sufficiently. What is coming now is once again: too little, too hesitant. “

“Badish newspaper”: “Nevertheless, great doubts remain as to whether everything has been done to spare the country a burden that could be greater than anything that has been endured in the pandemic so far. The measures will mainly take effect after Christmas. The new one The upper limit for private get-togethers for vaccinated people does not apply until December 28. The virus is celebrating Christmas, attending church services and looking forward to large-scale family gatherings. And it goes to restaurants and likes to go shopping. So there are big ones Areas of life are wholly or temporarily excluded from restrictions. Prime ministers and chancellors take on a great responsibility with this. They had a sufficient factual basis for their decisions. So they should know what they are doing. “

“Rheinpfalz”: “While experts with a view to the Omikron variant speak of a wave of infections with a previously unobserved dynamic, the federal and state governments react as if it were not about the health of the citizens, but about collecting sympathy points. (…) One is amazed Because the goal has to be different: It’s about averting an overload of the health system and averting the risk of firefighters, police officers or doctors being absent en masse due to infection. (…) Now the stricter contact restrictions will only take effect in a week than whether the virus would take a Christmas break. “

“Weser Courier”: “There is no strategy in the federal government and in many federal states. The intermittent closure of vaccination centers like in Bremen, the chaos over the replenishment of vaccines, sold out self-tests and ever new booster deadlines are unsettling people. And now Scholz and Lauterbach also have RKI boss Lothar Wieler, who had spoken out in favor of “maximum contact restrictions” in the run-up to the meeting. “

“The bell”: “What is rolling towards Germany will no longer be a wave, but, according to the experts’ forecasts, a tsunami. (…) Contact restrictions in seven days are an eternity far from immediately. In clubs and discos, the ten can be celebrated again -Personal rule applies to New Year’s Eve, but not to Christmas. Why not? Incomprehensible. Nobody would have sat under the Christmas tree with this regulation. In view of the doubling of the number of infections in ever shorter periods of time, this procrastination is irresponsible. It costs human lives. Politics has after two Years of crisis management have still not learned how to really step on the brakes, it just shifts down a gear – until the next round of consultations. That is just as weary as the pandemic. “

Source From: Stern

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