In the light of the further skyrocketing number of corona infections, the heads of the federal and state governments will discuss how to proceed in the pandemic this Monday. There are already indications that they want to maintain their current course: no tightening of the previous measures, but no relaxation for the time being. However, there are likely to be changes to the now rare PCR tests, which should no longer be used for all suspected cases, but only for risk groups and hospital and nursing staff.
The contagious omicron variant is currently causing the number of infections to rise rapidly. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) expects the peak with several hundred thousand newly infected people every day in mid-February. Despite the skyrocketing number of corona infections, politicians from the FDP and CSU are demanding a plan from the federal and state leaders advising on Monday for future relaxation of the protective measures.
CSU regional group chief Alexander Dobrindt said world, he expects a clever strategy from the round of prime ministers with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to “move out of the pandemic bit by bit”. It is clear that the Omicron variant changes the situation and requires a new assessment. “Fatigue effects in society” must also be taken into account, according to the CSU politician. Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) said in Anne Will’s ARD program that when the peak of the omicron wave expected for mid-February has passed and the numbers in hospitals have also fallen, the measures would have to be relaxed. This is self-evident.
The chairman of the Prime Ministers’ Conference, NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU), pointed out the sharp increase in the number of infections on RTL and ntv. “The core message is now: no loosening!” However, all decisions must be proportionate. In the draft resolution for the federal-state consultations, which according to the German Press Agency reflects the status as of Sunday 6 p.m., it only says: “The federal and state governments will develop opening perspectives for the moment when an overload of the health system can be ruled out can be.” (01/24/2022)
Seven-day incidence rises to 840.3
In Germany, the number of infections detected increases by 63,393, according to data on the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) website. A week ago there were 34,145 infections. The seven-day incidence is 840.3. For comparison: the previous day the value was 806.8, in the previous week on Monday it was 528.2 and on the same day of the previous month it was 222.7. 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 has increased by 28 to a total of 116,746. A total of 8,744,840 infections with Sars-CoV-2 have been detected since the beginning of the pandemic. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected. (01/24/2022)
At least 70 arrests in Brussels
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Brussels against the Corona requirements – sometimes with violence. 50,000 people gathered in downtown Brussels on Sunday, as a police spokeswoman for the German Press Agency confirmed. The spokeswoman said that six people were arrested before the demonstration began for possession of dangerous or prohibited items.
A total of at least 70 people were arrested, among other things, for property damage or carrying dangerous or illegal objects, according to a police statement. Three police officers and twelve demonstrators were taken to the hospital with injuries, nobody is in danger of life. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo strongly condemned the riots. “Everyone is free to express their opinion. But our society will never tolerate blind violence,” said De Croo, according to the Belga news agency.
The demonstrators marched from the Nordbahnhof to the Europaviertel, where riots broke out, as Belga and other media reported. Accordingly, demonstrators threw objects at police officers and damaged buildings. The police used tear gas and water cannons to force those involved away. Videos showed broken windows of the European External Action Service building. According to the police, the demonstration was broken up at 3 p.m.
According to a Belga report, the demonstrators held flags from different countries such as Germany, France and Poland, many did not wear masks. According to the information, signs contained slogans against the corona vaccination and calls to “protect” children. According to Belga, the demonstration was organized by various European groups. (01/23/2022)
Who should control compulsory vaccination in the healthcare system?
Economists: Pandemic costs Germany 350 billion euros
The Corona crisis has caused huge economic damage in the past two years. The Institute of German Economics (IW) in Cologne comes to the conclusion in an analysis that the loss of value added is around 350 billion euros. A large part of this is due to losses in private consumption, partly due to lockdown measures.
According to the model calculation, losses in private consumption in Germany totaling 270 billion euros are likely to have occurred over the past eight quarters. “Changes in behavior” also occurred, explained the author of the analysis, Michael Grömling. This means that even if cinemas, theaters and restaurants were open again, many would have held back for reasons of caution and refrained from visiting. At the same time, the savings rate of private households increased significantly during the pandemic – in other words: consumers put money on the high edge.
Even if the pre-crisis level of gross domestic product were to be reached again by the end of 2022, there would still be a “significant gap” in economic performance compared to if the pandemic had not existed, according to an IW short report. This was available to the German Press Agency. “Only with strong economic growth in the next few years can the gaps in value creation and income caused by the pandemic be closed bit by bit.” (01/23/2022)