Live blog
Press conference according to MPK
Hospitalization will be the standard for Corona rules – three-stage system planned
Chancellor Angela Merkel
© Steffen Kugler / Federal Government / DPA
The federal and state governments are discussing stricter measures in the fight against the corona pandemic. Follow the press conference on the resolutions live.
In the Prime Minister’s Conference, the federal and state governments discuss measures to counter the dramatic corona development. There were still many crucial points open before the meeting. Among other things, it is unclear whether a threshold value should be defined for Covid-19 patients in hospitals, beyond which there should be access restrictions for unvaccinated people or, for example, test obligations for vaccinated and convalescent people (2G plus). Various preliminary draft resolutions are available for this purpose. In preliminary talks that went well, there had already been approximations, according to participants.
The Bundestag had previously passed the new Infection Protection Act in the morning. 398 MPs voted for the traffic light parties’ draft law, with which the measures in the corona pandemic should continue to apply even after the epidemic situation of national scope has expired. Because the approval of the Federal Council is still uncertain, it remains to be seen whether the regulation can come into force next week.
The new law provides for a nationwide 3G rule for workplaces and public transport, and the federal states can also adopt measures such as mask requirements or contact restrictions. However, some measures such as curfews or general closings should no longer be possible with the new regulation.
The press conference after the MPK live
NRW Prime Minister Wüst announced that the federal and state governments have decided to oblige employees in hospitals and nursing homes to have a corona vaccination. The obligation should apply to contact with vulnerable people. Wüst thanks the people who have already been vaccinated and calls on everyone else to be vaccinated again.
Now the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference Hendrik Wüst (CDU) takes the floor.
Finally, Angela Merkel emphasized once again that the situation is “highly dramatic”. That is why it is so important that we act quickly and consistently. Protective measures should be better controlled. Because with the current momentum, Germany threatens to get into “a very difficult situation” during the pandemic.
Merkel announced that as soon as certain stress thresholds are exceeded in the clinics, uniformly stricter corona measures should take effect. According to the resolution, the benchmark should be the hospitalization rate reported for the respective federal state.
Specifically, if a threshold value of 3 is exceeded, the federal states should only introduce nationwide access rules for vaccinated and convalescent people (2G), for example to events and the catering trade – if they have not already done so. If a value of 6 is exceeded, the federal states should also prescribe test certificates or other measures in certain facilities for vaccinated and convalescent people (2G plus).
At the latest when the threshold value of 9 is exceeded, the federal states should then make use of further restrictions. This aims at a clause resolved by the Bundestag: According to a corresponding state parliament resolution, the states should also be able to impose tougher measures such as contact restrictions or restrictions and bans on events.
Chancellor Angela Merkel begins with serious words. The situation is “worrying”. “We are in a very serious situation,” says Merkel. “It really is absolute time to act.” What is needed now is “a quick stop or braking” of the exponential increase in the number of infections.
“We could be in a better position if the vaccination gap weren’t so big,” emphasized the current chancellor. Many of the measures that need to be taken now would not be necessary if more people were vaccinated. “It’s never too late to get vaccinated.”
Good evening dear readers,
the press conference after the Prime Minister’s Conference begins.