corona pandemic
FDP parliamentary group leader: Do not apply the hotspot rule across the board
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr appeals to the individual responsibility of the states. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has already declared the whole country a hotspot, others are struggling with the regulation despite the high number of infections. FDP parliamentary group leader Dürr is making an appeal to the federal states.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr insists that the federal states should not apply the new so-called hotspot regulation for stricter corona measures “generally”.
“As a reminder, the hotspot regulation is an option that we have introduced for the federal states if there is a risk of the health system being overloaded in individual cities or municipalities,” Dürr told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “We have therefore created a clear legal framework. The hotspot solution is subject to strict requirements and must clearly not be applied across the board.»
Dürr also said that the countries that were at odds with the hotspot regulation must now bear responsibility and “use the existing legal framework without exploiting it”. The countries are not defenseless in the fight against the pandemic. “Anyone who claims otherwise has either not understood the law or is afraid to take responsibility.”
Countries decide on regional hotspots
After a transitional period, the new Infection Protection Act only allows a few general protection rules, such as masks and tests in facilities such as clinics and nursing homes. However, the federal states can impose further restrictions, for example with more mask requirements and access rules for regional hotspots if the state parliament determines a critical situation for them.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) asked the federal states on Friday to use the hotspot regulation because of the high number of infections. He also confirmed that hotspots could also cover an entire federal state. There is great disagreement between the state governments as to whether the legal requirements for identifying hotspots are currently met or not. The regulation should be the subject of a meeting with the federal and state health ministers on Monday.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has already declared the whole country a hotspot by the end of April. Hamburg intends to do the same. On the other hand, other states such as Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony currently see no legal basis for a hotspot regulation despite the record number of new infections, although they would welcome the measures being retained. Still others are against an extension of the protective measures.