A step-by-step plan should pave the way out of the corona lockdown.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is said to have proposed a four-step approach.
A lot had to close because of the corona pandemic - but opening discussions are ongoing.
Chancellor Angela Merkel * (CDU) has now proposed “four opening steps without the yo-yo effect” in a presidium meeting
(see update from February 22nd, 10.11 am).
The government wants to closely monitor the first
steps in
opening
(see update from February 22, 2:27 p.m.).
This news ticker is updated regularly.
Update from February 22, 9:15 p.m.:
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) aroused hopes for Corona easing on Monday - among other things, a working group on openings under Chancellery Helge Braun (CDU) will meet on Tuesday, of course with a view to the coming Corona summit on March 3rd.
In the CDU presidium there is a strong will to allow openings, reported the AFP news agency, citing participants in the CDU round with Merkel.
But the next setback apparently followed on Monday evening.
Working group leader Braun has evidently shown extreme skepticism about openings in a federal-state switch - at least that was what
bild.de
reported in the evening
.
In view of the increasing number of infections, according to Braun's assessment, "actually no loosening" is possible, participants in the video conference told the website.
One reason is apparently the postponement of the planned large-scale rapid test start in Germany.
Merkel's confidante Braun allegedly explained that openings are only possible in combination with my test strategy.
The test offer for all citizens promised by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) for March 1 should only be discussed at the next summit, as government spokesman Steffen Seibert said after a meeting of the Corona cabinet.
Lockdown in Germany: two steps towards easing?
Country chief Weil sees ways to "freedom"
Update from February 22nd, 6:53 p.m.: Vaccinated people
can soon count on more freedom in Germany - at least if Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) has it.
"More and more people will gradually be vaccinated," he told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
“If there is no longer any risk of infection, a visit to a restaurant and other things might be possible.” The latest figures on the Biontech vaccine point in this direction.
Weil named tests with a negative result as the second way.
If the new generation of rapid tests is easier to handle and at the same time reliable, it opens up completely new perspectives, says Weil.
This is still a long way off, but both ways to more freedom are foreseeable.
From Weil's point of view, both should be opened at the same time.
Then there would be an alternative for those who couldn't be vaccinated yet, and no discussion of privileges.
"And the best way is to combine both paths through a nationwide app, such as the existing Corona warning app." Indirect pressure to open openings also comes from other countries: For example, in England "normality" should already rule in June - Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on Monday from a "one-way street to freedom".
Corona easing in Germany: Merkel's spokesman warns - "Nobody can want that"
Update from February 22, 2:27 p.m.:
The corona incidence is rising again, the proportion of more contagious virus mutations is growing, at least
that's what
experts assume.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert announced at the federal press conference that there will be new figures soon.
The share of the British variant is currently between 20 and 25 percent.
In view of this fact, the federal government continues to consult with the federal states about what a “sensible opening strategy” can look like.
However, the advance of the mutations makes this more difficult.
Seibert pointed out that with the opening of schools and daycare centers in some federal states and the early opening of the hairdressing salons, the first wave of opening is underway.
Even if everyone gives their best with concepts and hygiene precautions, this is a “considerable increase in contacts”, so you have to look carefully “whether and how that affects”.
Seibert also said it was the government's goal to hold out openings.
Openings followed by closings, “nobody can want that”.
The Corona cabinet had previously met.
According to Seibert, the ministers provided advice on topics including digital vaccination records, rapid tests and the modeling of vaccination scenarios.
Corona lockdown: Merkel's four-step plan for easing
Update from February 22, 10.11 a.m.:
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is said to have proposed four steps for a gradual easing as Germany's way for easing the Corona crisis.
You see in Germany a "legitimate yearning" for relaxation, so the Chancellor in a committee meeting of the CDU.
AFP
and
Bild.de
report
, citing statements from meeting participants.
"It needs a clever opening strategy for private contacts, schools, universities, vocational schools, restaurants, sports clubs, etc.," said Merkel accordingly.
She also sensitized her colleagues in the party to a “uniform Union line”, which was “indispensable”.
From Tuesday, February 23, a working group with Chancellor Helge Braun and the heads of the state chancelleries of the federal states should work out the details, reports the
image
.
"Four opening steps without the yo-yo effect," announced Braun.
This should then serve as the basis for the next Corona summit on March 3.
However, Merkel already defined three rough opening clusters, for each of which four levels would have to be defined:
Personal contacts
Schools and vocational schools
Sport, gastronomy, culture
Does that dampen the prospects for the concept that industry representatives from culture and sport are creating together with scientists?
They want to present their step-by-step plan, the “Gradual return of spectators and guests: An integrated approach for culture and sport”, at a press conference this Monday from 11 am.
Merkel's way out of the corona lockdown: hope for self-tests
The presidium also discussed the possibility of how family and company doctors could be involved in vaccinations, it said.
Health Minister Jens Spahn has made it clear that this only makes sense if, as with the flu vaccination, 3 to 5 million vaccine doses are available per week.
Overall, however, the assumption of costs by the federal government planned from March 1 for the corona tests could help.
He made it clear that there will be the first self-test approvals from next week.
The curve of new infections showed up for the fourth day in a row on Sunday - despite the lockdown that has been in place since mid-December.
On Monday, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported hardly any change: within one day the health authorities reported 4,369 new infections, a week ago it had been 4,426.
At the same time, however, the number of new infections reported within seven days per 100,000 inhabitants (seven-day incidence) continued to rise: to 61.0 nationwide.
The day before it was still at 60.2.
Corona step-by-step plan: way out of the lockdown for culture and sport?
Update from February 22nd, 8:54 a.m.:
He should introduce the gradual easing: The step-by-step plan of the federal and state governments in the spring of the Corona crisis 2021. But the numbers only a few days before the presentation dampen expectations.
The step-by-step plan should not only be based on the new infections, as the chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference, Michael Müller (SPD) said.
"An R value well below 1 and a falling utilization of intensive care medicine will also be important criteria for the next easing
step
."
(See update from February 21, 6:25 p.m.)
The RKI reported an R value of 1.10 on Sunday, which is not only above 1, but also shows an upward trend.
The corona mutations from Great Britain and South Africa do not seem to be stopped with the lockdown measures.
This realization seems to be consolidated on the day when alternating lessons are to start again in daycare centers and elementary schools in ten federal states.
But what does that mean for the gradual opening?
Phased plan for the end of lockdown in Germany: target values could be adjusted again
The mayor of Berlin announced a proposal for the new week: If the federal states “remained stable for several weeks” below the incidences of 35 or 50, “further steps in culture and gastronomy can follow”.
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) said on Sunday on ARD: “It makes sense to (...) define levels from when the next step can be taken.
But the truth is: an incidence of less than 10, which is at least a long way off in the vast majority of regions in Germany. ”He was referring to an infection rate that some virologists claim as a target value, but which some prime ministers consider too ambitious.
Spahn brushes easing plans aside: “It just doesn't work” - Minister now wants incidence 10
Update from February 21, 7:35 p.m.:
Many in the country are hoping for easing - and the simulation games for the way out of lockdown are increasing, from DFB (see first report) to FDP.
But on Sunday the federal government rejected a clear route towards openings.
Health Minister Jens Spahn even spoke in the ARD program "Report from Berlin" of a target incidence number below 10.
“Everyone wants a three- and six-month plan, but that's just not possible.
I think we shouldn't make false promises, ”said the minister in the evening.
First of all, in view of the increasing spread of virus mutations, he wants to wait and see how the opening of further schools and daycare centers will affect this Monday.
"What is important now is that we look step by step to see what changes the opening of daycare centers and schools will bring with regard to infection," said Spahn.
"If we are sure-footed, so to speak, we can take another step."
"It makes sense, together - that's the conversation with the countries - to define the stages from when the next step can be taken," stressed Angela Merkel's Health Minister.
"But the truth is: an incidence of less than 10, which is at least quite a long way off in most regions in Germany," said Spahn.
Sport and culture despite Corona?
Associations apply pressure - but politics slows down: "It's kind of a step-by-step plan"
Update from February 21, 2021, 6:25 p.m.:
Is there finally easing in Germany and a way out of the corona lockdown?
An alliance of several associations at least demands that - but the chances are still not very good.
At the weekend, SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach again warned of a "third wave".
The influential Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) also dampened expectations of a new “step-by-step plan” at the weekend.
“Paragraph 28a of the Infection Protection Act with the incidences of 35 and 50 is a step-by-step plan,” he told
Welt am Sonntag
.
At the same time, he emphasized that one could not “orientate oneself to a“ static view of incidences ”: The spread of the mutations and the progress of vaccination also played a role.
But Brinkhaus did give a little hope for openings.
Parts of the retail trade were always open anyway, he explained - "I assume that we will differentiate further in the near future."
The chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference, Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD), meanwhile announced a “perspective for the spectrum of possible openings”.
The plan should not only be based on the number of new infections in the previous week.
"We will include several factors," said Müller
Stuttgarter Zeitung
and
Stuttgarter Nachrichten
.
Corona easing in Germany?
“Really difficult phase” - politics gives vague hope, but above all slows down
"The incidence value remains important, but an R-value well below 1 and a falling utilization of intensive care medicine will also be important criteria for the next easing step".
Müller advocated that the Prime Minister's Conference should be based on the legally stipulated incidence values of 35 and 50.
In view of the virus mutations, among other things, he also made it clear that the step-by-step plan was “not a one-way street in the direction of easing”.
"If necessary, we will have to adopt restrictions again if the numbers rise sharply again, as in other European countries."
Politicians are nevertheless aware of the expectation.
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) spoke of a "really difficult phase" of the pandemic at a discussion in his house broadcast on the Internet on Saturday.
Everyone is tired after twelve months.
There is an expectation that with a decrease in the number of new infections, the restrictions will also go a little further.
With a view to school and daycare openings, the Association of Education and Upbringing (VBE) warned against an opening competition between the countries.
"The openings are not a competition in which the federal state wins, which implements the most extensive easing and risks the health of all those involved to the maximum," said VBE boss Udo Beckmann to the editorial network Germany.
In Bavaria, the upcoming school openings at the weekend caused displeasure.
Corona: Step-by-step plan should pave the way to normalcy - first details about the plan leaked
+
In the foreseeable future, will there be cultural and sporting leisure activities again in addition to walks?
© Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa
Initial report from February 20, 2021:
Berlin - hairdressers will be allowed to reopen soon, retail is being discussed - but when can you go back to a concert, cinema, theater or to the game of your favorite team?
There is now a three-step plan for science, sport and culture.
It will be presented on Monday (February 22nd).
The
dpa has
already received the paper.
The approach makes it possible to transport “mass events with reasonable effort and top events with relevant additional investments back to the audience and guests”, it says.
The
Bild
newspaper
had previously
reported.
Large events despite Corona: DFB and German stage association among level plan supporters
The paper is supported by 20 scientists as well as numerous associations and organizers, including the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Stage Association.
According to
the
dpa
, the
guideline
initially
provides
for this "basic concept":
In the case of closed rooms, the following is a prerequisite: The occupancy of each location is between 25 and 30 percent.
Every organizer should adhere to a hygiene, ventilation and infection protection concept.
Mandatory are: personalized tickets, which are checked together with the ID.
Also mandatory are: medical masks.
Minimum clearances apply (with correspondingly empty rows of seats).
No sale of food or drinks.
In the outdoor area, an occupancy rate of up to 40 percent is then possible.
Mask compulsory should apply up to the seats, with more than 1000 visitors there should be no alcohol.
The basic model for indoors and outdoors does not distinguish whether visitors already have a vaccination or not.
Sport and culture in spite of Corona: Initiative against "wild growth of hygiene concepts"
Any increase beyond that requires an “individual special concept”, the 21-page paper also says.
A hygiene concept with high standards should "prevent uncontrolled 'wild growth' of hygiene concepts".
The variant named in the paper “maximum model” requires a test strategy with, among other things, digital support for contact management.
Antigen tests before each event would also be mandatory.
The paper assumes that access is then possible up to the full occupancy.
+
When will the ranks be filled again?
The Allianz Arena in the corona pandemic.
© Kai Pfaffenbach / dpa
The supporters include experts from the fields of infectious diseases and virology, ventilation technology, health economics as well as sports, culture and law.
The DFB, handball federation, volley band federation, basketball federation with their respective league associations as well as the stage association with numerous individual theaters signed.
In addition to some halls and arenas, the events sector includes the festivals Hurricane, Wacken, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park and Lollapalooza.
(dpa / frs)
List of rubric lists: © Tobias Schwarz / dpa
