Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, criticized China for a lack of cooperation in the investigation of the origin of the corona virus. He also brought up the possibility of sanctions if WHO members refuse to cooperate in the future. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) said the same thing.
Tedros and Spahn spoke after the inauguration of the WHO pandemic early warning center in Berlin. The center also relies on scientific institutions and governments to provide data. It is intended to analyze vast amounts of data and use it to create risk analyzes so that, unlike the coronavirus, possible pandemic dangers are identified before a virus spreads around the world.
Some WHO members, above all Germany, are working on a global pandemic treaty, which, among other things, should stipulate transparency and cooperation. “We absolutely need commitments from all member states or everyone who wants to sign such a treaty to be fully transparent in the event of an outbreak,” said Spahn. If that doesn’t happen, there must be consequences. Tedros said: “Considering sanctions may be important.”
In the search for the origin of the coronavirus, China still refuses to provide raw data on the first 174 patients who were likely infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. China defends itself against all allegations and says that the investigation is politically exploited primarily by the USA. “The politicization happens because there is no access to data and information as expected,” said Tedros. “We ask China: please share the data.” But this cooperation does not exist. (01.09.2021)
EU epidemic authority: booster vaccination not generally necessary
The European Disease Agency ECDC currently sees no urgent indication for booster vaccinations for completely vaccinated people. The authority refers to the available data. For some people with a weakened immune system, however, such an additional vaccination should already be considered, it is said. (01.09.2021)
For the time being there is no obligation to provide information about vaccination status at work
The federal cabinet has extended the corona rules in the workplace – and employees still do not have to disclose to their company whether they are vaccinated or not. The occupational health and safety ordinance, which the cabinet extended to the end of November on Wednesday morning, does not contain a corresponding right to information for employers. However, companies should take this status into account when determining the necessary protective measures, provided they are aware of it.
The right to information is not off the table: “We are checking it,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert. “There are arguments for and against.” A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Health said: “The talks are ongoing.” Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), in his own words, tends to change not the ordinance but the Infection Protection Act so that employers can ask about the vaccination status of employees over the next six months. Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) is also in favor. The German Federation of Trade Unions, however, strictly rejects the plans with reference to data protection.
The occupational health and safety ordinance, on the other hand, which the cabinet has now extended to November 24, 2021, contains a new obligation for employers from September 10th to inform employees about the risks of Covid-19 disease and vaccination options, to allow them to vaccinate and to support company doctors with company vaccination offers, as announced by the Federal Ministry of Labor. Otherwise, existing rules continue to apply, such as the obligation to have company hygiene plans and to offer quick or self-tests at least twice a week. Home office should also serve as a way of reducing contact. Where other measures do not provide adequate protection, employers must provide at least one medical protective mask.
The responsible SPD members of the federal government had previously rejected the employer’s right to information about the vaccination status of his employees. She only considers that to be justifiable in exceptional cases, said Federal Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht. “Health data of employees are particularly sensitive, including the question of a vaccination against the coronavirus.” The SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group that a right to information is only conceivable in certain cases “in which there are particularly dangerous situations.”
Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) also spoke out against a general vaccination status query. “The labor law does not give that,” he said in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. It is still important that the world of work does not become a source of infection. “What is not possible is that we make very personal data about the health status available to everyone.”
At the same time, however, Heil spoke out in favor of pragmatic solutions. For example, it is possible to set up a kind of 3G rule about infection protection law at particularly sensitive workplaces such as hospitals or old people’s homes – i.e. to require employees to provide evidence that they have either recovered, been vaccinated or tested. Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) would have to make a legally secure proposal for such a pragmatic solution, Heil said. “You have to think about such demands through to the end. You can’t just ask for something in a talk show.”
Statutory health insurance physicians demand a Stiko recommendation for the third vaccination
The statutory health insurance physicians in Germany are demanding a recommendation from the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) for booster vaccinations against the coronavirus. “The Stiko has the data to issue a recommendation for a third vaccination for certain groups,” said the chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), Andreas Gassen, to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “The Stiko would be the right institution for such requirements. This is where the experts who actually know about vaccination are located.” It is a matter of first protecting those who have an increased risk of the disease with a third dose. “Stiko makes rational, fact-based decisions – unlike politics sometimes,” said Gassen.
The Stiko has not yet given a recommendation for the refresher. Some federal states already offer or prepare booster vaccinations. SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach demanded that politicians now have to make a clear announcement which groups should be given the booster vaccinations first. “It must be clear which age groups are involved and for which risk factors a third vaccination is indicated.” (01.09.2021)
Incidence increases slightly
The nationwide seven-day incidence has increased slightly again. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Wednesday morning, it was 75.7 – the day before the value had fallen again for a long time and was 74.8. The health authorities in Germany reported 13,531 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. According to the new information, 23 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours.
In the future, in addition to the new infections, other values such as the number of hospital admissions will be taken into greater account. The seven-day hospitalization incidence indicates how many admissions of Covid 19 patients in inpatient treatment per 100,000 inhabitants were reported in seven days. On Tuesday, the RKI stated the value, which has been rising slowly for weeks, in the management report at 1.75. A nationwide threshold, from when the situation can be viewed critically, is not provided for the incidence of hospitalization, among other things because of large regional differences.
The previous high was around 15.5 around Christmas time. The seven-day incidence is calculated according to RKI information on the basis of the reporting date to the local health department. Accordingly, an average of about ten days elapse between an infection and hospitalization, so the hospitalization incidence reflects the infection situation with a noticeable delay. (01.09.2021)
Australia: “Delta variant makes zero Covid strategy impossible”
Despite a lockdown that has been in place for more than two months, the authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales have again recorded more than 1,100 new corona infections within 24 hours. The government in the region with the metropolis of Sydney admitted that the zero Covid strategy, which the country had long pursued, had failed. “It is impossible to eliminate the Delta variant,” said Regional Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian.
So far, New South Wales has been successful in bringing other variants under control. “But the Delta variant is a turning point – and every state in Australia will have to live with it sooner or later.” The authorities are currently trying to fully vaccinate 70 percent of the population as soon as possible in order to achieve herd immunity. In New South Wales, this could be the case as early as mid-October, said Berejiklian. In Melboune, the lockdown is only to be lifted when the vaccination rate in the adult population reaches 70 percent. That is expected to be the case around September 23, said Daniel Andrews, Prime Minister of the State of Victoria.
Australia, a country of 25 million people, had long tried to completely ban the corona virus with strict rules and closed external borders. Entire regions have already been locked down in a handful of cases. However, several parts of the country have been struggling with increasing numbers for months due to the spread of the delta variant. The greater Sydney area is particularly hard hit. (01.09.2021)
EU achieves important target in vaccination campaign
The European Union has achieved an important goal in the fight against the coronavirus. According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, 70 percent of adults are now fully vaccinated. (08/31/2021)