Germany, from the reduced capacity in the stadiums to the mandatory vaccine proposal: all the measures to curb the new wave of Covid

by time news

At a press conference today Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, the Governor of North Rhine Westphalia, Hendrick Wust, and the mayor of Berlin still in office, Michael Müller, have announced the new minimum common measures that will apply in Germany to try to break the fourth wave of the pandemic. However, they may be tightened up according to local needs, but how much and how has not been specified. Even if the weekly incidence of new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants is slowly decreasing and today it is 439.2, while yesterday it was 442.9, hospitalizations in terapie intensive increase and the load in many hospitals is at the limit, forcing a transfers of patients which should not be carried. Announcing the measures, Angela Merkel spoke of a “National solidarity act”.

VALIDITY OF THE VACCINATION CERTIFICATE – One will have to be discussed within the EU common rule per reduce validity at 9 months of the various certificates after two vaccinations. Without a third vaccination, after this deadline, you will no longer be considered vaccinated.

LIMITATIONS TO NON-VACCINATES – Access to all shops except those of daily necessity – pharmacies, drugstores and groceries – to those who are not vaccinated or cured (rule 2G) and it is given the right to expand the measure by also requesting a test (2G +).

SCHOOLS – The obligation to wear a mask is back for everyone in the classroom.

LIMITATION OF CONTACTS – A part of the scientific world has not ordered – as instead hoped for – a lockdown for all, but it was decided that the unvaccinated can meet, as well as with their family, with at most two other people both in public and in private. Children under the age of 14 are excluded from the calculation.

VACCINATION OBLIGATION – Without prejudice to the already decided obligation of vaccination for the sanitary and the staff in hospices, Parliament will be called upon to decide on a vaccination obligation for all and the ethics committee is called upon to give its opinion by the end of the year. If approved, the obligation will take effect from February 2022. To a direct question, Angela Merkel said that if she were in Parliament she would vote in favor of introducing the obligation. On the same positions the regent mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, who underlined how it is right to react in the face of a situation created by the minority of unvaccinated people. Even Olaf Scholz, after appealing again to the fact that everyone “take the step to get vaccinated”, stated that even if the planned vaccination milestone was reached at the end of the year, an obligation for all must remain as a goal to not have to face one more fifth wave.

TIGHTENING OF THE LAW OF PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTIONS – The new Government, through Scholz’s mouth, has undertaken to change the infection protection law to ensure that the measures taken by the Länder, with the state of emergency terminated on 25 November, may last even beyond the maximum deadline currently set for 15 December. However, no concrete indications have arrived on how and what will change in the law.

NEW YEAR’S FIRES – Fireworks on New Year’s Eve are banned like last year.

FOOTBALL MATCHES AND GREAT EVENTS – A roof has been planned from 30% up to 50% of the capacity of places. Indoors, however, each event cannot accommodate more than 5,000 people, with the share rising to 15,000 for outdoor events, such as football matches. In the press conference, however, Michael Müller only highlighted that the teams can autonomously communicate to the fans “with a sense of responsibility” that they will play either with a ceiling of spectators or without an audience. Also absent mentions on Christmas markets, already closed in several Länder but not everywhere. For example, in the hinterland of Berlin they have been banned while in the capital they are always open, albeit with the 2G rule.

THE CRISIS COMMITTEE – To the major general Carsten Breuer the leadership of the Crisis Committee was entrusted with the aim of achieving the administration of 30 thousand doses considering the period from 18 November to the end of the year. To speed up the times, they will also be able to vaccinate dentists, the nurses e i pharmacists, while the Zdf reports that they will also be able to delegate their substitutes.

REGULAR SUMMITS BETWEEN FEDERATION AND LÄNDER – Olaf Scholz pledged to more regular contacts with the Governors of the Länder recalling that a scientific Committee within the Chancellor who can advise all federal actors. Angela Merkel recalled that consultations with governors were a part of her political agenda, even if it was a challenge to bring back different views. She said she was sure that Olaf Scholz, as a former mayor of Hamburg who knows the perspective of the Länder, will know how to combine them in the future with federal requirements.

FOCUS ON WEEKLY INCIDENCE – With an incidence of at least 350 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants recorded for at least seven days, the closing of all clubs and discos. All contacts are also reduced, without prejudice to the distinction between vaccinated / cured and unvaccinated. In closed places, the maximum number of vaccinated or cured people who may be present is limited to 50, a number that rises to 200 in open areas.

Olaf Scholz, who will be appointed Chancellor next Wednesday, underlined that action is being taken in a decisive and concerted manner. However, some party tone emerged at the press conference: on the one hand, both Scholz and Müller, both Social Democrats, rejected the press’s accusations of having let the national pandemic emergency law lapse, noting that the new coalition has already acted by introducing access to work and public transport only for vaccinated, cured or with a negative Covid-19 test. On the other side, the Christian Democrat Hendrick Wusto he openly praised Angela Merkel for how she reacted to the pandemic: “It is to her credit that she has saved the lives of many people.” The Chancellor once again acted with mastery, she listened seriously, she only let a smile escape when Wüst went on to wish continuity in the action of her successor.

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