Live blog
Status: 07/12/2021 4:21 am
Bavaria’s health minister criticizes the lifting of all corona restrictions. BioNTech delivers 10 million doses of vaccine to Taiwan. The current developments in the live blog.
04:19 am
RKI reports 324 new infections – the incidence rises to 6.4
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 324 new positive tests. That is 112 more than on Monday a week ago, when 212 new infections were reported. The seven-day incidence continues to rise to 6.4 from 6.2 the previous day. The value indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants have been infected with the corona virus in the past seven days. Two other people died related to the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 91,233 within 24 hours. In total, more than 3.7 million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany. The Monday values are usually less meaningful than those on other days of the week because not all health authorities transmit their data to the RKI on the weekend and are less tested.
02:53 am
Taiwan receives ten million doses of the vaccine from BioNTech
The Taiwanese companies Foxconn and TSMC say they are signing a purchase agreement for ten million vaccine units with the German manufacturer BioNTech worth almost 300 million euros. Foxconn founder Terry Gou writes on his Facebook page that he is “delighted” with the deal, which will see Foxconn and TSMC each buy five million cans to be donated to the government’s vaccination campaign. BioNTech’s Chinese distributor Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical confirms the agreement. So far, no delivery period is known. Taiwan’s government has been trying for months to purchase the vaccine directly from BioNTech and has accused China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory, of blocking a vaccination agreement. China denies the allegations.
02:19 am
Holetschek: Calls too early after all corona measures have been lifted
Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek has criticized the demands for the lifting of all corona restrictions. “It remains important and right to take the virus seriously and consistently take strict hygiene and protective measures. I therefore consider the loud calls to lift the protective measures to be absolutely premature,” said Holetschek of the “Rheinische Post”. The greatest possible vigilance, caution and prudence are still necessary, especially with a view to the much more contagious Delta variant. “Wear a mask, keep your distance and vaccinations are still the most effective means that each individual can counter the virus themselves,” said the CSU politician. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recently spoke out in favor of lifting all corona restrictions as soon as all people in Germany have received a vaccination offer. This can be expected in the course of August. Maas received a lot of approval from the Union and the FDP for the move.
02:17 am
Member of the ethics council calls for mandatory vaccination for teachers and daycare staff
Ethics Council member Wolfram Henn is in favor of compulsory vaccination for certain professional groups. “We need a compulsory vaccination for the staff in daycare centers and schools,” says the doctor of the newspaper “Rheinische Post”. Teachers and daycare workers should protect children under the age of twelve who cannot get a vaccination. “Anyone who joins a group of vulnerable people by choosing a profession has a special job-related responsibility.” Although children themselves have a low risk of getting seriously ill with Covid, “you have to continue to expect that they will carry the virus into their families and infect people from risk groups.”
00:08 am
Hotels and restaurants: openings for return of employees
The hotel and restaurant association (Dehoga) calls for permanent openings in order to win back emigrated staff. “It is now crucial that politics ensure permanent openings and give the industry, companies and employees, new perspectives,” says Dehoga Managing Director Ingrid Hartges of the “editorial network Germany”. Hotel and restaurant employees have switched to the booming logistics industry and retail trade. “In addition, we have lost employees to Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol, because here catering establishments were allowed to reopen much earlier than in Germany.”
July 11, 2021 • 11:40 pm
Pfizer: FDA Talks to Approve Booster Vaccination
BioNTech partner Pfizer will speak to the US FDA on Monday about the planned approval application for booster vaccinations. Pfizer announced that a meeting with FDA representatives has been scheduled. BioNTech and Pfizer had announced that they would apply for approval of their vaccine for a booster vaccination in the USA, the EU and in other countries. They justify this with an increased risk of infection after six months of the first vaccination. The FDA and the EU authority EMA were initially reluctant.