overview
Status: 08/10/2021 3:35 a.m.
Disadvantages for the unvaccinated? End of the free quick tests? How is Germany going into the Corona autumn? The federal and state governments are again discussing measures to counter the pandemic. That’s what it’s about this time – an overview.
the initial situation
Actually, the MPK format was already considered obsolete. After the inglorious Prime Minister’s Conference before Easter and the Easter rest period, which was later withdrawn, several politicians promised a new form of meeting. In the meantime, a “federal emergency brake” was introduced – and ended again. The number of new infections fell significantly in early summer – only to increase again at a similarly rapid pace. Germany is now again in a corona wave. Autumn is still a long way from beginning. And already the expectations of the meeting are high again.
However, the starting point for today’s federal-state meeting is different. The seven-day incidence is now back at more than 20. For comparison: Last year, the incidence at the beginning of August was still below ten. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also recorded a faster and earlier increase in the seven-day incidence than a year ago. On the other hand, the development in the intensive care units is more reassuring. According to the RKI, the increase in the number of cases is still at “a low level”. In addition – unlike a year ago – there are now a relatively high number of people who have been vaccinated.
For politicians, the question arises as to how Germany should deal with the likely further increase in the number of infections this autumn. Are new restrictions necessary? Is the incidence value even meaningful if every second person is vaccinated? How can more people be motivated to have a vaccination? And what happens to the free tests?
Health Minister Jens Spahn fueled the debate with a position paper last week. “Spiegel” and the dpa news agency finally reported on Monday about a five-point paper by Armin Laschet that he had presented to the CDU presidium. Among other things, it was about the expansion of the obligation to test, more incentives and broader appeals to vaccinate, as well as a more differentiated recording of the pandemic.
Free corona rapid tests
Should there still be a free quick test for everyone in the future? This question preoccupied the panel long before the meeting. In his strategy paper, Federal Health Minister Spahn suggested that the free rapid tests should expire in mid-October. Exception: Those who cannot be vaccinated or for whom there is no vaccination recommendation do not have to pay.
The Prime Ministers of Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg, Stephan Weil (SPD) and Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), see it similarly. “I think it is expressly right that unvaccinated people have to pay for their tests themselves from autumn onwards. Until then, everyone had the opportunity to be vaccinated free of charge,” said Weil about the “Tagesspiegel.”
The Federal Minister of Justice also believes: Anyone who does not want to accept the vaccination offer “has to face the consequences and cannot expect the general public to pay for these tests,” said Christine Lambrecht in the rbb. The free tests should expire in two months, demands CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak.
Criticism comes from the social associations, among others. Their concern: Low-income families would be excluded from many areas of social life. Even for FDP parliamentary deputy Stephan Thomae, the free tests are “money well spent”. Those who have recovered and who have been vaccinated are largely protected from illness, but they can carry the virus on, he warned.
The CDU emphasizes that it wants to expand testing at the same time in order to absolutely prevent a new lockdown. “We don’t want any closings, we want security through more vaccinations and even more testing,” said Ziemiak. And Laschet also said in the CDU presidium, according to dpa, that in future tests will have to be carried out wherever you meet strangers in the interior. Those who have been vaccinated remain exempt from the obligation to test.
Restrictions for the unvaccinated?
So far, the so-called 3G rule applies. That means: those who have been vaccinated, those who have recovered and those who have been tested are on an equal footing. But in the future there could be more freedom for those who have been vaccinated – also with the ulterior motive that this increases the incentive to vaccinate. In his paper, Minister Spahn suggests, for example, that unvaccinated people should generally no longer be admitted to events in an emergency – not even with a negative rapid test.
But several politicians reject this. Above all Laschet. “The state must not exclude those who have been vaccinated, recovered or tested from participating in social life,” said the Union Chancellor candidate of “Bild am Sonntag”. SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz also rejected Spahn’s proposal, but indicated that only the concept of rapid tests could be questioned. “The question is: what kind of tests?” Hamburg’s mayor Peter Tschentscher advocated equating unvaccinated people with a negative PCR test and those who have recovered. “Rapid antigen tests are not reliable enough,” he said.
In any case, it could regulate itself, believes Union faction leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU). He assumes that hoteliers, clubs and event organizers will only allow vaccinated people into their homes in the future, he told “Welt am Sonntag”. The soccer club 1. FC Köln had previously announced that from the end of August only vaccinated or recovered spectators would be allowed into the stadium.
Home office
According to information from the Reuters news agency, the subject of home office obligations for companies should be back on the agenda. Accordingly, the SPD-led Ministry of Labor is said to have proposed that if there is a corona incidence of more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants, home office must be offered again within seven days. However, the reservations in the economy are said to be great.
Vaccination campaign
In Germany around 55 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated so far. Recently, however, the pace slowed significantly – only around half a million people were vaccinated for the first time within a week – at the peak in May it was more than a million in one day. Vaccination buses could increase the willingness to vaccinate. FDP parliamentary group vice Thomae called for a “calm awareness campaign” to allay fears.
CDU boss Laschet spoke out in favor of a “vaccination offensive”. According to the dpa, he says in the CDU Presidium, the Prime Minister’s consultations with Merkel must lead to a “large and unified vaccination appeal.”
Which criterion should apply in the future?
At least there seems to be a broad consensus in politics: The seven-day incidence – i.e. the new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week – should no longer be alone. In addition, there should be parameters such as the vaccination rate and the occupancy rate of the hospitals, the number of intensive care patients. But here, too, the following applies: When it comes to detailed questions, the countries are likely to come to different assessments.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s head of government Manuela Schwesig (SPD) calls for a corona traffic light. “In addition to the current corona numbers, it must also take into account the occupancy of hospitals and intensive care beds and the progress of vaccinations.” And Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) also refers to “very good experiences” with the Corona traffic light.
Are there any new restrictions?
The chairman of the Bundestag health committee, Erwin Rüddel (CDU), was confident in an interview with “Bild” that there are no massive restrictions on those who have been vaccinated. “The question arises as to whether our society cannot also withstand providing adequate care for those who deliberately do not allow themselves to be vaccinated and then become seriously ill, instead of frightening and damaging the entire country and the economy with the sword of Damocles of lockdown . ”
Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther ruled out a lockdown even if the corona numbers continued to rise. There is currently no reason at all for further interference with basic rights – especially for people who have been vaccinated, emphasized the CDU politician.
Longer “epidemic emergency”?
The health ministers of the federal states are in favor of the Bundestag extending the “epidemic situation of national scope” which initially exists until September 11th. The background is that a continuation of infection protection measures is foreseeable afterwards, according to the dpa in a unanimous decision of the department heads.
The established situation gives the federal government the right to issue ordinances directly without the consent of the Bundesrat, for example on tests, vaccinations, occupational health and safety or entry. In addition, according to the Infection Protection Act, specific measures such as mask compulsory or contact restrictions, which the federal states can determine, relate to the determination of this “epidemic situation”.
Minister Spahn had discussed the expiry of the regulation, he is convinced that there are enough follow-up regulations. His ministry points out that the regulations on vaccination, testing, immigration and the Divi register have been extended. Other Union politicians also want to let the epidemic situation run out. Laschet and Ziemiak, however, spoke out in favor of an extension, similar to the SPD – among other things, Vice Chancellor and Chancellor candidate Scholz is promoting an extension.
And otherwise?
This time, too, the topic of daycare centers and schools should at least be addressed. It is well known that the federal states attach great importance to the fact that education is a state issue. Nevertheless, questions such as classroom instruction, tests, air filters and hygiene concepts are likely to play a role. Especially since it is still controversial to what extent children and adolescents from the age of twelve should be vaccinated.