The federal government is under pressure: they actually thought that the beginning of spring would be the right moment to drop most of the corona restrictions after more than two years. But what sounded bold back then and was sometimes heavily criticized is now getting a new damper. Contrary to hopes that the numbers would fall in early March, they are rising again. This makes it difficult for the federal government to simply stick to its plan.
Just on Wednesday, when more corona infections were counted in Germany than at any time since the beginning of the pandemic, the coalition presented a draft law according to which there should still be corona rules. Under pressure from the FDP, there are fewer than many would like; but there will still be restrictions. What exactly is the federal government planning and what is the next step? An overview.
What is the situation with Corona?
The Robert Koch Institute reported exactly 262,752 new corona infections within the past 24 hours on Thursday morning – more than ever before in one day. And these are just the officially confirmed and reported cases; the actual number is likely to be much higher. There are many corona patients in the hospitals, the so-called seven-day incidence of hospitalized cases is currently 6.62. That’s a lot, but not overload. The number of intensive care patients nationwide has fallen from around 2,500 to currently 2,117 since mid-February. So a lot of people are currently getting infected, but fewer of them are getting seriously ill than before.
What exactly is the federal government planning?
Actually, all Corona rules should fall on March 19th. These are issued by the federal states, and the legal basis for this in the Infection Protection Act expires next weekend. In view of the number of infections, such a thing is still needed, the federal states have demanded. The federal government has now agreed on a package with two parts:
As so-called basic protection, the state governments should in future, if they want to, be able to make masks compulsory in local transport, in clinics or care facilities and to make tests compulsory in these facilities and in schools. In addition, the mask requirement on long-distance trains and planes should remain in place.
In addition, there should only be corona rules in so-called hotspots: Here the countries can then order a mask requirement in other areas, hygiene regulations, distance rules or access regulations such as a 2-G or a 3-G rule. But, for example, no more contact restrictions or closures. The prerequisite for this is that either a particularly dangerous virus variant is circulating “in a specific regional authority” or that the number of infections there is so high or increasing that there is a risk of “overburdening of hospital capacities” on site. These criteria are not precisely defined in the draft law, nor is the spatial dimension. A city can be defined as a hotspot in the same way as, in extreme cases, an entire federal state. The state parliament must approve such a regulation.
What is the criticism of these plans?
There is clear criticism of the draft law – from experts as well as from the ranks of the federal states. The planned basic protection is better than nothing, said the chairman of the World Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the newspapers of the Funke media group and the Augsburg General. Politicians have “successfully talked about further, sensible measures”. The German Foundation for Patient Protection is concerned that the planned rules do not adequately protect people at risk, such as those in need of care.
Cross-party criticism also comes from the federal states that are responsible for infection protection. Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) is the clearest: He thinks it is “grossly negligent if the federal government hands over effective instruments for emergencies without need,” says Kretschmann. “This is not an effective basic catalogue, but a skeleton structure. A quick-fix procedure is being imposed on us here that leaves the countries outside.” Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) says in view of the high number of infections: “You don’t throw away the fire extinguisher if it’s still burning.”
In Bavaria, the coalition government does not agree: while the Free Voters, who have always wanted fewer corona restrictions than the CSU since the beginning of the pandemic, welcome the federal government’s plans, Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) is calling for improvements from the federal government in order not to “possibly with seeing eyes again in difficult situations”.
Are there politicians who like the law?
Yes, also in the federal states. “In the current situation, I think this is a responsible regulation,” says Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD). world. However, improvements would be needed if the “pandemic events” should change fundamentally and there is a risk of the healthcare system being overloaded across the board. Otherwise, the representatives of the traffic light coalition in Berlin defend the draft law: the federal states would have liked the new hotspot regulations in order to be able to order stricter measures if necessary, says State Secretary for Health Sabine Dittmar (SPD). Augsburg General. The FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann emphasizes that in the future it will primarily be about personal responsibility and the protection of vulnerable groups.
How is the bill progressing?
It has to be quick. The parliamentary groups in the Bundestag will discuss the draft this Thursday, and Parliament is due to finally adopt it on Friday next week – just one day before the previous regulations expire. If things go as planned, then the following applies: If a federal state wants to continue to have corona measures, the respective state parliament must decide this. Since this is not possible within one day, a transitional period is planned: the federal states can continue their current corona restrictions until April 2nd.
The federal government wants to limit the new regulations for both “basic protection” and for the hotspots to September 23. Then a new decision could be made, says Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) – “before the expected autumn wave begins”.
Depending on the calculation, that would be the sixth or seventh wave of corona rushing through Germany. Because some see the current increase as a sign that a new wave is beginning – unfortunately even before the previous one, namely the fifth, was over.
And what does all this have to do with compulsory vaccination?
Nothing formal. However, many experts say that the vaccination rate in Germany is still too low to get through further corona waves without major protective measures. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) therefore spoke out in favor of general corona vaccination in autumn, and it has been debated ever since. However, Scholz’s government has not submitted a proposal, leaving it to parliament. There have been three variants from the ranks of the traffic light coalition since mid-February, plus one application each from the Union and the AfD. After an initial general debate a few weeks ago, the Bundestag is due to debate the specific proposals for the first time next Thursday.