Doctors President
Reinhardt for a “clear catalog of criteria” for corona measures
According to the cabinet bill, masks may be compulsory in public indoor areas such as shops and restaurants in autumn and winter, for example. photo
© Marijan Murat/dpa
The federal cabinet has launched a draft for corona conditions in autumn and winter, which can be imposed and expanded by the federal states. Medical President Reinhardt calls for clear, nationwide criteria.
With the planned corona rules for the fall, Doctors President Klaus Reinhardt calls for clear criteria as to when stricter measures should take effect.
“The pandemic stage concept presented this week is differentiated and rightly emphasizes the proportionality of the use of funds,” said the President of the German Medical Association of the “Rheinische Post”. “However, it is necessary for the law to firstly be supplemented with a clear catalog of criteria as to when stricter containment measures will apply.”
He explained: “The mere reference to wastewater analyses, incidences and the surveillance systems of the Robert Koch Institute is not sufficient.” Secondly, it must be ensured that these indicators apply nationwide “and that any measures to be taken do not differ from state to state”. Anything else would only lead to confusion and insecurity among the population, he warned.
On Wednesday, the federal cabinet launched a draft for the corona requirements in autumn and winter, which provides for more extensive rules on masks and tests. The countries should be able to impose them and expand them in critical situations. It would be possible, for example, to make masks compulsory in publicly accessible indoor areas such as shops and restaurants. FFP2 masks are to be compulsory nationwide on airplanes and long-distance trains, nursing homes and clinics.
The hotel and restaurant association Dehoga expressed concern about the government plans. “In view of the impending measures, the industry fears renewed sales losses like last winter,” says managing director Ingrid Hartges of the editorial network Germany (RND). Between November 2021 and March 2022, the industry had “massive sales losses of more than 30 percent” due to access regulations and other requirements. “We expect politicians to do everything they can to ensure that this scenario does not repeat itself.”