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Autumn can be so beautiful in Germany: Two cyclists in the Spree-Neisse district in Brandenburg
Photo: Rainer Weisflog / imago images
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) appeals to all citizens to spend the autumn and Christmas holidays in Germany.
A quick end to the corona pandemic is not to be expected, and it has been seen that “at least certain types of travel” involve risks and “bring infections back to Germany”.
The current returnee situation has been "managed with great effort".
"Perhaps we will all be able to do it together, sometimes for the autumn vacation and maybe also for the Christmas vacation, not to drive that far, but simply to enjoy the beauty of Germany," said Spahn in Berlin.
"That makes things a lot easier for all of us, including the local health authorities."
He is confident that the situation will improve significantly over the next six months: "We'll probably have quick tests available by then, which will make a big difference for all the events we just talked about."
In addition, "maybe in six months you will have an idea that vaccines will soon be available".
Day by day and month by month, people will know better how to deal with the virus.
Spahn presented the "Pact for Public Health Service" in Berlin together with the chairwoman of the state health ministers, Berlin Senator Dilek Kalayci (SPD).
The federal government is making a total of four billion euros available to the states until 2026.
This is intended, for example, to strengthen the digitization and networking of the health authorities.
By the end of 2022, at least 5,000 new and permanent full-time positions are to be created in the public health service.
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vet / dpa