Corona in NRW: over 8000 infected, 45 dead - drastic catalog of fines announced

The corona virus continues to spread in Germany. North Rhine-Westphalia continues to be particularly badly affected. The state government is now enforcing heavy penalties.

• In North Rhine-Westphalia , the number of infections with the new coronavirus * rises sharply every day.
• The first hospital is threatened with closure . A district administrator also writes a call for help to China's president.
• NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet now wants to crack down on Corona sinners.
• Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus and the corona news from Germany. You can also find current case numbers in Germany as a map. The following recommendations for corona protective measures are currently available.

Corona virus in NRW: doctor dies after collapse in corona test site

Update from March 24, 2020, 5:08 p.m .: A tragic death occurred at a central corona smear site in Herford (NRW). A doctor collapsed at work and died in hospital despite attempts to resuscitate herford district. "The cause of death is still unknown, presumably the man died of a heart attack," says the message.
The retired doctor volunteered for the health team. "Employees of the smear office and the entire district administration mourn the committed doctor, the compassion belongs to the relatives of the deceased"

Corona virus in NRW: Klosterfrau donates 500,000 bottles of disinfectant

Update of March 24, 2020, 4:57 p.m .: Cologne company Klosterfrau Healthcare (formerly Klosterfrau Melissengeist) wants to donate 100,000 liters of disinfectant to the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. That said NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) on Tuesday in a special session of the state parliament. The company plans to donate 150,000 bottles of hand disinfectant as early as next week. In total, Klosterfrau give 500,000 bottles. The country also bought five million protective masks.

Corona crisis in NRW - new case numbers

Update from March 24, 2020, 2:12 p.m .: The number of cases in NRW has increased further. According to reports from wa.de *, the number of people infected with the corona virus has risen to 8745 - over 500 people more than on Monday. The number of corona deaths has risen to 45 . That is five more than on Monday.

In the particularly affected district of Heinsberg, 1043 people (as of 12:30 p.m.) were infected with the virus on Tuesday. The previous day it had been 1004. The death toll rose to 25 (previous day 24). 247 people recovered. According to calculations by the University Hospital Aachen, the infection curve is flattened in a circle.

Update from March 24, 2020, 10:39 am : “We can't fool ourselves. The number of dead and infected will increase, ”says Armin Laschet and prepares the citizens for a difficult time in the next few weeks. The country has also agreed to support Italy in its emergency and admit ten corona patients.

Corona crisis in North Rhine-Westphalia: zero tolerance in the fight against the corona virus

Update from March 24, 2020, 10.30 a.m .: “We will warn the unreasonable. We will create clarity with a catalog of fines, ”says Armin Laschet (CDU). NRW was the first federal state to introduce a catalog of fines against the ban on contacts in the corona crisis.

Laschet also makes it clear that the ban on contact is a physical ban and not a social ban. Social contacts would be particularly important in these times.

“Fortunately, most people stick to the rules and show solidarity. We don't have to monitor the sensible, we have to punish the senseless. Consistently and hard. The signals have to be received, ”Laschet previously said to the dpa news agency.

The zero tolerance principle was successfully introduced in North Rhine-Westphalia in combating crimes such as clan crime. "Zero tolerance also applies to lawbreakers in the fight against the corona virus," said Laschet.

NRW published the fines and penalties via Twitter with the warning words "This is the only way we can reach the unteachable who knowingly jeopardize the health of their fellow citizens".

pic.twitter.com/CmRdH4gZ4E

Update of March 24, 2020, 10.08 a.m .: NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) opens the special session in the state parliament. "On February 25, almost exactly four weeks ago, there was the first corona virus case in North Rhine-Westphalia," says Armin Laschet before the state parliament. The Minister referred to restrictions on fundamental rights due to the corona pandemic.

Update from March 24, 2020, 10:00 a.m .: The state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia convened a special session on Tuesday. The meeting will focus on the aid package for Germany's most populous state (18 million inhabitants) and the catalog of fines for violations of the Corona measures.

In today's # special session, the #ltnrw votes on a € 25 billion # supplementary budget to deal with the #corona crisis. After a briefing by @landnrw with debate, committee discussions and votes followed. Live stream from 10 a.m .: https://t.co/aorXmR7Okl pic.twitter.com/WLniUUV4v6

Corona crisis in NRW: Violation of the ban on contact may result in heavy penalties

Update from March 24, 2020, 8.09 a.m .: In the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia , which is particularly affected by the corona crisis, as in all other German federal states, drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus have come into force. In accordance with the Federal Government's recommendation, a so-called contact ban has been in effect in NRW since the weekend.

Among other things, this means: No meetings of more than two people, at least 1.5 meters safety distance and restaurants, bars and hairdressers remain closed for the time being. But these rules are repeatedly violated - both by private individuals and by places such as a shisha bar, which was still open on weekends despite the ban, reports Bild.de.

Corona crisis in NRW: Violations of measures are to be punished with fines

Just as the measures against the spread of corona differ in some federal states , there is no uniform catalog of fines that could apply to violations of the measures. Some federal states such as Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania do not even want to set one up, but those responsible in NRW do otherwise. According to a report by the Bild newspaper, there is a decision for an as yet secret catalog of fines for Germany's largest state. The planned resolutions in key points:

• In the event of a violation of the ban on visiting hospitals or old people's homes, a fine of 200 euros must be paid.
• Anyone who continues to operate a disco, bar or gym has to pay 5,000 euros .
• If a restaurant is operated , 4000 euros are due.
• Failure to observe the minimum distance of 1.5 meters or disregarding the hygiene measures costs 200 euros .
• Public meetings of more than two people who are no exception are also fined with 200 euros .
• There is a fine of 250 euros for picnics and barbecues .

Corona crisis in NRW: Hospitals in the Aachen region break with RKI recommendations

First message from March 23, 2020:

Düsseldorf - North Rhine-Westphalia is the federal state most affected by the Coronavirus * pandemic . The nursing emergency was also an issue in NRW before the outbreak of the new virus disease. Shortly after the first cases became known in North Rhine-Westphalia , the hospitals in the Aachen region had to break with the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute . The company could not be kept under the strict quarantine * measures. Now the hospitals in NRW are not only facing a financial problem. In the Heinsberg hospital , protective clothing * had also gone out last week. The clinic had therefore already rung the alarm bells and warned against closing.

Corona crisis in North Rhine-Westphalia: Heinsberger district administrator sends call for help to Chinese President

The Heinsberg district administrator Stephan Pusch (CDU) has now sent a call for help to China . In a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pusch asks for protective clothing and suggests a Heinsberg-Wuhan town twinning. This fire letter was published on Monday.

"You will surely ask yourself how a person, who is relatively insignificant in the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, like a district administrator, can turn to the government of the People's Republic of China," wrote Pusch in his request for help. Heinsberg and Wuhan shared the unjust accusation that the places were to blame for the spread of the virus *. As Trump speaks of the "Wuhan virus", Heinsberg also experiences social exclusion, Pusch appeals to China's feeling of solidarity.

The district administrator had previously criticized the lack of support from the Bundeswehr.

Mr. Stephan Pusch, District Administrator of the District #Heinsberg, criticized the rejection of the requests for help to the #Bundeswehr despite great promises by the Federal Minister of Defense #AKK: "I find it shameful." # COVID2019de pic.twitter.com/Ysrh2AVExS

Coronavirus: Crisis in NRW - Will the Health System Stand Up?

"Since medical practitioners in China have obviously had the most experience in dealing with the containment and control of the corona virus, I would also like to have a professional exchange," writes the district administrator and asks China for support with protective materials, because: The available masks and protective coats the hospitals in the Heinsberg district were only enough for a few days.

At a press conference in Düsseldorf, NRW Minister of Health Karl-Josef Laumann explained on Monday noon how federal funds should now deal with the impending emergency. Laumann said that additional protective clothing had already been made available to the hospital in Heinsberg. Nevertheless, the situation in NRW still seems particularly precarious. Critics now accuse the state government of recognizing the crisis too late and failing to respond quickly enough.

Corona crisis: How many beds do the hospitals in NRW have?

Laumann resists this accusation. It is the job of the employer, not the government, to get protective clothing. He could understand the concerns of District Administrator Pusch if he saw the situation regarding protective clothing . “But this situation is the same in all of Germany and all of Europe,” says Laumann. Because there is no production capacity in Europe.

Video: new corona symptoms discovered: this is what you need to watch out for

An app has now been installed in NRW , with which the hospitals transfer the occupancy of their beds to the health department . The majority of the clinics have already participated, says Laumann. There are currently 443 inpatients in NRW, 146 of them in intensive care units. Of the intensive care patients, 121 were provided with ventilation support. In total there are 6184 intensive care beds in the state, 4123 of which are equipped with ventilators. Laumann tries to reassure other ventilators.

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* wa.de and Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.