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 previous day (3912). This is evident from the 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 plan, they are allowed to use their rooms to 100 percent if they use the 3G rule (vaccinated, recovered or tested, in which case PCR tests are necessary.) Clubs that do not have sufficient ventilation capacity, Only vaccinated and convalescent people are allowed to enter and only 70 percent of their space is used.
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-Würrtemberg. In the federal state, the incidence no longer plays a role in deriving 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 demanding 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, tests once or twice a week were not enough to minimize the 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. Education and the information campaign should now also 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 and relied on a draft resolution. The official recommendation text is not yet available. Changes are still possible in a coordination process with the federal states and specialist groups.
“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 making a vaccination 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. The main focus was on the possible consequences of myocardial inflammation in vaccinated people. Very rare heart muscle inflammation, more commonly observed in young male vaccinated persons, is considered a side effect, but the Stiko writes of mostly uncomplicated courses. She also points to studies from abroad, according to which, conversely, heart diseases could also occur with Covid-19.
At the end of May, the European Medicines Agency approved the first Covid-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds with the preparation from Biontech and Pfizer. In July, the agency also released the Moderna vaccine for adolescents, which previously could only be used from the age of 18. In the past few weeks, politicians have repeatedly asked Stiko to reconsider its cautious stance. The committee had so far recommended the vaccination primarily to those children and adolescents who have previous illnesses such as obesity or chronic lung diseases or to children and adolescents with a particular corona risk in the vicinity.
Even without a general recommendation, vaccinations have already been possible for healthy people in the age group – “after medical advice and with individual wishes and risk acceptance”. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Monday, 24.3 percent of twelve to 17-year-olds have been vaccinated against corona at least once and 15.1 percent have been completely vaccinated. At the beginning of August, the federal and state health ministers had already agreed on broader offers for children from the age of twelve – for corona protection when starting school after the summer holidays. (08/16/2021)
Spahn and Lauterbach welcome the new Stiko assessment
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn described the updated recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission on vaccinating adolescents as “good news” https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/. “Parents and young people have a clear recommendation to decide in favor of 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)
Far-reaching easing in Baden-Württemberg
A new Corona regulation with far-reaching relaxations for people who have been vaccinated and recovered from the virus came into force this Monday in Baden-Württemberg. Those who belong to one of these two groups enjoy greater freedom in many areas regardless of local or regional corona incidences. Unvaccinated and non-convalescents, on the other hand, now have to present negative rapid antigen tests much more frequently than before, and each of these must not be older than 24 hours. This applies, for example, to visits to museums, hotels, fitness studios, exhibitions, the hairdresser’s and indoor restaurants.
Children who have not yet started school are exempt from the compulsory test. According to the government, students do not have to show any separate tests, provided they are already subject to regular corona testing in their schools.
No rapid antigen test is sufficient for unvaccinated and unrecovered guests of clubs and discos; instead, a negative PCR test must be carried out in advance, which must be a maximum of 48 hours old when entering and is comparatively expensive.
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)