Timo Lenzen / DER SPIEGEL
Dear readers,
After the Corona summer fairy tale with what felt like freedom, hardship loomed in October: The number of cases rose rapidly, politics discussed and, in view of the steep infection curve, again decided on restrictions.
So that it doesn't get quite so bitter, only for November.
Even then, it was already clear to every straight-forward thinking person what this week was going to be certainty: The November deadline was of course not one, the measures must be extended and even tightened.
Politicians may only expect bit by bit bitter truths, it seems.
In the federal-state decision on Wednesday on the further restrictions, the muddle continued.
Because the retail trade did not want to expect the failure of the New Year's Eve business, Böllern is not completely banned at the turn of the year, but only in busy squares and streets.
How is that interpreted?
For a long time, the negotiations should have been about the question of how many people are allowed to stay in how many square meters in shops with a certain floor space.
For the number fetishists, a current message in the opposite direction: Germany broke the one million corona-infected sound barrier this week.
My colleague Julia Merlot fanned out in a scenario piece over the past few weeks why this policy of small portions could take revenge in the long run.
In it, she also explains why the current success in stopping the increase in the infection curve is not one: If the number of cases plateau at such a high level that persists for longer, other values also remain permanently high: the utilization of the intensive care beds, the Death toll.
It would only help in the long term to significantly reduce the number of infections.
We succeeded in this in March: not with the salami tactic, but with tough measures - which, however, were still mild compared to the really tough lockdowns of some neighboring European countries such as France or Italy.
In the second wave, too, they prescribed significantly stricter measures and - at least in the case of France - are currently reporting a decrease in infections.
Maybe we should cut a slice of it.
"Cry for me - brilliant. Excessive. Destructive. Diego Maradonna," is the title of the new SPIEGEL. You can get the
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copy from now on
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Survey on the Covid situation: "I was surprised that people were in a positive mood"
Photo: Thordis Rüggeberg / plainpicture
Regarding the resolution:
After consultations in the Chancellery, the federal government and the federal states agree on tightening the contact restrictions
Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed with the state chiefs to partially tighten the corona measures.
A maximum of five adults from two households will be allowed to meet in the future.
The mask requirement is to be expanded.
Corona measures before Christmas: That is in the federal-state resolution
The partial shutdown is tightened: Contacts are limited to five people, fewer people should be allowed into the shops at once, the mask requirement is expanded.
The overview.
Merkel and the Prime Ministers: Then celebrate carefully.
The Chancellor and the Prime Ministers are tightening the partial shutdown - over Christmas and New Year's Eve, it will be relaxed again to do good to the corona-plagued citizens.
But Merkel & Co. is also slowly running out of strength.
New corona rules The Christmas party as a superspreader event
at the end of the year should suddenly be allowed, which has been forbidden for weeks: meetings with up to ten participants from different households.
Whether that goes well depends on an important factor.
Corona resolutions on schools: alternating
lessons
will continue to be regulated regionally
To contain the corona numbers, older students in "hotspots" should alternately study at home and at school, in the hybrid model.
This is provided for by a resolution of the Bund-Länder Round.
The measure is not mandatory.
Reactions to Corona resolutions "Long-term damage due to restriction of schools"
State politicians and ministers of education defend the resolutions for schools in Corona hotspots.
Critics criticize discouragement and inconsistency - and students want to go on strike in the coming days.
Government declaration: Merkel calls for the closure of all European ski areas
The ski season is approaching.
In the fight against the corona pandemic, Chancellor Merkel wants to ensure that all ski areas are closed.
Tourist trips should not take place.
New Corona measures: Berlin does not want to completely loosen contact
restrictions
over Christmas
The tightened Corona rules will be softened over Christmas - but stricter restrictions will also apply in the capital.
The reason is the high number of infections.
New corona rules: "It would have to be much, much stricter"
A maximum of five people are still allowed to meet, the mask requirement will be expanded, restaurants will remain closed.
What do citizens think of the tightened corona measures?
Covid-19 in worldwide numbers
Confirmed Cases: 61,104,906
Deaths: 1,434,509
Recovered from the disease: 39,175,274
Germany: 1,006,394 confirmed sick people, 15,586 deaths
Sources: CSSE / Johns Hopkins University, as of November 27, 2020, 12.25 p.m.
Robert Koch Institute, as of November 27, 2020, 12:00 a.m.
Research news
AstraZeneca and Oxford University: The vaccine for pragmatists
At 70 percent, the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca corona vaccine appears comparatively low.
But that could not be all, especially since the remedy has clear practical advantages.
Coronavirus: Criticism of AstraZeneca's vaccine
study
grows
Experts criticize AstraZeneca's study for a vaccine against the coronavirus.
Even the stock market is already reacting.
According to a report, the CEO is considering checking the effectiveness again.
Simulation study: Model for a life with the
Sars-CoV-2
coronavirus
will not go away anytime soon, experts agree.
But how will we deal with the pandemic in the coming months?
Researchers have calculated two options.
Corona studies: The dream of immunity - and why it is justified
The number of antibodies may be falling, but new research results show: Those who have survived Covid-19 could be immune for years.
What that means for a possible vaccine.
Long-term studies of the corona vaccine: the risk of rapid approval
vaccinations against the
corona virus
could soon be on the market.
This creates a moral problem.
Because thousands of people might have to forego their own protection - for the good of all.
Coronavirus: What we know about the corona vaccines
Three vaccines against the coronavirus are about to be approved.
How well do they protect against infection?
What are the potential side effects?
And who should be vaccinated first?
The overview.
What else was important
Coronavirus: Germany passes one million infections
In Germany, the coronavirus has been detected in more than one million people.
The number of reported infections has doubled within a month.
Nationwide Corona hotspot: District Administrator von Hildburghausen is under police protection after threats
In Hildburghausen, hundreds protested against the strict restrictions.
The district administrator criticized the behavior - and was insulted and threatened, according to the police.
Reading for the weekend
Corona model Finland: "We employ a whole army of tracers"
In Finland the rate of new corona cases is well below the European average.
Health Director Mika Salminen talks about what the Finns are doing right.
Second wave: The Greek corona tragedy
Greece survived the first corona wave comparatively well.
But now the country has a record number of infections and deaths.
What went wrong?
Have a nice weekend
Yours Michail Hengstenberg
What you need to know about the virus
We have put together all the answers to the most important questions about the coronavirus for you here.
You can find more current developments at SPIEGEL.de.
