Incidence, vaccinations, school openings - the range of topics was broad when the Chancellor exchanged ideas with the district administrators.
What did Olaf von Löwis take away from the group?
Miesbach
- First the Bavarian district administrators, later US President Joe Biden: For Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) it was the Friday that went live.
While the global security situation was discussed in the early evening, the morning was entirely dedicated to fighting the pandemic in one's own country.
The Chancellor had planned two hours for the local politicians, in the end it was two and a half.
"Everyone was allowed to finish, no one was strangled," said District Administrator Olaf von Löwis (CSU), who dialed in alongside around 90 other district administrators and mayors.
Of course, that had its price: It wasn't his turn, but at least he was able to get rid of his questions in the chat.
Tourism "not in the very front row" in case of easing
Among other things, the district administrator was interested in the prospects for the catering and hotel industry.
Once again it became clear that tourism is not at the forefront when it comes to openings.
But: "The federal government takes the concerns very seriously," said Löwis.
"I have the feeling that the topic has arrived." It is clear that there will be no isolated solutions, not even in retail.
The risk of "gastronomy and retail tourism" is too great.
District is on the spot with infection numbers
At the conference, the Chancellor defended the new limit value for relaxation, i.e. a 7-day incidence of 35. And she noted quite critically that many districts are treading on the number of infections.
“I already felt addressed,” admitted Löwis.
In the district, people have been moving around 50 for a long time - sometimes more, sometimes less.
"We have to do something, we will talk about it again on Monday in the crisis team," announced the district administrator.
He suspects unreasonable behavior in the private sphere as one of the causes.
Infected people may also not be honest in the official follow-up of contacts.
“We also asked ourselves whether the proximity to Tyrol played a role,” said Löwis.
“That cannot be ruled out, of course, but it cannot be proven statistically.” He also places some hopes on the nationwide SORMAS software for tracking contact persons and chains of infection.
The program, which was explicitly presented again in the round, is intended to improve the exchange between the health authorities.
No choice with the vaccine - or you hike back in the queue
And then of course there is vaccination.
Everyone will do everything possible to reduce reservations about the Astrazeneca vaccine.
"Before you don't vaccinate at all, Astrazeneca is the better way," emphasized the district administrator.
The Chancellor emphasized that there will be no free choice of vaccines in the future either.
Anyone who is offered a vaccination with Astrazeneca and rejects it will move to the back of the queue.
Löwis: "And that could possibly mean spring 2022."
Mask requirements in primary schools will remain
The general wish of the district administrators and mayors was to give preference to teachers in vaccinating.
Against the background of the school opening next Monday.
As reported, many classes then start classroom teaching again.
Nothing has changed in Löwis' stance that the mask requirement for children must remain in the primary school classes.
He will hold on to it, even if it is to be expected that there will be isolated protests from parents.
All in all, the district administrator drew a positive balance after the live switch.
“At first I was more likely to expect that we would be told to hold on.
I didn't have that feeling either during or after the conference, ”he said.
"We were taken seriously with our concerns."
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