After a conversation between the carnivalists and representatives of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee is assuming a “largely” normal session in 2022 for those who have been vaccinated, those who have recovered and those who have been tested using a PCR test. Unlike in Düsseldorf, where only immunized persons are allowed to participate in some hall events, a negative PCR test also enables everyone who has neither been vaccinated nor recovered to participate in balls, meetings and parties indoors, it said in a message.
A PCR test must then be submitted for indoor dance events with a seven-day incidence of over 35, unless one has been vaccinated or has recovered. The so-called 3G rule – vaccinated, recovered or tested – should also apply to removals, whereby a quick test is sufficient for the spectators in the fresh air, as the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee explained. How this should be controlled, there are agreements between the organizers and the authorities. “The revelers now have the key to carefree and safe celebrations in their own hands,” said Festival Committee President Christoph Kuckelkorn.
Klaus-Ludwig-Fess, President of the Federation of German Carnival, emphasized the role model character from the point of view of the carnivalists. The NRW model appears as a “blueprint for many events throughout Germany” and enables vaccinated and recovered people to “celebrate carnival largely normally” without slamming the door to everyone else. The Düsseldorf Carnivalists are more restrictive at some events: the Düsseldorf Carneval Committee wants to only allow vaccinated and convalescents at its own hall events. This is intended to provide targeted vaccination incentives. (08/18/2021)
Incidence rises to highest level since May 21st
The number of new corona infections within one day has increased by leaps and bounds. The health authorities reported 8,324 new infections to the Robert Koch Institute within one day – and thus over 4,400 more than the day before (3912). This is based on figures from Wednesday morning, which reflect the status of the RKI dashboard at 4:09 a.m. A week ago, the value for Germany was 4996 infections. Most recently, on May 21, the value was over 8,000 new infections within 24 hours. In addition, the seven-day incidence continued to rise and above the 40 mark. According to the RKI, it was 40.8 – the previous day the value was 37.4, and a week ago it was 25.1. (08/18/2021)
In Baden-Württemberg you can dance without a mask
In clubs and discos in Baden-Württemberg there is no mask requirement on the dance floor and in the seating area under certain conditions. According to a message from Tuesday evening, the Stuttgart Ministry of Health agreed on this with representatives of the club scene and the German Hotel and Restaurant Association.
Accordingly, the industry must create a so-called sample hygiene concept that is used in all clubs. In addition, all visitors must register via an app so that contact tracking is guaranteed. If clubs can show a ventilation concept, they can use their rooms to 100 percent if they apply the 3-G rule – vaccinated, recovered or tested, in which case PCR tests are necessary. Clubs that do not have sufficient ventilation capacity are only allowed to let in vaccinated and convalescent people and only use 70 percent of their space.
At the beginning of the week, a new regulation with relaxations for people who had been vaccinated and who had recovered from the virus came into force in Baden-Württemberg. The incidence no longer plays a role in the state for the derivation of corona measures. Since the state government estimates the risk of infection in clubs to be particularly high, it has tied openings in this area to stricter conditions. (08/17/2021)
Greens in North Rhine-Westphalia are calling for daily tests in schools
Shortly before school starts, the North Rhine-Westphalian Greens are calling for daily corona tests for schoolchildren. “If you want to guarantee classroom teaching, you really have to make the school a safer place. The preparations are still inadequate,” said Sigrid Beer, the education spokeswoman for the Greens in the state parliament. In view of the high risk of infection from the Delta variant and due to the number of people returning to school, testing once or twice a week was not enough to minimize risks, especially at the start of school this Wednesday.
“Of course, vaccination is first and foremost the way out of the pandemic,” said the leader of the Greens in the state parliament, Josefine Paul. Outreach and unconventional vaccination and education offers at schools and youth centers, at best for the whole family, are therefore important. At the same time, Paul appealed to everyone else to get immunized: “The adults are now responsible for building a protective cocoon around the younger ones,” she said, referring in particular to the children under the age of twelve, for whom there is no approved vaccine . In addition, more should be relied on the more reliable PCR lollipop tests, which so far have only been used in special schools and primary schools.
The parliamentary group leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, also quickly calls for “easily accessible schoolyard vaccination offers”, which should also be open to the children’s parents. The education and the information campaign should now keep pace. “That is why we need explanations that are easy to understand, even for older young people themselves.” (08/16/2021)
Stiko speaks out in favor of corona vaccination from the age of twelve
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) is in favor of corona vaccinations for all children and adolescents who are at least twelve years old. After careful evaluation of new scientific observations and data, one comes to the conclusion that “according to the current state of knowledge, the advantages of vaccination outweigh the risk of very rare vaccine side effects”, announced the committee.
“This recommendation is primarily aimed at the direct protection of vaccinated children and adolescents from Covid-19 and the associated psychosocial consequences,” explained the Stiko. The vaccination should continue to be carried out after medical advice on the benefits and risks. They speak out “expressly against the fact that vaccination is made a prerequisite for social participation in children and adolescents”.
The basis for the new assessment is in particular data from the American vaccination program with almost ten million vaccinated children and adolescents. Stiko boss Thomas Mertens justified the previous reluctance with insufficient data on the safety of vaccination in adolescents. In the past few weeks, politicians have repeatedly asked Stiko to reconsider its cautious stance. (08/16/2021)
Spahn and Lauterbach welcome the new Stiko assessment
Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn described the updated recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission for vaccinating adolescents as “good news” https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/. “Parents and young people have a clear recommendation to opt for the vaccination”, said the CDU politician. “The facts speak for the vaccination, there is enough vaccine for all age groups.” If desired, a vaccination can take place this week.
SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach, who, like other politicians, had been pushing for a corresponding recommendation for some time, also welcomed the Stiko’s decision. “We can be grateful that we have an independent body like Stiko,” he said Süddeutsche Zeitung. The decision was “made from the perspective of the individual children”. These should not become instruments for establishing herd immunity with the Delta variant. (08/16/2021)
Previous contact restrictions and regulations for private events and celebrations will be lifted. Elsewhere – also for vaccinated and convalescent people – the mask requirement remains. It applies to local transport, retail, hotels and most non-private events, at least indoors. (08/16/2021)