Lauterbach: Demos are "a coffin nail" for corona rules

Demonstrations could become an ideal super-spreading event, warns SPD politician Lauterbach. The protests' permits meanwhile raise questions of proportionality in other industries.

Berlin (dpa) - SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach has demanded stricter rules in view of the recent mass demonstrations to prevent a second wave of corona.

"Such demonstrations are a coffin nail for the rules that still exist," Lauterbach told the "Tagesspiegel". Due to the loud chants, tons of aerosols were distributed in a small space. "For the fight against the virus, it would be better to demonstrate only with posters and banners."

Lauterbach emphasized the right to demonstrate, but criticized: "Far too many people, too few masks, too little distance - the ideal super-spreading event!"

The head of the German police union, Rainer Wendt, told the "Tagesspiegel": "With police means, a distance rule at a gathering of many thousands of people is simply not enforceable." In the event of riots, the officials are now also exposed to high infection risks because some people consider the concern of their demonstration to be more important than infection protection.

The large-scale demonstrations meanwhile are calling for further easing in some industries. Ingrid Hartges, managing director of the Dehoga hotel and restaurant association, told the "Bild" newspaper: "If such large demonstrations are approved, the question will be how proportionate are the requirements imposed on the catering trade."

Concert organizer Peter Schwenkow from Deutsche Entertainment AG sees the demo images as a signal for more openness. "We should now wait two weeks to see what effects these demonstrations will have on the infection process. If nothing happens, it is high time that we started the open-air concert season again by July at the latest," he told the "Bild" newspaper.