Live blog
As of: 25.06.2021 4:34 a.m.
The RKI reported 774 new infections in the morning. The incidence is now 6.2. The Bundestag has decided that corona-related entry restrictions can continue to apply if the pandemic expires nationally. All developments in the live blog.
04:34 am
Corona rules for the Bundestag extended
Despite the falling number of infections, the Bundestag remains in corona mode as a precaution. Early in the morning, parliament extended the rule according to which parliament already has a quorum with more than a quarter of its members. Normally, half of the MPs have to be present for this – but because of the pandemic-related contact restrictions, the Bundestag lowered this level in the spring of last year and since then has extended the special regulation several times.
04:24 am
Sydney goes into lockdown because of Delta variant
Downtown Sydney and the city’s eastern suburbs will go into lockdown for a week starting at midnight today. As the Prime Minister of the state of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, announced, the attempt is being made to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant of the corona virus in the city. Residents are only allowed to leave their homes if they have a systemically important job, for grocery shopping or to do outdoor sports. 22 coronavirus cases were reported in Sydney on Friday, the highest increase since the first case with the Delta variant last Wednesday.
04:17 am
RKI reports 774 new infections – the incidence falls to 6.2
The Robert Koch Institute reported 774 new infections in the morning. That is 302 less than on Friday a week ago. The seven-day incidence fell further to 6.2 from 6.6 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. 62 other people died related to the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 90,678 within 24 hours. In total, more than 3.73 million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany.
4:08 am
Shorten vaccination intervals because of delta? – Vaccination committee examines arguments
In view of the assumed importance of complete vaccination series to protect against the delta variant of the coronavirus, there is a new discussion about shortening the vaccination intervals. The question is not trivial, said Thomas Mertens, the head of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), the German Press Agency on request. There are various pros and cons arguments, said the Ulm virologist. “We are currently trying to create the necessary evidence.” So far, the Stiko recommends longer intervals between the two vaccinations than would be possible according to the approval of the respective vaccines.
04:06 am
Additional corona help for local transport
Due to a lack of passengers in the Corona crisis, there is another state financial injection for buses and trains. The Bundestag decided early in the morning to give another billion euros to local public transport. Last year, the federal government provided an additional 2.5 billion euros for local transport – in addition to the annual regionalization funds, which this year will rise to almost 9.3 billion euros anyway. The states that still have to approve the law in the Bundesrat should provide financial aid in the same amount as the federal government.
03:34 am
General practitioners’ association concerned about high rejection rates in vaccination centers
The German Association of General Practitioners is concerned about the negligent handling of vaccination appointments in large vaccination centers. “The current reports of canceled or not taken appointments for the second vaccination in vaccination centers make it clear why the corona vaccination is best in general practitioners’ practices,” said Federal Chairman Ulrich Weigeldt of the newspapers of the Funke media group. The medical necessity of a second vaccination can be better explained in a personal conversation with the family doctor than in the anonymity of vaccination centers.
03:34 am
Travel restrictions even without a pandemic
Corona-related entry restrictions may continue to apply, even if the national pandemic expires. The Bundestag decided on a corresponding change to the Infection Protection Act late in the evening. On March 25, 2020, the MPs had for the first time identified an “epidemic situation” and last extended this until the end of September at the latest. It gives the federal government the right to issue ordinances directly without the consent of the Federal Council – for example on tests, vaccinations, occupational safety or entry.
The regulation that has now been adopted, however, only concerns entry restrictions, which should continue to apply even without this legal basis – if only for a maximum of one year after the situation has been lifted. With AfD, FDP and left, however, this met with rejection. Such a massive restriction of fundamental rights is unacceptable if there is no longer an epidemic situation.