Corona current: Association towards the end of the Corona emergency – politics

The Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services speaks out clearly against an end to the epidemic situation in Germany. “We strongly advise against it,” said President Bernd Meurer of the editorial network Germany. “In some counties, the incidences among those over 80 are already between 100 and 250 again.” In view of this situation, Meurer called for an extension of the relevant regulations to protect this particularly vulnerable population group – “we consider everything else to be irresponsible”.

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) had proposed that the epidemic situation should expire on November 25th. This would mean that the federal government would lose its special rights in the pandemic, and parliament would have to vote on every measure. However, measures such as the mask requirement in certain areas would not automatically be eliminated.

The German Foundation for Patient Protection has also warned of an early end to the epidemic situation. It would be dangerous to let it expire “solely out of questionable political calculations,” said board member Eugen Brysch. The pandemic is not over. According to patient advocates, three times more corona infected people over 80 years of age are currently being treated in hospital than a year ago – although 84.9 percent of this age group have been vaccinated twice. Similar developments were evident in other age groups, warned Brysch: “Even the proportion of infected deaths has almost quintupled in the same period.” (10/20/2021)

Incidence rises to 80.4

The seven-day incidence in Germany has risen again. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gave the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week at 80.4. The previous day the value was 75.1, a week ago it was 65.4. The health authorities reported 17 015 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. A week ago the value was 11,903 infections. According to the information, 92 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours.

The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days – the most important parameter for a possible tightening of the corona restrictions – was given by the RKI on Tuesday at 2.13. On Monday the value was 1.92. (10/20/2021)

EU health authority: It will not work without higher vaccination rates

The EU health authority ECDC continues to consider a high vaccination rate to be particularly important before the corona measures are relaxed. “As long as more than 80 percent of people are fully vaccinated, there is simply the possibility that the rest of the population will still be infected by the virus,” said ECDC director Andrea Ammon in an interview with the magazine published by the AOK Federal Association Health and society.

However, the German doctor viewed compulsory vaccination with skepticism. Many countries would have achieved high vaccination rates even without such an obligation. “Mandatory vaccination, for example for certain professions, is a possibility. But it is not a magic wand.” It is difficult to say whether Europe is better equipped for future pandemics due to the Corona crisis. “One thing is clear: our preparation was not ideal. Now we have to look closely so that it goes better next time.”

Humanity will have to live with the corona virus in the long run. “I do believe that Corona will not go away. We must therefore find a way how we can integrate this virus into the course of daily life,” said Ammon. The number of people vaccinated must be increased across Europe. “It won’t work any other way.” (10/20/2021)

US immunologist Fauci: “I didn’t think the pandemic would be this bad”

The US immunologist and presidential advisor Anthony Fauci was surprised by the extent of the pandemic in his own words. Although he already knew in February 2020 that there was “a lot of trouble” ahead, “it was getting worse than I would have ever predicted,” said Fauci at a gala for the New York Historical Society. At the beginning of the pandemic, he would not have thought that more than 700,000 people would die in the USA and several million worldwide after being infected with the virus. “In my craziest and most pessimistic dreams, I would never have predicted it like that.”

Fauci received the “History Maker Award” at the gala for his services to American healthcare. “America’s doctor” did not only do “historical” things during the pandemic, said the chairman of the museum’s board of trustees, Pam Schafler, in support of the reason. (10/20/2021)

Hamburg extends the 2-G rule

Hamburg will expand the 2-G rule considerably from Saturday. In the future, it will also apply in hairdressing salons, other body-hugging services and in parts of the retail trade. Corona vaccinated and recovered people can then use participating facilities without a mask, unvaccinated people have no access, as Vice Senate spokeswoman Julia Offen said. In this way, the operators could decide for themselves whether in future they would like to serve 2 G without a mask or continue to serve unvaccinated customers, but with a mask.

Shops for daily needs such as food retailers, drug stores and pharmacies are excluded from the option. Unvaccinated people should also be able to shop there in the future.

According to the Senate, there will be no lifting of all corona restrictions. The city-wide ban on the sale of alcohol outside the home from 10 p.m. should also apply in the future. Christmas market operators should be able to decide whether they want to operate their markets according to the 2-G or 3-G rule. (October 19, 2021)

Parent representatives call for compulsory corona vaccination for school staff

In view of the increasing number of infections, parent representatives and patient advocates are calling for stricter corona measures in the autumn and winter months. Ines Weber, board member of the Federal Parents’ Council, requires teachers to be vaccinated. This must be “legally stipulated by the federal government”, she told the newspapers of the Funke media group. The quarantine of entire class groups or even school closings must be prevented.

The Association of Education and Upbringing had rejected calls for teachers to be vaccinated months ago. Union leader Udo Beckmann pointed out in July that the occupational group had been vaccinated by an overwhelming majority, with the vaccination quota being 90 percent in some cases. The federal government also rejects vaccination requirements.

Such an obligation is possible in Germany, but rarely. Since March 2020, proof of immunization against measles has been mandatory for children when they are admitted to daycare centers and schools. This also applies to teachers and educators. According to the Infection Protection Act, the Federal Ministry of Health can order “that threatened parts of the population” have to take part in protective vaccinations.

The board of directors of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, spoke out in favor of expanding mandatory testing in clinics and nursing homes. The corona tests would have to be ordered by politicians nationwide on a daily basis for hospitals and nursing homes – “regardless of whether the person has been vaccinated or recovered,” said Brysch to the Funke newspapers. (19.10.2021)

Von der Leyen: More than a billion corona vaccine doses exported

The European Union has exported more than a billion corona vaccine doses to other countries around the world within ten months. “We have reached an important milestone,” said Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen. The vaccine has been delivered to more than 150 countries since December 2020 – including Japan, Turkey, Great Britain and Brazil. About 87 million cans were sent to low- and middle-income countries through the UN Covax initiative.

“We have always shared our vaccines fairly with the rest of the world,” emphasized von der Leyen. The EU exported as much as it made available for the citizens of the Union. In view of the initially scarce vaccine and sometimes failed deliveries, the EU introduced export controls for corona vaccines at the beginning of February 2021 and tightened them in March. In certain cases, export can be prohibited. However, this almost never happened. Von der Leyen has now confirmed that the EU will donate at least 500 million vaccine doses to particularly vulnerable countries in the coming months. “But other countries are also challenged,” said the Commission President. (October 18, 2021)

.
source site