Holetschek: Novavax vaccine released for all adults with immediate effect
Wednesday, March 9, 10:33 a.m.: The newly approved vaccine Novavax has been available in Bavaria for a week – initially only healthcare workers could be vaccinated with it. According to Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek, it is now open to all adults. “Appointments can now be made in the vaccination centers,” he said on Wednesday in Munich. So far there hasn’t been too much interest in the protein-based vaccine. “Since Wednesday last week, almost 2,300 people in Bavaria have decided to be vaccinated with Novavax,” says Holetschek. And because the demand from the previously planned group of people is low, there is no longer any prioritization.
So far, Novavax was only intended for unvaccinated people, for whom the facility-related vaccination obligation will apply from March 15th. These include employees in hospitals, nursing homes, medical practices, in the emergency services and in other facilities. The vaccine is also to be administered in doctor’s offices in the near future. “I hope that with the more classic vaccine we can convince many more people who were skeptical about the previous vaccines,” said the Minister of Health. Anyone who only wants to be vaccinated with Novavax can make an appointment at the vaccination center by telephone – the selection still has to be adjusted in the Bavarian vaccination portal. According to the ministry, a total of 225,000 doses of Novavax vaccine have been delivered so far. For full protection, two doses are given three weeks apart.
More than 40,000 new infections
Wednesday, March 9, 6:13 a.m.: The seven-day incidence in Bavaria is increasing again. On Wednesday it was 1619.3, on Tuesday it was 1560.4. According to the figures from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the nationwide incidence is also increasing: it rose to 1319 after 1294 the day before. Four of the 96 rural districts and urban districts have an incidence below 1000, and 28 cities and districts are above 2000. The health authorities in Bavaria reported 40,626 new cases to the RKI in the past 24 hours. 47 people died of or with Corona in the same period.
At the top of the RKI list nationwide is the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen with 2868.2 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days. This is followed by the districts of Regen (2822.3) and Freyung-Grafenau (2595.9).
No agreement on the abolition of the mask requirement in schools
Tuesday, March 8, 2 p.m.: The state government is divided over an end to the obligation to wear masks in the classroom. In the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the free voters were unable to assert themselves against the CSU with the demand that the mask requirement at least in elementary schools be abolished in the coming week. “We couldn’t agree on that today,” admitted Minister of Education Michael Piazolo (Free Voters).
Head of the State Chancellery Florian Herrmann (CSU) justified sticking to the current regulations above all with the fact that one did not want to decide things shortly before the federal-state round on Corona planned for next week that might become obsolete shortly afterwards.
On the other hand, it was decided that the regular corona tests in schools and daycare centers should initially continue until the Easter holidays. This should continue to ensure the safe operation of schools and kindergartens, it said. Vulnerable groups should be protected as best as possible. According to the cabinet decision, the test systems should continue to be provided even if the federal government does not create a new legal framework so that tests can also be made mandatory after March 19th. On this date, all drastic corona restrictions are to expire nationwide – it is still unclear which measures will remain possible.
More than 26,000 new infections
Tuesday, March 8, 7:13 a.m.: The incidence in Bavaria remains quite stable. On Tuesday it was 1560.4, on Monday it was 1541.9. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), five of the 96 districts and independent cities are below the incidence of 1000, and 17 cities and districts are above 2000. The health authorities in Bavaria reported 26,580 new cases to the RKI in the past 24 hours. 68 people died of or with Corona in the same period.
At the top of the RKI list nationwide is the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen with 2646.2 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days. This is followed by the districts of Regensburg (2636.5) and Regen (2583.0).
Masks and tests remain compulsory for Bavaria’s students
Monday, March 7, 6:23 a.m.: For Bavarian schoolchildren, the second half of the school year begins this Monday. After the end of the one-week carnival holiday, they are now regularly testing themselves again for a corona infection. The girls and boys still have to wear mouth and nose protection in class. In future, however, the mask may be removed during sports lessons. There are around 1.6 million school-age children and young people in Bavaria.
The professional association of paediatricians recently called for the obligation to carry out corona tests without cause in schools to be lifted and the obligation to wear masks to be fundamentally reviewed. However, according to the Ministry of Health, Bavaria does not initially want to change anything in its test strategy.