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Finance Minister Olaf Scholz
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Olaf Scholz dares to step forward - and wants to give the citizens hope with a new forecast: "I assume that we will be able to sit in the beer garden again in summer and watch the next Bundesliga season in the stadium again," said the finance minister of the "Rheinische" Post".
Scholz warned before the next federal-state consultations to combat the pandemic on Wednesday opening steps in connection with rapid tests.
“The virus and its mutations will be with us for a while, I'm afraid.
So we have to find ways to avoid having to keep living in lockdown.
So we could combine the next steps in opening with quick tests, ”he said.
This will be discussed with the prime ministers on March 3.
"The current situation is not easy for anyone, so one thing is very important for me to say: We have every reason to hope," said the SPD candidate for chancellor.
The SPD politician criticized the fact that, compared to other countries, little had been tested so far, “and that was not good.
I've been in favor of testing a lot more for a long time.
But that has to be linked to a strategy, what to do with the respective test result, «emphasized Scholz.
»Obtain enough vaccine, test a lot and vaccinate quickly«
The incidence figures are an important criterion.
"But we have to look at the whole environment," Scholz is quoted as saying.
»The virus remains dangerous - more than 65,000 people died from Corona in Germany.
That is a very high number.
So we have to stay cautious until large parts of the population have been vaccinated, ”said Scholz.
Now the rule is: "Obtain enough vaccine, test a lot and vaccinate quickly."
Scholz praised the citizens: “Together we have managed to significantly reduce the number of infections and relieve the intensive care units.
That's the first good news, ”he said.
This week daycare centers and elementary schools would have reopened in many places - »with alternating lessons and with masks, but at least.
That is the second good news. «Next week the hairdressing salons will open, which is particularly important for many older people.
“And on Wednesday the federal government and the federal states will discuss how the further opening steps could look like.
We are on a good way."
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as / Reuters
