Representatives of the British health service have called for immediate countermeasures after a sharp rise in the corona numbers. “The government shouldn’t just announce that we’re going for Plan B, it should be Plan B Plus,” said Matthew Taylor, head of the National Health Service Confederation, according to the newspaper Guardian.
The plan B introduced by the government a few weeks ago provides for the reintroduction of the mask requirement indoors and the advice to work from home. In addition, vaccination certificates could be introduced at larger events. The previously pursued Plan A relies only on the effect of the vaccinations. Almost 79 percent of citizens aged twelve and over who are eligible for vaccination are fully immunized.
“We’re on the knife edge – and it’s mid-October. We’d need a lot of luck not to find ourselves in a serious crisis in the next three months,” said Taylor. In addition to the Plan B measures, citizens should be called upon to avoid risky behavior with regard to Corona as far as possible. Economy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng ruled out another corona lockdown on Sky News. The government has not yet believed that it is “time for Plan B,” he added in a BBC interview.
The number of daily corona deaths in the UK rose to 223 cases on Tuesday, its highest level since March. At the beginning of the week, almost 50,000 new corona cases were reported in the country, the seven-day incidence was last at 435. In England, a mask requirement indoors or verification rules for vaccinations or tests have been the exception since “Freedom Day” in July . (10/20/2021)
Resistance to the end of the corona emergency
Berlin’s outgoing Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) speaks out against ending the Corona emergency at the end of November. “We need at least a transition period,” said Müller on the RBB information radio. “This resolution by the Bundestag has always been an important legal basis for us in the federal states, even in disputes.” He could imagine a longer period of time for the end of the emergency until the epidemic situation actually eases. Or, however, a new resolution by the Bundestag continues to formulate restrictions, but these are not tougher restrictions such as closings or encroachments on fundamental rights.
The epidemic situation is the basis for ordinances and central corona measures in Germany. It was first established by the Bundestag in March 2020 and later extended several times by Parliament. Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) spoke out on Monday in consultations with the health ministers of the federal states that there would be no renewed extension. This would mean that the nationwide corona emergency would expire on November 25th.
The Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services “urgently” advises against this. “In some districts, the incidences among those over 80 are already between 100 and 250 again,” said President Bernd Meurer of the German editorial network. In view of this, the relevant regulations for the protection of this particularly vulnerable population group would have to be extended – “we consider everything else to be irresponsible”.
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 get 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 “a lot of trouble” was imminent, “it was getting worse than I would have ever predicted,” said Fauci at a gala of 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” 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. (10/19/2021)