The number of cases is exploding, the number of vaccinations is stagnating – and Germany is celebrating Carnival: what needs to be done now? Health Minister Jens Spahn and RKI boss Lothar Wieler plead for significantly stricter rules.
The number of cases in Germany is rising to new highs, and places in intensive care units are becoming scarce. First experts and politicians are calling for a return to lockdown and contact restrictions. Is that necessary now – or are there other ways?
The acting Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) and the President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Lothar Wieler, clearly positioned themselves in a joint press conference on Friday. “We have to do everything we can to break this dynamic,” said Spahn. “Otherwise it will be a bitter December for the whole country.” Wieler added: “It’s five past twelve.” The fourth wave is rolling “now with full force.” The current measures are definitely not sufficient.
Your main points:
2G-Plus and restrictions for events
Spahn wants to make access to public events significantly more difficult in view of the massively increasing numbers of new corona infections. The so-called 2G-Plus rule should apply here in the future, he said. This means that only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered with a current corona test are admitted.
Wieler even advocated restricting or banning major events. “We know that so-called superspreader events take place particularly indoors.” One should also consider closing bars or clubs in particularly polluted regions. People should also get tested before private get-togethers.
To what extent the proposal will now be implemented in concrete terms is open.
Free rapid tests from Saturday
As of Saturday, citizens will have access to free tests again. He will sign the corresponding test regulation today, said Spahn. “It is valid from tomorrow.” He assumes that the range of tests will gradually be expanded from the beginning of the week.
Austria again high risk area
From this Sunday, the federal government will again classify Austria as a corona high-risk area. “Yes, we can confirm,” said Spahn in response to a corresponding question and referred to the infection situation and dynamics there. Anyone who enters from a high-risk area and is not fully vaccinated or recovered has to be in quarantine for ten days and can only get rid of it with a negative test five days after arrival at the earliest.
Watch the press conference in the video above or read the most important statements here:
11.15 a.m.: Spahn and Wieler answer last questions. The live ticker ends at this point, but you can follow the end of the press conference in the live stream above. Here is a brief summary of the most important statements.
11.13 a.m.: Should pharmacies now also give booster vaccinations? Spahn emphasizes once again that the remuneration for doctors will be increased and thus a financial incentive for vaccination will also be created. Vaccinations by pharmacies, however, contained so many questions of liability law that the proposal could not be implemented quickly.
11.10 a.m.: Spahn adds: Everyone now has to question their behavior in view of the high incidences.
11:08 a.m.: Are New Year’s Eve parties okay? RKI boss Wieler emphasizes that he will not visit any. Indoor celebrations are potential places of contagion. However, there are still six weeks until then.
11.05 a.m.: Spahn is asked about a general vaccination requirement. Why is he against it? Spahn reacts with a counter question: Should the police go from house to house and check it? “That is always an easy task,” countered the minister.
11 a.m .: Now it’s about the effectiveness of the vaccinations. Spahn and Wieler emphasize that a refresher significantly increases the protection against infection and serious illness. Figures from Israel clearly prove this.
10:58 a.m.: When asked, Spahn explains that Austria is classified as a high-risk area. Travelers without full vaccination protection would have to be quarantined and tested on their return.
10:54 a.m.: Still Minister Spahn is approached about the bad conditions in the care industry. Did he react too late – and is it now taking revenge in the pandemic? Spahn lists various measures that he initiated. “We are not where we have to go yet. But we have started the path,” he says. The situation cannot be fundamentally reversed within a few years.
10:52 a.m.: When are the intensive care units full? This question noticeably angered Wieler. The goal must be that hospitals don’t get into this situation in the first place. In some regions it is already too late for that. Orienting oneself to the maximum utilization of the intensive care units is not a sensible brand. Minister Spahn also underlines this.
10.50 a.m.: When should there be no more major events? RKI boss Wieler replies: “We know that superspreading events mainly take place indoors. Therefore, major events are generally viewed critically at the moment. It would be best to cancel certain major events – of course!”
10:47 a.m.: When asked, Minister Spahn emphasized that he had recommended stricter measures nationwide to the possible traffic light government. However, the parties decided against it. The responsibility now lies with the federal states, but their toolbox will be restricted by the planned changes to the Infection Protection Act.
10:43 a.m.: Wieler is now making a clear appeal to the people in Germany. He makes it clear: With the currently high number of cases, 2G alone is not enough. It is important to reduce contacts, especially indoors. A mask should now also be worn under 2G conditions. In addition, from his point of view, it is necessary to close clubs or bars again.
10:42 a.m.: There are currently fewer operable intensive care beds in Germany than ever before in this pandemic, reports Wieler. “The fourth wave hits us with full force. The higher it piles up, the more difficult it is to bring it back under control.”
10.41 a.m.: RKI boss Wieler takes over and first shows the map of the corona incidences in Germany. Several districts are over a value of 1,000 and it is not foreseeable that the situation will relax.
10.40 a.m.: Spahn becomes clear: It would have needed a corona summit from the federal and state governments three weeks ago, he emphasizes. It takes a joint effort.
10:38 a.m.: Now it’s about the rules. “3G was 0G too often,” says Spahn – and advocates much stricter controls in the federal states. In his opinion, public events should only be possible under 2Gplus conditions. That would mean: Access only for vaccinated or convalescent people with an additional negative test.
10:36 a.m.: Subject of free rapid tests: Spahn wants to sign the relevant ordinance today. He expects more quick test offers again in the coming week.
10:35 a.m.: The still health minister reports that the vaccination numbers have risen again in the past few days. He also announced financial support for the operation of the vaccination centers until the end of April as well as increased remuneration for doctors who carry out corona vaccinations.
10:34 a.m.: Spahn reports that clinics in Saxony, Thuringia and Bavaria are already over their limit. “There is a risk that, in the event of an emergency, the capacities that you would otherwise be used to are not always available.” He demands: We have to do everything necessary to break the dynamic. Otherwise it will be a bitter December for the whole country.
10:33 am: “I recommend that we all take the situation very seriously. If nothing happens, the incidences will double every two weeks,” emphasizes Spahn.
10:32 a.m.: Spahn opened with an announcement: In the coming months he would like to inform RKI boss Lothar Wieler about the situation on a weekly basis.
10.30 a.m .: The press conference begins.