In the future, it will be mandatory to take masks with you in the car. The Federal Ministry of Transport took note of the inclusion of the two face masks in the draft to amend standard sheet DIN 13164, supported by the Federal Association of Medical Technology, and welcomed the planned implementation of the standard change as soon as possible. A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Transport announced this to the Evangelical Press Service on request. The Federal Ministry of Transport intends to then adopt the change in standards with the next change in the road traffic licensing regulations, it said. At first she had Rheinische Post reported about it. The regulation is expected to take effect in the coming year.
Accordingly, the masks are to be added to the prescribed contents of the first-aid kit in cars, trucks and buses, the newspaper wrote. Anyone who then did not add two masks to the first-aid kit would face a fine. So far, according to the catalog of fines, five euros are due if the first aid kit is incomplete. (25.09.2021)
Incidence drops to 60.6 – hospitalization rate is 1.58
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has reported 7211 new positive tests. That is 1690 fewer than on Saturday a week ago, when 8901 new infections were reported. The seven-day incidence fell to 60.6 from 62.5 the previous day. The value indicates how many people per 100,000 population have contracted the coronavirus in the past seven days. 62 other people died related to the virus.
The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was given by the RKI on Friday at 1.58. A weekly or monthly comparison is not possible due to the high number of late registrations. A nationwide threshold, from when the situation can be viewed critically, is not provided for the incidence of hospitalization, among other things because of large regional differences. The previous high was around 15.5 around Christmas time. (25.09.2021)
In Hamburg full clubs and dancing without a mask are possible again at 2G
After long restrictions in the corona pandemic, Hamburg is dropping its masks: In clubs, bars, restaurants, cultural and sports facilities that participate in the so-called 2-G model, there are no longer any restrictions on the number since midnight on Saturday morning the visitor or participant of an event.
So where only vaccinated and convalescent people are allowed in, you can celebrate, dance, watch films and theater or join in the excitement at sporting competitions without a gap and without a mask down to the last seat. However, further contact details must be collected and hygiene concepts must be adhered to. A corresponding containment ordinance by the Senate was issued on Friday.
In addition, sellers are not required to wear a mask at weekly markets. For customers, however, it continues to apply as in supermarkets. In addition, negative corona test certificates can only be used by the employer of unvaccinated persons for professional purposes, for example no longer for a visit to the cinema. At sporting events, the flow of visitors at the entrances and exits must be equalized. If the events take place indoors, air filter systems must be available. (25.09.2021)
Stiko recommends parallel corona and flu vaccinations
Vaccinations against corona and flu can now take place on an appointment following a recommendation by the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko). It is advisable from October onwards. The prerequisite is that the influenza vaccine is a dead vaccine. Inactivated vaccines contain inactivated viruses or components of the viruses. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the influenza vaccines approved in Germany for children and adults are mostly such preparations.
Vaccination reactions could occur more frequently with simultaneous vaccinations than with separate administration, it said. However, extensive experience with non-Covid 19 vaccines has shown that the immune response and side effects are generally similar to those of a solo dose. According to the Stiko, there are no published results for Germany on the simultaneous use of approved corona vaccines and other dead vaccines. However, unpublished data from the UK showed only a slightly increased body reaction when using Covid-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time.
So far, the Stiko has not advocated a general corona booster vaccination for seniors – although older people can already get this in Germany. However, a booster dose with an mRNA vaccine is recommended for people with immunodeficiency. The Stiko is currently working on the study situation for a booster vaccination of other population groups. A decision should be made in the coming weeks. The Stiko is more cautious with its recommendation than the Conference of Health Ministers. This had decided at the beginning of August that a booster could be used from the age of 60 – at the earliest six months after the complete vaccination and after “individual consideration, medical advice and decision”. (24.09.2021)
Majority against the lifting of all corona measures
According to an online survey by the Yougov opinion research institute on behalf of the German Press Agency, the majority of Germans are against a quick end to all corona requirements. 61 percent of the respondents spoke out against an immediate lifting of all restrictions. On the other hand, 33 percent would be in favor.
“In Germany around 62 percent of people were recently fully vaccinated,” was the question. “Should all restrictions to combat the corona pandemic be lifted in Germany now?” 33 percent categorically rejected this, 28 percent answered “rather no”. 19 percent are in favor of repeal, 14 percent voted “rather yes”. The strongest opposition to an immediate end to all restrictions was found in the elderly.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health in Germany, almost 64 percent of people are now completely vaccinated against the corona virus. Denmark recently lifted all corona restrictions with a vaccination rate of 83 percent.
The head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Andreas Gassen, has called for an end to all corona restrictions by October 30th. The federal government rejected this. “The debate about dropping all measures completely ignores the concerns of the population groups who cannot be vaccinated, and that is especially all children under the age of twelve,” said the Federal Managing Director of the Child Protection Association, Daniel Grein, of the editorial network Germany (RND). “In any case, the concerns of children received too little attention in the pandemic.” The current debate joins this experience. He judged a “Freedom Day” to be too risky. “The long-term consequences of Covid disease – especially in children – are not yet known. That is why it is cynical to want to expose children to this risk in an uncontrolled manner.” (09/24/2021)
Côte d’Azur no longer on the list of corona risk areas
From Sunday onwards, with the exception of some overseas territories, France will no longer be listed as a corona high-risk area by the federal government. As the last French region in Europe, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur area, which is popular with tourists, will be removed from the risk list, as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Friday. This means that all quarantine rules for travelers from this region no longer apply.
The EU country Slovenia, on the other hand, is now classified as a high-risk area. Anyone who has not been fully vaccinated or has recovered and is traveling from there must be quarantined for ten days from Sunday. An exemption is only possible after five days with a negative test. Slovenia currently holds the Council Presidency of the European Union and is hosting a Western Balkan Summit at the beginning of October, in which Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) will also take part. As of Sunday, the small Balkan country will be the only EU member that is classified as a high-risk area.
Other new high-risk areas are Ethiopia and Burundi in Africa and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean. Japan and the West African Senegal are also removed from the risk list.
Countries and regions with a particularly high risk of infection are classified as high-risk areas. But not only the infection numbers are decisive for this. Other criteria are the speed at which the virus is spreading, the burden on the health system or a lack of data on the corona situation. (09/24/2021)