The health authorities in Germany reported 34,145 new corona infections to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within 24 hours. On Monday morning, the RKI reported a seven-day incidence that had increased from 515.7 to 528.2. In total, at least eight million people in Germany have already been infected. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected. Another 30 people died in connection with the virus. The death toll rose to 115,649. (02/17/2022)
Unvaccinated workers in doctor’s offices are at risk of being fired
Employees in general practices who are unable to present proof of vaccination or recovery after the compulsory corona vaccination has come into force must expect a warning and, ultimately, their dismissal. This emerges from an information sheet from the German Association of General Practitioners.
the facility-related compulsory vaccination stipulates that employees in facilities such as medical practices, clinics and nursing homes must prove by March 15 that they have been vaccinated or have recovered. If employees refuse to provide proof, the health department can prohibit them from entering the doctor’s office or working in it, according to the information sheet on the website of the General Practitioners’ Association. “In these cases, the affected employees should generally no longer be entitled to remuneration.”
If the employee refuses to provide proof of vaccination or recovery, or a certificate stating that vaccination is not indicated for medical reasons, termination can also be considered as a last resort, the association explains. “According to the principle of proportionality, however, a warning should be issued first.”
According to the information, the vaccination obligation applies to the medical staff in the practices, but also to all other employees such as cleaning staff, caretakers, transport or kitchen staff. Anyone who cannot submit proof by March 15th may not work or be employed. The practice owner must inform the health department immediately. Employees who, despite the request of the health department, do not provide proof within a reasonable period of time should expect a fine of up to 2500 euros. (02/17/2022)
Virologist Stöhr: First the epidemic, then a very relaxed summer
In view of the contagious omicron variant, virologist Klaus Stöhr first expects an epidemic in the coming weeks, then natural immunization of the population – and finally the pandemic will end. “In the next two to three weeks there will be uncertainty as to how high the incidence will rise. After that, the very strong infection that will then unfortunately set in, which cannot be averted, will cause many people to get natural immunity.” , he said on the TV station Bild.
This immunity is “planted on top” of immunization through vaccinations, Stöhr continued. Both together will lead to a lasting immune protection, so that you don’t have to boost the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh time. In the fall you have to see whether you can make the over 60-year-olds again a vaccination offer.
In view of the millions of unvaccinated or at least not fully vaccinated people, caution is still very important, according to Stöhr. Nevertheless, he is convinced: “In the spring and summer it will be very relaxed.”
The virologist Christian Drosten also sees the often milder course after infection with the omicron variant as a “chance” to get into the endemic state – “assuming broad immunity”, as he says Daily mirror on Sunday said. Sooner or later, everyone will have to be infected with Sars-Cov-2, he says. “Yes, we have to get into this channel, there is no alternative,” said Drosten. “In the long term, we cannot maintain the immune protection of the entire population with a booster vaccination every few months.” The virus has to do that. (02/17/2022)
Vaccination compulsory for over 60s in Greece
Unvaccinated Greeks over 60 will be asked to pay from now on: Anyone who continues not to have the corona vaccination administered will be fined 50 euros in January, and from February it will be 100 euros a month. The regulation came into force on Monday night. According to the state broadcaster, around 300,000 people are affected by the measure. Your data should now be forwarded by the state social security system to the tax office, which collects the fines. The money then goes to the state hospitals. In Greece, the vaccinations administered are stored in a personalized database.
The government already rates the measure as a success: since the announcement of penalties a little over six weeks ago, around 217,000 over 60-year-olds have been vaccinated. This increased the vaccination rate in this age group to 90 percent. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on the other hand, ruled out compulsory vaccination for other age groups on the grounds that it was mainly the elderly who were seriously ill with Covid and had to be treated in hospitals. (02/17/2022)
France’s parliament approves restrictions on unvaccinated people
The French parliament has finally approved drastic access restrictions for the unvaccinated in the fight against the fifth corona wave. In the National Assembly on Sunday evening, 215 MPs voted in favor and 58 voted against. Seven MPs abstained.
The law stipulates that unvaccinated people over the age of 16 should no longer have access to restaurants, cultural institutions and long-distance transport. In view of the enormously high number of infections, the French government wants to provide further incentives for corona vaccination. The regulation is intended to convert the currently valid health pass, which provides proof of vaccination, recovery or a current negative corona test, into a vaccination pass. A negative test will soon no longer be enough to gain access to numerous places.
Originally, the regulation was supposed to take effect on January 15th. The project was delayed due to heated debates in the National Assembly and between the two chambers of parliament. It is still unclear when exactly the change will come into force. Individual MPs had announced that they wanted to appeal to the Constitutional Council about the text.
In the past few weeks, the number of infections in France has risen rapidly. Most recently, the registered number of infections within a week per 100,000 inhabitants nationwide was around 2,829. To protest against the planned restrictions and the government’s corona policy, around 54,000 people took to the streets in various French cities on Saturday. (01/16/2022)
Schulze: Africa no rest ramp for expired vaccines
Development Minister Svenja Schulze criticizes the unequal distribution of corona vaccinations worldwide. “In Europe, the vaccination rate is 70 percent, on the African continent less than ten percent,” said the SPD politician of the Funke media group. The pandemic can only be defeated if the whole world is vaccinated. “If this doesn’t succeed, we go into an endless loop with more and more new mutations,” said Schulze.
At the same time, she criticized the fact that vaccines that are about to expire are being donated. “It has nothing to do with treating each other with respect. Africa is not the rest ramp for expired vaccines,” she said. Developing countries also need deliveries that can be planned in order to be able to vaccinate the vaccines. That is why she wants to use the German G7 presidency to provide the international vaccine program Covax with the necessary funds for 2022. Unfortunately, so far too few countries have contributed to the financing. (01/16/2022)
More Covid patients on normal wards
The German clinics are already feeling the first effects of the omicron wave through more patient admissions with Covid diseases on the normal wards. “We are already seeing this increase in the normal wards in some regions, for example in Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein,” says the President of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gass, who Augsburg General.
If the models prove true, more than 100,000 infected people per day must be expected very soon. Many of them would have to be hospitalized. But because of the highly contagious omicron variant, there will be more staff shortages in the clinics. He therefore appeals to general practitioners and specialists to treat patients who do not necessarily have to be treated in hospital as outpatients as far as possible. (01/16/2022)