It is still uncertain how the corona lockdown will continue from mid-February.
FDP leader Christian Lindner wants to reopen the schools as soon as possible.
Corona * still
has a firm grip on Germany and the world.
From Schleswig-Holstein there are suggestions for
loosening lockdowns
, which an
epidemiologist is
critical of
(update from January 30, 10:57 a.m.)
.
Chancellery chief Helge Braun (CDU)
, meanwhile, praises the population for their discipline (update from January 29, 3:20 p.m.).
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Find all the latest news on
the lockdown extension debates here
.
Update from January 30, 2021, 10:57 a.m.:
In the near future there will be the next talks between the federal government and the prime minister, because the current
corona measures
were only decided until February
15
.
A proposal by
Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) is
now attracting more attention
.
At the end of January, he suggested
getting
out
of the
corona lockdown
in a four-step plan
.
A key point of his suggestion is that the easing should be based on the incidence value instead of writing a fixed schedule in the calendar.
Opposite
focus.de
the epidemiologist
Ralf Reintjes
from the
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
commented on
the plans.
He can follow Günther in some points, but not in all.
What should be made of the fact that the first
easing of
the corona lockdown should occur if the
incidence value
falls
below 100
?
Reintjes is particularly concerned about this threshold: “The number of
infections
and
deaths
is still far too high to even think about easing it.” Not only services such as visits to the hairdresser should then be possible again.
According to the Günther plan, the schools would then also reopen, to which the
epidemiologist has
clear objections.
"
I consider it dangerous
that between 50 and 100 schools should
open
for
face-to-face teaching
and that daycare centers should switch from emergency care to regular operation when there are
incidences,
" he comments.
For Reintjes, the lockdown remains inevitable at the moment.
The proposals from the
policy
he can
scientists
abgewinnen something anyway, if one defines as the start of more to 15 March on 15 February.
According to these plans, a return to normal would be possible from an incidence value of 35.
Bizarre lockdown dispute: Hotspot country chief is thinking of easing - colleague in less affected country contradicts
Update from January 29, 9:20 p.m.:
Incidence is not everything: When
making
their
Corona decisions
, top politicians like to refer to the advice of
science
- but that other factors also play a role is becoming apparent in the currently burgeoning dispute about easing in Germany.
The calls for the
end or continuation of the lockdown
from the countries apparently showed no connection with the local incidence figures on Friday.
Saxony's Prime Minister
Michael Kretschmer
(CDU) has given hope for openings in February - in the past few months, the state has been one of the most severely affected areas.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which is currently less severely affected, is taking a different course:
Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig
has
rejected
hopes of rapid
relaxation
of the corona requirements.
You see the mutations of the corona virus with great concern, said the SPD politician on Friday evening in an ARD "Extra".
"Then, I think, we will talk less about easing, and more about tightening," emphasized Schwesig.
Schwesig was annoyed by the slow deliveries of
corona vaccines
.
Almost everything stands still because the vaccine is missing.
The
European Union
ordered too late and too little.
"That is really bitter," said the SPD politician.
Before the vaccination summit on Monday, she asked the Federal Government of
Chancellor Angela Merkel
(CDU) for more clarity and commitment.
You have to know on site which delivery is coming and when.
According to data from the RKI, Saxony currently has a 7-day incidence of 131, making it one of the four federal states most severely affected by the pandemic.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has an incidence of 99.
Corona crisis in Germany: CDU Prime Minister suddenly speaks of easing - and admits mistakes
Update from January 29, 8:35 p.m.:
Saxony's Prime Minister
Michael Kretschmer
(CDU) is confident that if the corona numbers continue to drop
,
there can be
easing
as early
as mid-February
.
But you can't start all the easing at once because there would be too much mobility, he said on Friday evening in an online forum on the situation in
Saxony
.
At times around 800 people connected to it via Zoom, Facebook and YouTube.
In retrospect, every week lockdown would have been better earlier, Kretschmer admitted.
The Prime Minister had been criticized for engaging in talks with deniers of the corona pandemic and other critics of restrictions.
Kretschmer now countered that he knew that some people could not be reached.
But he wants to use every opportunity to explain decisions.
About
easing
is being debated in the near future in
Austria
- Short (ÖVP) remarked surprisingly Chancellor Sebastian significantly.
The situation is different in another German neighbor: the
Czech Republic
only allows foreigners to enter the country from Saturday onwards if necessary.
This was pointed out by the Foreign Ministry in Prague on Friday evening.
For
Germans
, this will practically not change much: As early as December 18, as a result of exit restrictions, stays in the Czech Republic are only possible with a valid reason for travel.
Corona in Germany: Merkel's cabinet decides to stop entry - initially seven countries affected
Update from January 29, 5:37 p.m.:
The cabinet of
Chancellor Angela Merkel
(CDU) has now decided on an
extensive entry
ban
for several countries.
A transport ban for airlines, rail, bus and shipping companies was issued until February 17th.
However, there are numerous exceptions for all Germans and foreigners living in Germany as well as for transit passengers and the movement of goods, as the interior ministry of the dpa has confirmed.
Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil are initially affected, and from Sunday also the small African states Lesotho and Estwani.
Corona crisis: Salvation promises money for eight million people - Söder showered Merkel with praise
Update from January 29, 4:37 p.m
.: There is criticism from the Union, but
Federal Labor
Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD *)
has reiterated his call for a
corona surcharge
for around
eight million people in need
.
It is about cushioning “social hardship”, said Heil on Friday in Berlin.
According to him, the group of people who have additional financial burdens due to the pandemic include:
Hartz IV recipient
Disabled people
Single parents who are dependent on the child allowance
Housing benefit recipients
The
minister has not yet given any information
on the
amount of the surcharge
, which, according to Heil, will be discussed within the federal government and the coalition factions next week.
Söder on Merkel in the Corona crisis: "Was able to learn a lot from her"
Meanwhile, Bavaria's Prime Minister
Markus Söder (CSU)
praised
the cooperation with Chancellor
Angela Merkel (CDU),
especially in the pandemic, in the highest tones: "I appreciate your
sober
and
science-
oriented style," said Söder, according to a previous announcement from the
world
.
That "helped a lot" in Germany.
From the beginning, he and Merkel, the corona crisis able evaluation
agree
been.
“If you can work with greats, then you shouldn't copy them.
But you can look closely.
I could learn a lot from her, ”he told the daily newspaper.
"The
process of rapprochement
has been
going on
for a long time, it started before the
state elections in 2018,
" continued Söder about his relationship with Merkel.
He was personally impressed “that the Chancellor was ready to help in the state election campaign despite the unfortunate dispute between the CDU and CSU”.
As the new head of the CSU, he then consciously relied on a constructive approach in the grand coalition.
“Another new relationship of trust has developed over time,” said Söder.
Head of the Chancellery Braun: Can everyone be proud of the falling number of corona infections
Update from January 29, 3:20 p.m.:
Chancellery chief Helge Braun
has praised the German population for the discipline with which a large part
would adhere
to the applicable
Corona measures
.
"We can
all be proud of ourselves
in
Germany,
" said the
CDU politician
in an interview with RTL, referring to the continuing decline in the number of
infections
.
The "very exemplary" behavior of the population prevented the feared increase in
new infections
after the Christmas holidays.
For Braun this is a “great result”.
Corona lockdown: Chancellery chief Braun hopes for an opening strategy
For the head of the
Chancellery,
this development gives hope that “if we get below 50 with the numbers, then we can also
start
an
opening
strategy.” However, Braun also appealed to the
population
not to be negligent and so a yo-yo Provoke effect.
That is why the 48-year-old also spoke out in favor of a gradual
reopening
.
Until then, however, it
is still important
for the
CDU politician
that the population take personal responsibility.
“Nobody can wait for the other,” said Braun.
“As the
federal government
, we are
doing
what we can.
But every
nursing home
, every municipality, every
school
must now do everything possible to ensure that things are implemented well. "
Merkel cabinet discusses entry ban: does the measure take effect from Saturday?
Update from January 29, 1:29 p.m
.: The planned
entry
ban
(see our first report below)
could already
apply
from this
Saturday (January 30)
.
This emerges from a new draft ordinance that the cabinet will deal with on Friday and which the
dpa
has received.
A time limit until February
17th is
planned.
Another European country, Finland, has already introduced such a ban.
Exceptions
should apply to:
Persons with residence and right of residence in Germany
Movement of goods
Transportation of medical personnel
Ambulance flights
Transport of transplant organs
Carriage for urgent humanitarian reasons
Transit passengers
Aircraft and ship crews
Areas of distribution of particularly dangerous
coronavirus mutations
are affected
.
As things currently stand, these would be
Great Britain
,
Ireland
,
Portugal
,
South Africa
and
Brazil
.
Corona remains "for decades": Virologist calls for a step-by-step plan and attacks lockdown policy
Update from January 29th, 9.55 a.m.:
While the
7-day incidence
in Germany has long been below the threshold of 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, an expert is still far from seeing any light at the end of the tunnel and is calling for a radical change in course Government.
Klaus Stohr
is epidemiologist and
virologist
and held nearly 15 years leading positions at the World Health Organization
WHO
held.
Also because of this experience, the 62-year-old
assesses Sars-CoV-2
as a problem that the world population will have to grapple with for a long time.
The
virus will
remain "for decades or even centuries," the
virologist
suspected
in the podcast "Die Wochenester" of the
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
.
Corona lockdown: Virologist Stöhr criticizes the federal government's strategy - no alternative to AHA rule until the end of the year
Stöhr is
therefore particularly
critical of
the
federal government's
strategy
in the
corona crisis
, which, in his opinion, would primarily lead to confusion.
"With a good step-by-step plan that sets a positive agenda and flexibly adapts to external conditions, you can move through this seasonal illness to the end much better than
stumbling
from
lockdown
to lockdown," says the expert.
Such a step-by-step plan would also be
of great importance
for the
infection process
in summer, for which Stöhr does not yet suspect any decisive relaxation.
The
virologist believes
that there is no alternative to complying with the AHA rule until the end of the year
.
Because even in summer up to 60 percent of the population could still be “fully susceptible” to an infection.
Corona lockdown: Continuing school closings - "I'm really extremely sorry"
Update from January 28, 6:55 p.m.:
The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg,
Winfried Kretschmann
, commented on the non-opening of schools and daycare centers that was decided on Thursday: "The discussions about further easing have become irrelevant for the time being," said the Green politician.
Daycare centers
and
primary schools
were initially closed until after the carnival holidays, i.e. until February 21.
+
Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), Federal Minister for Health Jens Spahn (CDU)
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
The reason for this is that the
corona mutant was
detected
in 18 children and educators from the Immergrün day care center in Freiburg
.
Kretschmann asked for understanding for the short-term cancellation.
"I am really extremely sorry that we
cannot now implement
our plan
to open
the
daycare centers
and
primary schools
." After the
outbreak of
the Corona mutation in the daycare center, the risk is simply too great.
Corona lockdown: Kretschmann does not want to open schools and daycare centers
Update from January 28th, 4.30 p.m.:
After at least 18 children and educators in a Freiburg daycare center have been
infected
with one of the new
mutations of
the
corona
virus
since January 17th,
political consequences are now being drawn.
The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg,
Winfried Kretschmann (Greens)
, has decided to continue the
corona restrictions
in daycare centers and schools until February 14th.
This is reported by the dpa news agency, which
learned
of this decision in
Stuttgart
from government circles.
Baden-Württemberg is
therefore not opening
daycare centers
and
primary schools
earlier
.
First report from January 28th, 2 p.m.:
Berlin - It's kind of confusing: The
corona numbers are
moving down, easing strategies are being considered.
At the same time, a mutated corona virus is circulating, although it is unclear where it is already and how quickly it can affect other parts of Germany.
The fact is: It is known from other countries around the world that there are increasing numbers of new, more contagious virus variants in circulation.
So that they are not brought into
Germany
even faster
, the federal government is considering what
travel restrictions
could look like.
Federal Minister of the Interior *
Horst Seehofer
is primarily responsible for this
.
He made a statement on Thursday at
Bild Live
.
"It's not about banning travel, it's about taking measures to prevent a highly infectious virus," he said.
“To do this, we do indeed have to restrict certain movements, flight movements, travel movements.
We're just thinking about that. "
Corona: Entry bans possible to protect against virus variants
Seehofer justified the considerations with the efforts that have been made in Germany for months.
Therefore, one cannot “stand by and watch” as the virus is brought further to Germany.
So far, the minister can only present his own ideas about the
measures
.
All other ministers, such as Minister for Economic Affairs Altmaier or Foreign Minister Maas, are of course still allowed to have a say.
Seehofer's basic rule: No entry from
"mutation areas"
.
It currently included Great Britain, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil.
“But more can be added every day,” added the minister.
This means that entry bans from neighboring German countries cannot be ruled out, depending on further developments.
In addition, exceptions are currently being discussed.
The CSU politician is in favor of a very narrow framework, for example for goods traffic and the transport of vital products.
Seehofer announced an inspection at
airports
, on the
road
and on the
train
.
It is not yet certain when such measures will apply.
Corona lockdown: Germany is not waiting for EU-wide regulations
Seehofer said on Thursday morning, according to
dpa
, that Germany was
not waiting for an EU-wide approach
with
entry restrictions
.
At the moment, it is not expected that a European solution will be found in the foreseeable future that corresponds to German ideas.
"That is why we are now preparing it nationally."
The project - and this is important to note - is about measures for entry into Germany.
The
departure
is another point.
"Our constitutional lawyers are of the opinion that significantly higher requirements apply," explained Seehofer.
“Germany will not be a prison,” Seehofer assures when asked.
But anyone who drives into a "mutation area" and then comes back will fall under the new rules that will soon be introduced.
The Interior Minister considers a negative corona test before boarding the plane to be the minimum.
In the conversation, Seehofer also re-classified the sentence by
Chancellor Angela Merkel
*
, which she is said to have said: "We got this thing slipped." from the autumn, when Merkel wanted tougher measures, which the countries ultimately did not support.
Then the situation slipped away.
Corona: Health Minister Spahn wants vaccination summit - but not all problems will be solved after that
The
vaccination
Against the
corona virus remains
the central hope in the fight against the pandemic.
But at the moment there is always a lot of criticism, delivery bottlenecks determine the discussion.
According to Seehofer, Europe could have ordered “more aggressively and on a larger scale”.
But the development of vaccines in such a short time alone is a success story.
Health Minister *
Jens Spahn
also emphasized this
on Thursday in a press statement in the Bundestag.
Most recently, his announcement that a
vaccination summit
with various representatives would take place was
surprising
.
He would also like the EU Commission to be at the table there.
But Spahn does not want to set expectations too high: such a summit will not manage to ensure that a complex process such as vaccine production works smoothly after two weeks.
"That's the truth and I think we should honestly say that."
In addition, Spahn announced
a further initiative
together with
Labor Minister *
Hubertus Heil
.
Five million recipients of basic benefits will soon receive ten
FFP2 masks
free of charge
.
Those affected will receive a letter from the health insurance company with which they can collect the masks from the pharmacy within two weeks if they also present their identity card.
In addition, thousands of aid packages, including protective masks, are sent to nursing homes, institutions for the disabled and the homeless.
“It is important that we keep an eye on society as a whole in this situation,” adds Heil.
(cibo) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network.
List of rubric lists: © Axel Heimken / dpa