The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized China’s zero-Covid strategy as disproportionate. “We don’t think that’s sustainable given how the virus is behaving and what we can expect for the future,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. This is reported by the Bloomberg news agency.
It is extremely rare for the WHO to question a member country’s corona policy. At the beginning of the pandemic, the organization even faced criticism for being too lenient with China, where the virus was first detected. The Chinese authorities are currently pursuing the goal of eradicating the Covid 19 cases in the population – despite the high costs for the country’s economy and for world trade. Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Michael Ryan, said responses to Covid-19 should take into account individual rights and human rights, as well as the impact on the economy. (05/11/2022)
Infectiologist Addo expects the mask requirement to return
The infectiologist Marylyn Addo expects that the mask requirement will be reintroduced in Germany in winter. After a good summer, the number of cases would increase again in the fall, said Addo der Rheinische Post. “I assume that measures such as the obligation to wear masks will come back in winter – at least in public spaces and indoors, where it is difficult to keep your distance.” She is currently not expecting new lockdowns because of the growing immunity. Many people are vaccinated, although not enough, she said.
“The corona virus will be with us for years to come, but it could become endemic in 2023,” said Addo, who is a professor at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. As with influenza, the numbers would increase in winter and risk groups would have to protect themselves. “Otherwise, hygiene, ventilation, and keeping your distance help,” said the infectiologist. (05/10/2022)
Federal Constitutional Court approves restaurant closures
The federal government was allowed to close restaurants and other eating places in the third wave of the pandemic in spring 2021 via the so-called Corona emergency brake. This measure was also constitutionally justified, the Federal Constitutional Court announced. The constitutional complaint of a restaurant operator from Berlin was not accepted for decision. (Az. 1 BvR 1295/21)
The judges had already approved central measures of the federal emergency brake in two fundamental decisions in November. At that time it was about contact and exit restrictions and the closure of schools. The new decision makes reference to this.
Formally, it is about the former catalog of measures of paragraph 28b, which was inserted into the Infection Protection Act on April 22, 2021 and remained in force until the end of June 2021. The federal government wanted to ensure that the same measures take effect everywhere in the state as soon as the corona situation in a region worsens. This triggered a wave of lawsuits. (05/10/2022)
Seven-day incidence rises to 522.7
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 107,568 new infections within 24 hours on Tuesday. That is 5954 fewer cases than on Tuesday a week ago. The nationwide seven-day incidence rises to 522.7 from 499.2 the previous day. 218 other people died in connection with the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 136,756.
The number of infections is currently only of limited significance. Experts have been assuming for some time that there will be a large number of cases not recorded by the RKI – due to overworked health authorities and because not all infected people have a PCR test done. Only these count in the statistics. That is why we use the SZ Corona Dashboard to show an average value from the reports of the past seven days, which is intended to compensate for fluctuations from day to day. You can find more information on this in the transparency blog, further data and graphics on the pandemic here. (05/10/2022)