Corona virus: protective mask obligation also in NRW? Laschet and Spahn agree

The corona crisis is completely changing public life in Germany - also in North Rhine-Westphalia. You can find all the news in our news ticker.

• North Rhine-Westphalia is severely affected by the coronavirus *.
• The number of infected and deaths is increasing.
• A far-reaching law is being planned.
• 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.

Update at 5:56 p.m .: The district of Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is very badly affected by Covid-19, is now to contribute to a better understanding of the pandemic. Hendrik Streeck , virologist at the University of Bonn, will examine the region very closely for a study on the spread of the coronavirus - to find out what Germany can learn from the district in the west of NRW. For example, the study should focus on when restrictions in public life can be relaxed and how the high number of unreported cases could be lightened.

"If politics loosens measures while the number of infections is still increasing, you cannot win with it," said the researcher of the German Press Agency. With the help of the Residents' Registration Office, 500 families are initially to be selected . This is followed by throat swabs, blood tests and extensive questionnaires . The family size varies, in the end about 1000 people should end up in the sample. Then a relatively good picture should emerge of who was infected with the novel corona virus and who was not - and why.

Update at 3:50 p.m .: Spahn answered whether the Federal Minister of Health Spahn considered a protective mask requirement necessary. “In the current situation, I see no need for a commitment , but I feel a great willingness to show solidarity in order to protect others. And that is a good signal. "

Laschet , Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia , also said that he currently does not believe that a mouthguard requirement is necessary . The current priority is to get more protective masks for medical personnel, said Laschet. When asked by a journalist, he also revealed that he was in talks with "well-known German companies" about the production of protective masks. However, he has not yet been able to announce anything about this, this will only happen when "the plane has landed", ie the talks have brought results.

Corona in NRW: Spahn wants to create incentives for protective mask production for German companies

Spahn emphasized that the strong dependence of the German but also the European economy on other countries is something that "should not remain that way in the long term". "We are in discussion with the Federal Minister of Finance on how we can create incentives to increase the production of masks in this country ," said Spahn.

Nobody would have expected a product that cost cents to be so competitive on the international market . The dependency on one country in particular, like China in this case , should not remain so . Spahn demanded that greater independence should be achieved with our own production, especially when it comes to protective masks.

Later he also discussed the continuing danger of the corona virus for the population . “This virus, in all its brutality, hits the weakest in society: the pre-ill and the very old . They therefore need special protection, ”emphasized the Minister of Health. That is why it is important that the state government in North Rhine-Westphalia introduced bans on visits to old people's and nursing homes. "And it is important that these are observed," he continued. This is a question of solidarity between the generations.

Update at 3:37 p.m .: Now Jens Spahn steps in front of the cameras. "We have an advantage compared to some surrounding countries," said Spahn. Germany would have recognized the coronavirus risk relatively early and therefore started testing early.

Spahn also praised the Düsseldorf university clinic, which he visited together with Laschet before the press conference. The employees there are well prepared and prepared for the current situation. "There is no certainty that we will not get into difficult times," said Spahn. "There's no guarantee for that."

Corona virus in NRW: Spahn believes that self-sewn protective masks make sense

Afterwards, Spahn raised the topic of protective masks, which is currently the subject of much discussion: “There are two types of masks . Some are medical protective masks that protect the wearer, these are the FFP2 masks that are important for medical personnel, ”he said. “And then there are masks that protect the others from the wearer , for example when the wearer coughs or sneezes. Wearing such a mask can make a difference to protect others, ”Spahn said. He thinks it is important to make a difference with the masks.

Precisely because the corona virus is also symptom-free in some people , but they could still infect others, it may make sense to wear self-sewn protective masks in public spaces - "above all out of solidarity with others," said Spahn. "They can be a help to slow the spread of the virus."

Coronavirus in NRW: Laschet wants to involve opposition in the epidemic law

Update at 3:29 p.m .: Laschet also addresses the epidemic law planned in NRW at the conference. "For me it is completely clear that with this situation there will be no law without the opposition . In the corona situation, we need a cross-party consensus, ”he emphasized. Therefore the suggestions of the opposition parties would be taken into account.

The SPD and Greens had previously expressed constitutional concerns about the proposed law, which grants the state government extensive powers to act in the event of an emergency in connection with the Corona epidemic, such as the use of health workers and the distribution of protective equipment.

Update at 3:22 p.m .: The press conference with Laschet and Spahn has now started. "NRW put the virtual hospital into operation yesterday and networked 200 clinics in the state with the university clinics in Aachen and Münster," reports Laschet. This makes it possible to ensure the best possible nationwide coverage.

Laschet also explained that the development of the number of new infections in NRW slows more than the national average. He further emphasized that the most important thing for everyone in the healthcare system is that they are protected in the best possible way.

Coronavirus in NRW: Laschet and Spahn hold press conference on the current situation

Update at 3:11 p.m .: NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet and Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn will hold a press conference on the current coronavirus situation in North Rhine-Westphalia in a few minutes.

Update from March 31, 10:34 am: As Stephan Pusch, District Administrator of Heinsberg , explained at a press conference , the Heinsberg district is now the focus of researchers . Accordingly, a study is to be started immediately, which will examine infected people and cured people in the district.

However, this study is not only intended to draw a picture for the district, but also for the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia and thus perhaps for the whole of Germany .

The aim of this study is to better assess the virus . The first results could be available in around two weeks.

The virologist commissioned by the district was surprised at the press conference that the study was not being carried out by the Robert Koch Institute itself. After all, the study is relevant at the federal German level.

Prime Minister Laschet with a mouth guard breakdown - Bavaria is replacing NRW as a focal point

Update from March 31, 9:33 am: More and more people in Germany are infected with the corona virus . Now there is an indication of a change in the distribution of people who tested positive in Germany. While North Rhine-Westphalia, with the district of Heinsberg, had previously formed Germany's risk area with the most infected people, Bavaria is now the new sad front runner.

As the Robert Koch Institute clarifies with the newly updated figures, up to Tuesday morning in NRW 13,225 people tested positive for Covid-19. In Bavaria, the number of officially infected people rose to 14,810. To date, 117 people have succumbed to the virus in North Rhine-Westphalia , and there have been 162 deaths officially in Bavaria .

Can a protective mask requirement in Germany reduce the number of infected people? In Austria , customers can only wear face masks in supermarkets. When could the spread of the virus be controlled and thus the ban on contact and other measures lifted? There is now a forecast by scientists from the universities of Hamburg and Mainz.

Italy is considered the center of the Corona crisis. No figures in this dimension are known in Germany. But why is that?

Corona in North Rhine-Westphalia: Laschet reaps mockery for a face mask breakdown - the reaction follows promptly

Update of March 30, 11:11 p.m .: The "mouth protection faux pas" by NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet has also brought ridicule to the CDU politician on the Internet . In Twitter posts, users were surprised that the doctors present at the Aachen University Clinic did not appear to have alerted him to the incorrect wearing.

At an appointment at the University Hospital Aachen, Armin Laschet initially only wore the respiratory protection over his mouth.

© dpa / Henning Kaiser

In addition, the WDR magazine Westpol tweeted a film scene with Benedict Cumberbatch as a doctor with a mouthguard, pointing out "Servicetweet" in the direction of Laschet. The online edition of the Bild newspaper also indicated that the Prime Minister suddenly wore the mouthguard correctly on official photos of the State Chancellery. Laschet himself reacted in the evening and demonstrated in a short video on Twitter how the mouthguard is correctly applied over the mouth and nose.

Protect yourself - and others. #ausgruenden # sogehtsrichtig # nrwkanndas #ichkanndasa also pic.twitter.com/y2fDpYOeA4

Coronavirus in NRW: Opposition expresses concerns about the proposed bill

Update of March 30, 2020, 6:26 pm: The opposition factions of the SPD and Greens in the state parliament there expressed constitutional concerns about the law planned by the North Rhine-Westphalian state government to slow down the spread of corona . On Monday, both factions opposed a shortened procedure for the legislative proposal at only one party congress of the Düsseldorf state parliament. This emerged from statements by SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Kutschaty and the Green Group leader Monika Düker .

The law planned by the government in NRW is to apply “in the event of an epidemic situation”. Among other things, the draft provides that the responsible ministry can order the creation of additional treatment capacity in hospitals. In addition, the competent authorities should be able to seize medical, nursing or sanitary material for patient care under certain conditions .

Coronavirus in NRW: Opposition politicians consider parts of the law to be unconstitutional

Kuchaty said he considered the proposed law to be unconstitutional on several points . "Among other things, the state government would have far-reaching powers without it being clear now which of these should be", he justified his attitude. For example, the Ministry of Health would be in a position at any time - not specified further - to make sure that the tasks required given the epidemic situation were fulfilled.

This is equivalent to a "blank check" for the government , criticized the former NRW Minister of Justice. "We are in a health crisis and not a democracy crisis - there is simply no need for emergency legislation in this form .

First report from March 30, 2020:

Aachen - The Coronavirus * hits North Rhine-Westphalia , especially Heinsberg , hard. The number of infected people continues to increase from day to day.

Corona in NRW: The current case numbers - Bavaria overtakes North Rhine-Westphalia

In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are said to be more than 14,200 people with corona , an increase of almost 600. Only the federal state of Bavaria * has overtaken North Rhine-Westphalia - at times - in recent days in terms of the number of infected people.

There have been 125 deaths related to Covid-19 (as of March 30, 10 a.m.).

Coronavirus in NRW: Planning a far-reaching law

To further slow down the spread of the new Sars-CoV-2 * coronavirus in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state government of NRW is planning a far-reaching law. Among other things, this should regulate the obligation of doctors, and the authorities should also be allowed to secure medical equipment. This was reported by focus.de. The final exams of middle and secondary schools could also be canceled.

The measures should have an immediate impact on the spread of the corona pandemic *, but should also give the country more options for dealing with future epidemics. In this way, hospitals can also be forced to create treatment capacities. Armin Laschet will probably inform the Landtag on Wednesday and then pass the law in an accelerated process.

Corona in NRW: Armin Laschet at an appointment at the University Hospital Aachen

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Armin Laschet was at an appointment at the University Hospital Aachen on Monday. However, the Prime Minister made a small mishap that did not go undetected.

He probably wanted to set a good example. With respiratory protection on his face, he observed a treatment in a connected hospital at a press appointment at the start of the virtual hospital at the university hospital. But Laschet only wore the respiratory protection over his mouth - and not over his nose, as is actually correct.

At an appointment at the University Hospital Aachen, Armin Laschet initially only wore the respiratory protection over his mouth.

© dpa / Henning Kaiser

In a tweet from the North Rhine-Westphalian State Chancellery, the Prime Minister ultimately wore respiratory protection.

Strong together: @UniklinikAachen and @UK_Muenster are now providing the # NRW clinics with their expertise in # Covid19 patients. Due to the expansion of #Corona, the #virtual hospital in the country started earlier. https://t.co/bk4ZV6Gut3 pic.twitter.com/d1vIdyQEgf

But citizens should not only be careful when using a respirator correctly. A minimum distance of one and a half to two meters from other people should also be observed. This is recommended by the Robert Koch Institute, among others. However, a US research group now wants to find out that this distance is far from sufficient to protect against corona infection. They recommend a much greater distance.

* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network

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List of rubric lists: © dpa / Henning Kaiser