In Austria, the lockdown for unvaccinated people will end on Monday after just over two months. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) said this before the cabinet meeting of the conservative-green federal government. Despite high levels of new infections, the situation in the hospitals is stable. An expert panel set up by the government no longer considers this measure to be sensible. A lockdown for unvaccinated people is no longer seen as an expedient measure, said Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein (Greens). But it was unavoidable and would have worked over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
However, the 2-G proof in gastronomy and in general trade as well as the FFP2 mask requirement will remain in place. People without a vaccination against Corona can leave their homes from Monday without a good reason.
Meanwhile, according to Mückstein, the number of new infections within 24 hours has risen to a maximum of more than 30,000 cases. Taking into account the number of residents, this would correspond to 270,000 cases in Germany. Austria has a little more than a tenth of the population of Germany. The seven-day incidence in Austria is more than 2,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The experts expected up to 40,000 cases in the next two weeks, said Nehammer. As soon as the peak of the fifth corona wave has been reached, a decision will be made whether to withdraw the restrictive measures. The curfew in gastronomy from 10 p.m. is particularly controversial. (01/26/2022)
Denmark wants to lift all measures at the beginning of the month
Denmark plans to lift all corona restrictions by February 1st. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke wrote to Parliament that the government wanted to follow a recommendation from experts. The expert council had come to the conclusion that hospital admissions were no longer linked to the number of infections.
If Parliament agrees to the lifting, only tests and quarantine rules when entering Denmark remain as measures in the pandemic. The country had already relaxed restrictions two weeks ago, and cinemas and music halls were allowed to reopen. Curfew hours for restaurants and the obligation to wear a mask remained in force. (01/26/2022)
New highs in new infections and incidence
In Germany, the number of infections detected has risen to 164,000, reports the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The seven-day incidence rises to 940.6. The previous day the reading was 894.3. The value is already over 1000 in six federal states: in Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg and Hesse. In addition, dozens of urban and rural districts report incidences of more than 1000. In six of the twelve Berlin districts that the RKI reports separately, it is more than 2000. Berlin-Mitte reports a value of 3109.6.
Experts expect more and more cases that cannot be recorded, partly because test capacities and health authorities are increasingly at their limit.
According to the RKI, the number of deaths increases nationwide by 166 to a total of 117,126. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 9,035,795 infections with Sars-CoV-2 have been detected. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected. (01/26/2022)
Mihalic sees a majority in the Greens for general vaccination
According to its parliamentary director Irene Mihalic, the parliamentary group of the Greens tends towards a general obligation to vaccinate. “In my opinion, there is a clear majority for compulsory vaccination from the age of 18,” said Mihalic, referring to an open-ended discussion with experts. However, there has not yet been a vote in the group. In the first orientation debate in the Bundestag on Wednesday afternoon, all three positions on compulsory vaccination would be represented by the ranks of the Greens, according to Mihalic: from rejection to a graduated procedure to compulsory vaccination from the age of 18. (01/26/2022)
Netherlands open again
Despite a massive omicron wave, the Netherlands are relaxing the corona measures. Restaurants, theatres, museums and cinemas are allowed to reopen after more than five weeks from Wednesday – daily until 10 p.m., said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday evening in The Hague. The country is thus taking a clear step back to normality. A limited number of visitors can also be admitted to sports competitions such as football matches.
There are still restrictions on public life, such as the obligation to wear masks and the Corona passport, with which visitors have to prove that they have been tested, vaccinated or recovered. The quarantine rules are also relaxed.
“Today we consciously accept a risk,” said Rutte, referring to the daily highs in new infections. The omicron variant of the corona virus spreads much faster, but people did not get as severely ill.
Health Minister Ernst Kuipers warned: “Omicron is not a small flu.” The risk of the healthcare system being overwhelmed is still great.
The tough lockdown of December 18 ended almost ten days ago, shops and schools were reopened. The pressure on the government to lift the last tough restrictions was great. Mayors also pointed out that everything is open in the neighboring countries of Germany and Belgium and that bans can therefore no longer be enforced.
The number of new infections is now increasing rapidly. More than 366,000 new infections had been registered in the past seven days, a good 50 percent more than in the previous week. The incidence is more than 2,000 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days. For comparison: In Germany, the corresponding value on Wednesday is 940.6. (01/26/2022)
Bahn slightly reduces the offer
Because of the Omikron wave, Deutsche Bahn has slightly reduced its long-distance services. The seating capacity has been reduced by around three percent since January 10, according to a situation report for the supervisory board. In some cases, shorter trains would be used to relieve the maintenance works as a precaution. In some plants, the sickness rate is already in double digits. Further “reduction scenarios” have been prepared in the event that sick leave increases sharply.
The railways had increased their offer again in December because they are constantly receiving new trains. However, only half as many people are currently using the ICE and Intercity trains as before the pandemic.
“Currently, operations are running quietly and largely smoothly,” said a railway spokesman. “We have only made minimal adjustments to the timetable at the moment. On some connections – for example between Cologne and Frankfurt – at times with fewer passengers there is only one train part instead of two.” The railway is further prepared to adapt the operating processes if necessary. (01/26/2022)