The proportion of smokers in Germany is now almost 31 percent among people aged 14 and over. This emerges from the representative long-term study Debra (German survey on smoking behavior). Before Corona, i.e. at the end of 2019, the proportion of smokers in the population was around 27 percent. It is likely that more ex-smokers have relapsed, says addiction researcher and Debra director Daniel Kotz of the German press agency.
There were also changes in alcohol consumption. In the wake of the corona pandemic, there were fewer opportunities to drink together, says addiction doctor and medical director Falk Kiefer from the Central Institute for Mental Health in Mannheim. Nevertheless, the average alcohol consumption in Germany remained roughly the same compared to the time before the pandemic. He has shifted to the apartments and to a special subgroup of consumers, explains Kiefer, who is president of the German Society for Addiction Research and Addiction Therapy. “People who have already regularly drunk alcohol at home, for example to have a nice drink in the evening – to drive away loneliness, boredom or worries, they drink more now.” Around 25 percent of adults are affected. Others, on the other hand – the social and party drinkers – reduced their consumption on average.
According to the Federal Association of Wine and Spirits International, sales of wine and sparkling wine increased in food retailing and online trade, which at least partially compensates for the pandemic-induced sharp declines in the catering sector. “People who found the pandemic stressful drank more on average than others,” says Kiefer. Stress factors are, for example, multiple burdens from children in homeschooling or spouses in the home office. Boredom and the feeling of not being used are also reasons to drink for some. (27.12.2021)
Sterit between Kretschmann and Kubicki about a compulsory vaccination
Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann has sharply criticized the resistance within the FDP to a general vaccination requirement. “The statement by Wolfgang Kubicki that many proponents of vaccination are concerned with revenge and retaliation is simply irresponsible and completely unsuitable for adequately conducting the debate,” said the Green politician of the German press agency. He was happy that the FDP had at least agreed to the compulsory vaccination for staff in facilities such as clinics and nursing homes and that FDP boss Christian Lindner had meanwhile spoken out in favor of a general compulsory vaccination.
The deputy FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki recently sharply criticized proponents of a general compulsory corona vaccination and accused them of revenge on unvaccinated people as a motive. Meanwhile, Kubicki has defended himself against the allegations. “The human dignity guarantee of our constitution also applies to those who have not been vaccinated,” said Kubicki to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “The fact that this immovable essential element of our community is now being questioned in part is extremely worrying,” said Kubicki. “That should also give Prime Minister Kretschmann food for thought, who himself has called for disproportionate anti-corona measures in the past.”
The FDP man also said: “I strongly advise Winfried Kretschmann to listen more to the nuances in the debate about mandatory vaccinations.” He had expressly emphasized that the political discussion about the compulsory vaccination is usually based on fairness and respect. “But I am concerned when it is declared in the general debate that people who have not been vaccinated should no longer celebrate Christmas, should bear the costs of possible medical treatment themselves or should even accept not being treated in case of doubt.”
Kubicki explained: “I did not consider it compatible with the philanthropic impetus of the Basic Law when there was talk of a” tyranny of the unvaccinated “or, for example, Joshua Kimmich was covered with the worst disrespect on social media and secret joy was expressed about his corona disease would.” (27.12.2021)
Thousands of open invoices after the return campaign
Almost two years after the largest return campaign in the history of the Federal Republic at the beginning of the corona pandemic, thousands of bills are still open. Around 7,000 of the more than 54,000 payment notices sent by the Federal Foreign Office to the passengers on the 260 rescue flights have not yet been paid or not yet paid, as the German press agency learned from the ministry. For the most part, the payment deadline is still running or payment in installments has been agreed. In 1200 cases, however, the ministry had to initiate dunning proceedings. Many passengers argue against participation in the costs in court. Of the original 201 lawsuits, 135 are still pending.
The then Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) started the campaign on March 17, 2020 together with tour operators and airlines after many countries closed borders and cut flight connections at short notice. A total of around 240,000 travelers were returned. The tour operators themselves flew the tourists who had booked with them free of charge. The Federal Foreign Office chartered planes for individual travelers and those wishing to return home that made 260 flights and brought back around 67,000 people from around 65 countries by the end of April. From June onwards, the returnees were asked to pay. The total costs were then estimated at 93.8 million euros, almost 40 percent of which should be borne by the flight passengers themselves.
So far, 54 306 invoices for a total of 31.7 million euros have been sent in Germany. So far, 28.6 million euros have been received from this. Around 500 invoices to German citizens abroad still have to be sent. The Federal Foreign Office is expecting four million euros from other countries to take their citizens with them. In addition, Germany received EU grants of 38.1 million. The bottom line is that the Federal Foreign Office assumes that it will get back 70 to 75 percent of the cost of the return campaign. (27.12.2021)
Clinics complain about a lack of staff and economic losses
The German Hospital Society (DKG) is sounding the alarm in view of the staff shortage in the hospitals. Four out of five clinics have problems filling vacant nursing positions in their general and intensive care units. This is the result of the current hospital barometer of the German Hospital Institute (DKI), which is available to the editorial network Germany.
According to this, around 22,300 care positions are vacant nationwide. Since 2016, this corresponds to a threefold increase in the number of vacancies. “The shortage of nursing staff is the most pressing problem in health policy. It has to be at the top of the political agenda,” DKG boss Gerald Gass told the RND. The future prospects for vacancies are also bleak. According to the survey, every second hospital expects the nursing staff situation to deteriorate in the next three years.
The hospitals are also not doing well economically: According to the information, 60 percent of the clinics expect losses in the past year 2021. According to the survey, only eleven percent of hospitals currently rate their economic situation as good. Only 22 percent of the clinics expect an improvement in 2022. Compared to the previous year, the proportion of facilities that are in the red is likely to double, explained the DKG. (27.12.2021)
Nationwide incidence increases slightly to 222.7
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 13 908 new corona infections within 24 hours. That is 2,178 fewer cases than on Monday a week ago, when 16,086 positive tests were reported. The nationwide seven-day incidence increases to 222.7 from 220.7 the previous day. The value indicates how many people per 100,000 population have contracted the coronavirus in the past seven days. 69 other people died related to the virus.
This increases the number of reported deaths within one day to 110,433. In total, more than seven million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany. The RKI points out that fewer tests are carried out during the holidays and at the turn of the year and therefore fewer cases are likely to be reported. (27.12.2021)
Several federal states are tightening their corona rules
In several federal states, stricter corona regulations will take effect this Monday. Contacts in private and public life are being further restricted, especially in order to prepare against the highly contagious Omikron variant. Some federal states had already started this at Christmas, others are now following suit. From Monday, stricter rules apply in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. More countries will follow on Tuesday. The federal and state governments had agreed on these measures.
Despite the recent drop in the number of cases, apply from Monday to the whole Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania stricter protective measures. Cinemas, theaters, museums, the interiors of zoos, swimming pools and other leisure facilities must remain closed across the board. So far, these restrictions have only applied in the middle and east of the country. However, since the corona traffic light for the country was red for several days and another wave of infections is expected with the Omikron variant, the state government had ordered the closings nationwide.
In Brandenburg There is a limit of ten people for private indoor or outdoor meetings from Monday for those who have been vaccinated and recovered until at least January 11th. If there is someone in a household without a corona vaccination, the existing rules remain unchanged: Only up to two people from another household are allowed to attend private meetings, children under 14 years are not counted.
Also in Lower Saxony Only groups of up to ten vaccinated and recovered people are allowed to meet – not counting children.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg From this Monday there will also be a curfew in the gastronomy from 10.30 p.m. to 5 a.m. On New Year’s Eve, curfew does not begin until 1:00 a.m.
In many German cities, opponents of Corona measures want to mobilize on Monday. Demonstrations have been registered in several cities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Brandenburg as well as in Mannheim in Baden-Württemberg. On Boxing Day, several hundred people protested against Corona regulations in Berlin and Schweinfurt. (27.12.2021)