Before the Corona summit: Relaxation no, school opening yes?

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Empty classroom: Family Minister Franziska Giffey calls for schools and daycare centers to be gradually opened

Photo: Caroline Seidel / dpa

Does the infection process allow a careful relaxation of the corona rules?

Or is it necessary to extend the shutdown - and possibly even tighten it?

A few days before the next federal-state meeting on the corona pandemic, it is becoming apparent that the debate at the meeting is likely to become controversial.

In view of falling incidence values, the opening-up debate is gaining momentum.

In addition, it is a matter of dispute how schools and daycare centers should proceed.

The federal and state governments agreed on January 19 to continue the shutdown until February 14.

On Wednesday, the country chiefs and Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) want to hold a video conference to discuss how to proceed afterwards.

The spread of highly contagious corona mutations is likely to play a decisive role.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) warned of the risk of relapse.

Rushed loosening could be dangerous.

This can be seen in the Czech Republic and partly in Austria.

If you are not careful, you will ruin all successes.

"And the combination of hasty relaxation and mutation, that's really extremely dangerous."

"If the numbers go down, and they do, then we have more prospects, then there will also be changes and of course back to more freedom and normality," said Söder at the CDU state party conference in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony.

He was connected to the event, which was largely held online.

Federal Family Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) urged that daycare centers and schools should soon be gradually opened.

This is "now priority over other easing," she told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung".

Children and young people carry "the greatest burden of this pandemic".

"We see increasing physical and mental stress and anxiety," said Giffey.

Last year, not only did educational gaps arise, but also loyalty gaps.

According to a scientific evaluation of 68 studies from 19 countries, young people are currently particularly at risk of developing anxiety and depression.

These can arise because contact with people of the same age is severely restricted.

But difficulties in learning and teaching at a distance also depress many people's mood.

Giffey receives support from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

He also pleaded for schools and daycare centers to be considered in particular if the corona measures were to be relaxed.

"Restricting basic rights is no small matter, and it is politicians' duty to restore them as soon as the infection situation allows," Steinmeier told the "Rheinische Post".

He believes that access to daycare centers and schools is particularly important.

However, there are voices expressly warning against school openings.

The virologist Melanie Brinkmann said in an interview with SPIEGEL that schools would have to remain closed for a short time, "otherwise we won't be able to open them properly for a very, very long time because of the more contagious variants."

The chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK), Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) also warned against wasting hard-won successes again.

You absolutely have to avoid a third wave.

Nevertheless, plans are being made for possible easing steps, which will be discussed on Wednesday, depending on the development of the infection in the coming weeks.

"It is clear to me that schools and day-care centers have priority in these considerations," said Müller.

The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach also spoke out in favor of gradually reopening elementary schools and daycare centers from mid-February under strict protective measures.

Daycare and elementary school children can hardly be expected to accept certain restrictions in the long term, Lauterbach told the Funke media group.

"Therefore, one should consider switching to alternating classes in primary school." CDU Bundeschef and NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet said that daycare centers and schools should be the focus of the easing debate.

Health Minister Jens Spahn (SPD) had already spoken out in favor of easing in winter days ago.

He also promised a vaccine suitable for children and adolescents this summer.

According to Spahn, there are a number of vaccine manufacturers that have conducted studies with children and adolescents.

The vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer is approved from the age of 16, the two other vaccines from Moderna and AstraZeneca from the age of 18, according to Spahn.

If things went well, they would have a vaccine in the summer that could protect children and adolescents, he said.

However, the vaccination campaign in Germany is slow because there is too little vaccine available.

The EU is massively criticized for its ordering strategy.

Spahn and Merkel have said that anyone who wants to be vaccinated will be offered a vaccination by the end of summer on September 21.

Some experts consider this goal to be hardly achievable.

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ene / dpa / AFP