The head of the German Hospital Society, Gerald Gass, accuses people who do not want to be vaccinated for inconsiderate behavior and calls for them to be vaccinated. “We live in a free and democratic society in which there is fundamentally an individual right to illness for everyone. However, this right to illness must not become a danger to others,” wrote Gaß in an appeal from which that Editorial network Germany quoted. 90 percent of Covid patients in intensive care units are not vaccinated. There are only very few medical reasons that rule out vaccination. “It is an important act of solidarity and social cohesion to protect the scarce and valuable human and medical-technical resources in our hospitals for the seriously ill patients who urgently need them by vaccinating oneself.” (09/30/2021)
Rising corona numbers in Australia
The Australian state of Victoria with the metropolis Melbourne has once again recorded a massive increase in new corona infections. After a record 950 new cases had been reported within 24 hours on Wednesday, the number climbed to 1,438 on Thursday. The authorities are alarmed, especially since the region on the east coast has been in a strict lockdown for almost two months.
The regional government believes the increase is primarily related to the recent long weekend in Victoria, when many citizens would have met with their families and friends despite the restrictions. Regional premiere Daniel Andrews said the situation was “absolutely preventable”. “We made it very clear that the numbers would go up if people didn’t follow the rules.”
Victoria is locked down for the sixth time. But after 80 percent of the population have now received at least a first dose of vaccine, the rules were slightly relaxed on Wednesday. People are now allowed to move within a radius of 15 instead of the previous 10 kilometers from their homes. In addition, non-contact outdoor sports, such as golf, are again allowed.
Australia, with its around 25 million inhabitants, had long pursued a zero Covid strategy and tried to eradicate the virus with closed external borders and extremely strict measures. With the spread of the delta variant, however, several regional governments had to admit that the strategy no longer works. (09/30/2021)
3G rules in France now also for children aged twelve and over
In France, the 3G rules and the compulsory health passport in the fight against the corona pandemic apply from Thursday to children from the age of twelve and two months. When visiting leisure and sports facilities, in cinemas, restaurants and cafés or on long-distance trains, adults will no longer have to submit proof of vaccination, recovery or negative test (3G). Since children can only be vaccinated from the age of twelve, a period of two months has been given to obtain full vaccination protection.
While adults have to show a digital health pass with the relevant evidence in a mobile phone app, children and young people are also allowed to present a paper document. Adults can also save the corresponding QR codes for the entire family and children on a mobile phone. With proof that children and adolescents cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, they are exempt from the 3G rules. (09/30/2021)
Every third Covid 19 patient suffers from long-term effects
According to a study, more than a third of Covid 19 patients suffer from at least one long-term symptom, namely in the period of three to six months after the infection. The Oxford University and National Institute for Health Research survey looked at more than 270,000 people recovering from Covid-19. The most common symptoms are breathing problems, tiredness, pain and anxiety. The exact causes of the symptoms, their severity and their possible duration are not discussed. (09/29/2021)
Drosten: “The numbers look bad”
The virologist Christian Drosten considers the current calming of the nationwide corona infection numbers to be a temporary phenomenon. It can already be seen that the incidence in eastern German federal states is apparently picking up speed again regardless of the end of the holiday. “I think there are now signs of the autumn and winter wave, which we will probably see again in October,” said the scientist from the Berlin Charité in the new episode of the podcast “Coronavirus Update” from NDR-Info this Tuesday .
The previous increase in the incidence was due in particular to testing in schools after the end of the summer vacation and imported cases – and, according to Drosten’s assessment, was not necessarily the start of the winter wave. In view of the current quota of around 64 percent fully vaccinated in the population, this year with the beginning of the wave, the corona expert said that it would start at a point in time like last year. At that time, in the second half of October, it was clear “that we are going into an exponential increase again”.
Closing the vaccination gaps must be a goal for society as a whole, stressed Drosten. It is important to convince people who have not yet been vaccinated or to get them to get vaccinated in some other way. This is no longer a scientific task, but a political one. The virologist assessed the current vaccination progress as inadequate. “The numbers look bad.” Denmark, for example, is in a significantly better position than Germany. Drosten referred to the uncertainty that more people in this country may already have been vaccinated than previously recorded in the reporting system. This is a “good hope” at the moment, but should not be the basis for decisions and planning. (29.09.2021)
RKI: Seven-day incidence is increasing slightly
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 11,780 new positive tests. That is 1326 more than on Wednesday a week ago, when 10 454 new infections were reported. The seven-day incidence increases to 61.0 from 60.3 the previous day. 67 other people died related to the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths within 24 hours to 93 571. In total, more than 4.2 million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany. (29.09.2021)
Lauterbach rejects compulsory vaccination for teachers and nurses
SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach rejects compulsory vaccination for teachers, educators and nursing staff. He spoke to it in the New Osnabrück Newspaper against a request by the President of Pediatricians, Thomas Fischbach.
The SPD politician said the vaccination rate for teachers and daycare staff was very high. “According to my observation and assessment, it is well over 90 percent.” The problem in schools and daycare centers is not the unvaccinated educators and teachers, but that children and young people infect each other.
Regarding mandatory vaccination in hospitals, Lauterbach said: “And since we also have a high vaccination rate in the health professions, I see no reason to introduce mandatory vaccination for doctors and nurses.”
Fischbach had said: “If many employees in daycare centers, schools and clinics continue to refuse vaccinations, the legislature should seriously consider compulsory vaccination in these sensitive areas.” And: “Anyone who deals with vulnerable groups and rejects their own immunization has switched off their minds.” (29.09.2021)
Cities are demanding expansion of 2-G access rules
The cities are calling for more corona access rules only for vaccinated and convalescent people at leisure facilities in autumn and winter. “We have to do everything we can to motivate even more people to vaccinate and to increase the vaccination rate,” said the President of the German Association of Cities, Burkhard Jung. He appealed to all countries to meet 2-G regulations for the leisure sector. “That creates more security and normality for a lot of people,” said Jung, who is also mayor of Leipzig. A negative test can then not be sufficient for admission.
Several federal states have introduced a 2-G rule as an option for organizers – in addition to the general 3-G model, i.e. access to certain indoor spaces only for vaccinated, convalescent and tested people. Jung said that 2-G regulations are needed for the cinema, for clubs, concerts or fitness studios, for example. This could also reduce the risk of infections in children under the age of twelve who cannot yet be vaccinated. “We have to expect that the number of corona infections will rise in autumn and winter, especially among those who have not been vaccinated. But we definitely do not want schools and daycare centers to be closed again.”
US airline fires 600 unvaccinated employees
The US airline United Airlines is laying off almost 600 employees who do not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and who have no health or religious exemption. “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but the safety of our team has always been our top priority,” said CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart about the decision. The affected employees could still save their jobs if they were vaccinated before the official dismissal interview. (29.09.2021)
Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss wants to terminate unvaccinated cabin crew
The Swiss Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss wants to terminate cabin crew who cannot be vaccinated. The airline introduced mandatory vaccination for crews in August. Everyone must be fully vaccinated by December 1st. The background to this is that many countries only want to allow flight personnel into the country who have been vaccinated. More than half of the staff has already been vaccinated, the company said.
Those who persist in not getting vaccinated should expect to be terminated at the end of January 2022. Employees who need more time to think about it are allowed to suspend their employment for around six months and have a right of return. “Individual solutions are being sought for crew members who demonstrably cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons,” said a spokesman. (28.09.2021)
Japan is lifting the months-long corona emergency
Japan will lift the corona emergency at the end of the month. This was announced by the outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. After the planned end of the measures on September 30th, for the first time since the beginning of April, no region of the island kingdom is in a state of emergency or quasi-emergency. The number of new infections and patients with severe symptoms has decreased dramatically, Suga said in parliament.
The restrictions are gradually being relaxed. The emergency in Tokyo and 18 other prefectures essentially stipulates that restaurants do not serve alcohol and close earlier. From now on alcohol is allowed again, but the restaurants are called upon to close early for another month. Japan had repeatedly extended and expanded what was now the fifth state of emergency. However, Japan has never imposed a lockdown with tough curfews like in other countries since the beginning of the pandemic. (28.09.2021)