corona
Lauterbach warns against carelessness in summer
According to the will of the federal and state governments, the vast majority of corona restrictions should end at the beginning of spring. However, Minister of Health Lauterbach is skeptical – and faces opposition from the FDP.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach has warned against being too careless about the development of the corona virus and is urging that important protective instruments continue to be used.
“I share the concern of many scientists: we have to expect a summer wave,” said the SPD politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Saturday). The omicron and delta variants are so infectious that even when the weather is good, many contacts and decreasing vaccination protection could lead to an increase in the number of infections if there were no longer any restrictions.
Lauterbach emphasized that the countries must have the opportunity to react early to the coming waves. These included mask requirements and contact restrictions. “It should be possible to set upper limits for private meetings and public events as well as access rules for restaurants, for example” – i.e. access only for vaccinated and recovered (2G) or additionally with a test (2G plus). “All of these instruments should only be used when they are actually necessary,” said the minister. “The state parliaments would then have to determine that.”
Headwind from the FDP
However, Lauterbach received objection from the FDP, which insists on an extensive end to everyday restrictions. “When the danger situation eases, measures must also be reduced,” said Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Sunday). “You can’t just preventively restrict millions of basic rights in the long run.” Any solution must take this into account.
FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki told the Funke newspapers that he was certain that Lauterbach’s ideas for further far-reaching measures beyond March 20 would not be realized. It cannot be explained to anyone why Germany is acting “as a ghost driver” in the fight against corona in Europe. “We will not support such a special path. We didn’t have an overload of the health system and will not get any more because of Corona.”
Green: Loosen wisely
Lauterbach receives support from the Greens. Party leader Ricarda Lang warned against relaxing the corona protection measures too quickly. “Relaxing carefully is the order of the day,” she told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Sunday). “In the coalition, we agree that easing can and must take place when the situation allows it.” Basic protection measures that restrict little but are of great use, such as the obligation to wear a mask, will also be needed in the future, emphasized Lang.
Further restrictions were only relaxed on Friday – for example for restaurants, hotels, clubs and discos. According to a relaxation plan decided by the federal and state governments, “all more profound” restrictions are to be lifted by March 20, if the situation in the clinics allows it. The nationwide legal basis for such measures expires on March 19. A new basis for a basic protection that is still necessary in spring is currently being discussed. In the traffic light coalition, the FDP has expressed reservations about allowing more extensive restrictions in the future.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the seven-day incidence rose again on Sunday to 1231.1 – the day before the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days was 1220.8. The health authorities now reported 116,889 new cases in one day. 51 other deaths were also registered within 24 hours.