Status: 06.01.2022 6:15 p.m.
In the fight against the Omikron wave, the federal and state governments want to significantly shorten the quarantine times. In addition, the 2G-Plus rule is to be introduced nationwide in the catering sector. This emerges from a draft resolution that the ARD is present.
Under the pressure of rapidly increasing numbers of infections, the federal and state governments want to decide on additional corona measures on Friday. At the first consultation between Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the Prime Minister in the new year, the focus is primarily on precautions against the more contagious virus variant Omikron. The main focus here is on uniform, more extensive 2G rules and shortened quarantine times. This emerges from a resolution proposed by the Prime Ministers, which the ARD capital studio is present.
Accordingly, nationwide access to gastronomy for vaccinated and convalescent people should only be possible in January with a daily test or with proof of a booster vaccination from the day of the booster vaccination (2G-Plus) – regardless of the incidence.
When shopping in shops and when using local and long-distance public transport, the use of FFP2 masks should not be compulsory, but should be strongly recommended.
Shortened quarantine times
The federal and state governments want to ensure a balanced concept for isolating the sick and for quarantining contact persons. In order to effectively protect the vulnerable people in hospitals, nursing homes and integration assistance facilities, the isolation for the employees after infection can be terminated after seven days with an obligatory PCR test if the affected person was free of symptoms for 48 hours. According to the resolution, boosted people who have had contact with infected people no longer have to be quarantined.
For schoolchildren and children in the childcare services, the quarantine as a contact person can be ended after five days with a PCR or antigen rapid test, since they are “integrated into serial test strategies”. Exceptions to the quarantine are possible if there is a high level of protection, such as daily testing or the imposition of a mask requirement.
Expert council calls for crisis precautions
Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s Expert Council is calling for additional crisis precautions in the healthcare system to be taken quickly because of the spread of the new Omikron corona variant. “A high number of patients combined with an acute shortage of staff can jeopardize general medical care in Germany within a short period of time,” says a new statement by the committee. In particular, increased use of the emergency rooms and normal wards in clinics must be prepared. Step-by-step concepts for activating additional care areas for infectious patients should therefore be developed immediately.
The Expert Council emphasizes that the maintenance of supply will only be possible through a gradual suspension of predictable interventions and a corresponding redistribution of human resources. “For this reason, preparations should be made in all federal states to reduce planned interventions that can be activated ad hoc in the event of a heavy load.”
Schleswig-Holstein prefers new rules
Schleswig-Holstein decided on new quarantine rules on Thursday without waiting for the federal-state consultations. The state is already allowing a shortening of the quarantine period for contact persons of Omikron infected people who work in important professions. According to the Ministry of Health, employees from the health and education sector or the emergency services can end a quarantine after five instead of ten days with a negative PCR test. The condition is a double vaccination.
Lauterbach calls for additional restrictions
In the run-up to the federal-state consultations, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach reiterated his call for additional restrictions. With the rapid spread of the Omikron variant, everything had to be done to protect the unvaccinated, and vaccinated people also unfortunately had a residual risk, said the SPD politician “Welt-TV”. “So we will force the booster vaccinations. And there will have to be contact restrictions again, at least from my point of view.”
Green health expert Janosch Dahmen said countries should now consider closing restaurants, bars, clubs and venues. “If you decide against it, the nationwide introduction of 2G Plus is the absolute minimum,” he told the editorial network in Germany.
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer wants to campaign for relaxation at the federal-state summit, according to “Spiegel” – at least for those who have been vaccinated, despite the increasing number of infections. Much should therefore be reopened, but under 2G or 2G Plus rules. Bars and clubs as well as cinemas and museums have been permanently closed in Saxony for several weeks, restaurants have to close at 8 p.m. The Free State is one of the federal states most severely affected by the current corona wave, the vaccination rate is particularly low.
64,340 new infections, incidence at 285.9
According to the RKI, the number of new infections reported per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days jumped to 285.9 after 258.6 the previous day. The seven-day incidence has been increasing from day to day since the end of December, although the RKI continues to assume that new infections are under-recorded due to fewer tests and reports over the holidays and vacations. The health authorities reported 64,340 new cases within a day – a week ago the number had been 42,770. Another 443 deaths related to corona infections were registered.