Corona summit: The formula for happiness is missing

The route taken by the federal and state governments for autumn is surprisingly in agreement: more vaccinations is their recipe. However, the debate about other criteria besides the incidence value remains unresolved.

The summer left its mark on Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller and also on Bavaria’s regional chief Markus Söder. They all got a little bit of color. And they all seem a little more relaxed, also with a view to the corona situation. Thanks to the vaccines, you are in a different situation than a year ago, says Müller. One can trust oneself more again, such as going to the theater or sporting events. But not in every form, “because we are not completely out of the woods”.

The federal and state governments do not want to let go. After all, the pandemic is not over. But above all, they hardly want to be reproached for sitting idly by as the next corona wave rears up. Last summer’s political apathy had brought Germany hard autumn and winter.

So this time it should be different. In view of the increasing number of cases, the federal-state talks have been brought forward. Some country leaders even joined in from vacation. And this time there was also a surprising amount of consensus. For example, about the end of the free corona rapid tests from mid-October. The hope is that this will induce one or the other to get vaccinated. Low-threshold offers are intended to facilitate access to vaccination. What that means in concrete terms remains a matter for the municipalities to interpret.

Social associations and parts of the opposition think little of it, however. There must be other ways to convince vaccine skeptics.

Söder wanted more pressure on unvaccinated people

In the coming weeks, it will have to be sharpened again anyway, says Bavaria’s Prime Minister Söder. It should be noted that he is not quite as satisfied with the decisions. Even if he doesn’t put it openly, you can hear through: He would go further to increase the pressure on unvaccinated people. Before the Bund-Länder round, it was discussed that only those who had recovered or had been vaccinated would be allowed to visit restaurants and events. However, there was no majority among the country leaders. But Söder insisted on pointing out that private organizers or restaurateurs could of course also say independently: With us only for vaccinated people.

But with all the compromise – and the will to reach consensus: There is no concept for point nine of the resolution, on the subject of key figures. In addition to the incidence values, further factors are to be used in the future to assess the corona situation. There is talk of hospitalization and vaccination quota. But the federal and state governments leave open which limit values ​​should apply. It is tricky, says Söder. The formula for happiness has not yet been found. And the Chancellor apparently also had no solution at hand: This was initially the day to adopt measures that slow down the infection process in order to prevent a new lockdown. There will be no such thing, in any case not for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.

No “Freedom Day” in sight

All those who might have hoped for a “Freedom Day”, a day of freedom like a few weeks ago in Great Britain, were disappointed. An end to the corona restrictions is only in sight with a higher vaccination rate, according to the Chancellor. How high Here, too, Merkel remains vague. Maybe in about 75 percent of the general population. Currently, the number of people fully vaccinated is around 55 percent.

Vaccination is the easiest way to regain freedom, says Söder, the route for the autumn. His colleague from Berlin puts it more succinctly: “Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate”.