The corona restrictions have been lifted in Great Britain and Sweden, many have been relaxed in Norway, and the Czech Republic and Finland will be following a similar path in the coming weeks. And in Sweden the time has come next week. “It’s time to reopen Sweden,” says Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
And in Germany? This is where people argue, especially in the federal government. Because of the relatively low vaccination rate, it is too early to take such steps, argues Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Not only does he not want to relax, he doesn’t even want to talk about possible easing – despite calls to the contrary from many federal states and clear demands even in his own cabinet. The standpoints in the original sound:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD): “The situation is not like that. (…) I believe we are doing what is right for the citizens of this country: namely, to ensure that we protect as many lives and as much health as possible through these measures, that we have set in motion (…). And at the same time, this is the prerequisite for us being able to decide and advise on easing steps even when the peak of the infections is behind us. But unfortunately we are still there not arrived.” (Heute Journal, February 2)
His coalition partner sees that FDP leader Christian Lindner, differently: “We haven’t gotten over the omicron wave yet, but we have to start working on when and under what conditions gradual openings can take place. The next federal-state round in February should deal with that . (…) Restrictions can be decided quickly, but ramping up requires preparation.” (mirror, January 31) On Thursday, Lindner – probably also in response to Scholz – pushed over Twitter after: “In overcoming the corona pandemic, we don’t need the strictest, but the most effective regulations. 2G access rules put a strain on trade, but without guaranteeing direct health protection.” Of course, you have to know that in many federal states the 2G rule has already been overturned again by courts or by the state governments.
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai Seconded: “In addition, we must now ask ourselves whether certain restrictions on freedom are still effective and proportionate in the current situation, in which there is no increase in the number of corona patients in the intensive care units despite the increasing number of cases.” (dpa, February 3)
The chancellor’s party friend Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) says: “This decision must be prepared. Since we currently have a stable situation in the hospitals, I think it is the right time to discuss easing – not yet: to implement it.” (ZDF, February 2nd)
Especially pushing at the moment Bavarian Prime Minister and CSU leader Markus Söder: “Because the omicron wall is steep, but maybe a wall with doors and windows into a more hopeful future, we need not only the concept of caution but also the concept of judgment and hope, (…) a step-by-step plan, as we do in the actually be able to carry out simplifications in the next few weeks. (..) That’s why we not only need to postpone it all the time, but we also need an entry into solutions, solution approaches, so that people can also be given hope in these difficult times.” (At the start of the retreat of the CSU state group, February 2nd)
Söder used to like to see himself in the “Team Caution” – together with him Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens). On Tuesday, he gave the impression that there could be no easing before Easter: “People have to continue to be careful. (…) We will not thwart that with unfounded exit debates.” (Press conference, February 2) On Wednesday, Kretschmann put that into perspective: “The state government has a clear timetable for the next few weeks. Relaxation has long been planned in the state’s level logic and is already taking effect, as is currently the case with alarm level I. In the current situation, still An exit in the sense of the ‘end of the pandemic’ is irresponsible, i.e. a return to a normal state without rules. (…) In short: the phase up to Easter is about responsible opening steps based on the infection situation. Relaxation yes, exit no .” (press release, February 2)
Also the Berliner virologist Christian Drosten looks to mid-April as a possible turning point: “That means you can perhaps even consider that you have to hold out until Easter. That the measures that are still in force in Germany, by the way, because of the vaccination gaps and because of our bad experiences with the ending delta wave, i.e. before Christmas, that until then we still have to stick to certain measures that can be subsumed under the 2-G rule, for example, which we have in Germany, which also lead to the situation in Germany Omicron’s slew rate has been slower.” (Podcast Coronavirus update from NDR Info, February 1st)
Other experts also warn against premature easing like in Great Britain or Denmark – such as the Virologist Sandra Ciesek: “The lifting of the mask requirement or the contact restrictions will lead to more people getting infected.” (Videoconference, January 28)
An unanswered question is how all this is influenced by the constant change in the pathogen – for example by the possible spread of subtype BA.2 of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. That’s what he does Green health politician Janosch Dahmen attentively: “What we know about this new BA.2 variant is that it could be a little more contagious, and that it could therefore again displace the previous omicron strain. This is important in that it may lead to this , that this omicron wave that we are experiencing right now, where we are on the ascending leg, could extend a little longer.(…) And if we now decide at half-time to leave the defense in the dressing room and back If we go onto the field, the game may turn to our disadvantage and we shouldn’t do that. (…) The motto for the next few weeks must be that the maxim for action is to be able to plan ahead, but not to relax too quickly. That means , realistic, forward-looking planning with a step-by-step scheme.” (“Maischberger – The Week”, 3 February)
Very similar argument Gerald Gass, head of the German Hospital Society: “I think it’s absolutely right to develop clear perspectives for openings. This debate must be held now. (…) “But that doesn’t mean that openings should take place now. In my view, there can only be relaxation when the omicron wave has peaked and we can see that the hospitals are not overburdened. It’s looking good at the moment.”Rheinische Post, February 2)