The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Corona summit: Merkel explains opening steps, Spahn in the Bundestag in the crossfire - "Last spring pandemic"?

2021-03-04T12:25:40.835Z


The Corona summit is over: The lockdown will be extended until March 28th. The meeting between the federal and state governments ended in a sharp dispute.


The Corona summit is over: The lockdown will be extended until March 28th.

The meeting between the federal and state governments ended in a sharp dispute.

  • The Corona summit did not end until late evening on Wednesday.

    The resolutions were presented at the press conference

    (see updates from 11:37 p.m.)

    .

  • The range between first and second vaccination * should be maxed out.

    From the end of March vaccination should be carried out in doctors' offices

    (see updates from March 3, 5 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.)

    .

  • The lockdown will be extended until March 28th

    (see update from March 3rd, 7.40pm)

    .

  • This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from March 4, 11.35 a.m.:

One night after the Corona summit, the Bundestag has now also updated the "epidemic situation": Until the end of June, the Bund now has special powers to issue ordinances directly and without the consent of the Bundesrat, for example about tests and vaccinations.

However, the opposition criticized serious errors in the law, and the FDP even spoke of unconstitutional elements.

Health Minister Jens Spahn also tried to be optimistic in the debate.

"Everything speaks for the fact that this will be the last spring in this pandemic," he said.

Update from March 4, 11:05 a.m.:

Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has defended the measures taken by the federal and state governments to combat the corona pandemic.

"We are still in the middle of it, the virus has not yet given up," said the minister on Thursday in the final debate on the extension of the epidemic situation of national importance.

Spahn referred in particular to the increasing deliveries of vaccines and the expansion of rapid tests.

The minister had to take in part strong criticism in the plenum: The Bavarian Green MP Manuela Rottmann, for example, accused Spahn of deliberately speaking “in sedating boredom” and concealing his own lack of plan with the word “togetherness”.

The draft law to extend the epidemic situation proves that "every school child has a different view of the corona pandemic" than the government.

The AfD had previously demanded that the “epidemic situation” be lifted because it was used “to legitimize restrictions on fundamental rights”.

Corona summit: Merkel's Chancellery Minister defended resolutions - "Absolutely responsible"

Update from March 4, 9:52 a.m.:

Chancellery Minister Helge Braun (CDU) defended the resolutions of the Corona summit in several media.

The decided easing was "absolutely responsible," said Braun on Thursday morning, for example on the RBB information radio.

The society could "not be kept in a permanent hibernation".

A compromise has been struggled for a long time.

“There was a discussion about whether we should open faster now or whether we should set the incidence from 35 to 50,” Braun admitted considerable differences of opinion in the group.

Merkel then “decided very correctly that it is better that we remain cautious in the sequence of steps”.

Otherwise there is a great risk that “we will open up so much in one step that the numbers will turn out to be bad again and the subsequent opening steps will no longer come into play”.

Braun justified the decision to relax with “new means” such as rapid tests.

In the ARD “Morgenmagazin”, Braun also referred to the decided “emergency brake” as a safety anchor.

This is "very important", if necessary "you have to go back into lockdown".

Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) was also satisfied with the results.

“A lot has been achieved for the economy,” said Altmaier on Thursday in the “early start” of RTL and n-tv.

So there will be the first important but responsible opening steps in March.

In addition, the group said goodbye to the controversial 35 incidence.

"The incidence of 35, which was very severe, which annoyed and upset many, is no longer a prerequisite for opening," said the minister.

"We do not look for rigid nationwide incidences, but we look at the regional situation, in the district in the independent city."

Corona summit: Vice Chancellor Scholz believes in rapid test progress

Update from March 4, 7.50 a.m.:

The negotiations were tough, but late on Thursday evening the federal and state governments announced the corona rules that will apply from March 8.

You can find all measures in our overview.

Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz expects sufficient capacities for tests in Germany quickly after the new Corona resolutions.

On Thursday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin” he referred to rapid tests and the self-tests that are now available.

"We want to use these two possibilities in order to develop more leeway for openings with a comprehensive test strategy," said Scholz, who is Federal Minister of Finance.



"There are a lot of test offers that can be procured," said Scholz when asked whether there will be sufficient capacity quickly.

"And that's why I assume that after a short transition phase, which must necessarily follow this decision, enough ordered tests will be available everywhere and that these test centers, which can then be set up, will also be able to work with the tests." “At some point and on a large scale there will also be self-tests,” which are very helpful, for example in schools.

Corona lockdown summit: opening timetable is set - Merkel calls new incidence limit "dangerous" "

Update from March 4th, 12:50 a.m.:

The negotiations were long and tough.

One thing is certain: the lockdown will be extended.

However, with many opening options.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the country leaders have decided.

The meetings lasted more than nine hours.

The result is a step-by-step opening strategy with a built-in emergency brake.

00:30:

The press conference is over.

Chancellor Merkel said goodbye with the sentence “Good night and good morning”.

00:24:

Markus Söder initially criticized the fact that information repeatedly

leaked out

during the consultations.

You could do this as a live stream for the public, "then maybe they would be shorter," says Söder ironically.

"I don't want to say we are one heart and one soul, but everything is fine again," says Söder about the quarrel with Olaf Scholz.

Such words should not be put on the gold scales.

Scholz was very "pointed".

Corona lockdown: No special regulation for Easter - For Söder, March is a month of hope in the corona pandemic

00.20: When asked by

a journalist, Söder first refers to the difference between quick and self-tests.

Self-tests have only been permitted for a few days.

Therefore, it is a month of transition, as tests and vaccinations are not yet available in sufficient quantities to replace other instruments.

Merkel emphasizes that rapid tests are extensively available and that they have been bought “millions of times” since they were approved in October.

The self-tests, on the other hand, still have to be taken care of sufficiently.

"But there are no special rules that we have made," said Merkel at Easter.

However, that could still happen at the next summit on March 21st.

00.13:

"It was and never is perfect in the corona pandemic, but everyone went to great lengths," says Söder.

March is a month of hope.

We shall see how it turns out.

It was a long session, but he thinks the right balance has been struck.

However, it is not just about the decisions taken in the deliberations, they must also find their way into practice.

00.10:

“In

terms of

testing, we're not as far

along

in Germany as we'd like to be,” says Söder.

This also applies to progress in vaccination.

What has now been decided are already very big steps in some areas.

"We don't have a guilty conscience, but we do have worries and concerns." It is not over.

A signal has been given in the area that is most important to people, private contacts.

Corona lockdown: Markus Söder after federal-state consultations - "Caution, trust and responsibility"

00.07:

Markus Söder speaks: "Caution, trust and responsibility" - this is how the Bavarian Prime Minister describes the result of the Corona conference.

March is a month of transition, it can move for good, but also for bad.

"The truth is: We have an annoying, nervous mood in the country," said Söder.

But the mind urges caution.

You now have to defeat the third wave, otherwise the next lockdown threatens at Easter.

00.01:

At the end of March and beginning of April, general practitioners can be included in the vaccination strategy.

“That is important,” emphasizes Müller.

“In order to be able to inoculate the vaccine even faster and more dynamically.” In the past year, many people had been expected to do a lot, but the procedure was correct and important.

“It wasn't a futile fight that we fought,” he says.

It saved lives.

23:58:

"We are aware of the situation in which many people live, how many livelihoods are at stake," emphasizes Müller at the beginning.

Then he quickly moves on to vaccination.

The countries had a supply of vaccination doses for a week, which would be withheld if a delivery was delayed, according to Müller. It is by no means the case "that millions of vaccination doses are lying around everywhere and are not being vaccinated."

Chancellor Merkel warns of corona mutations - they are currently in a "very delicate phase"

23.55:

You are in a "very delicate phase", said Merkel, referring to the mutations.

The home office will be extended until April 30th.

They are working on a nationwide contact tracking system, which refers to the Luca app.

"I think the negotiations were tough," says Merkel.

She is clear that the cautious easing is likely to "disappoint many people".

But also says that even more people would be disappointed if generous easing had to be taken back quickly.

Now Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller speaks.

23:52:

If the incidence is below 50, retail may open.

If the incidence value falls, outdoor restaurants, theaters, operas and cinemas can also open from March 22nd.

23.50:

Chancellor Merkel now goes into the agreed opening model.

If the incidence value is below 50 within seven days, relaxation is possible.

Further steps can be taken after 14 days of decreasing incidence.

From an incidence of 100, however, an “emergency brake” applies, from which the region returns to lockdown.

Merkel also describes the new limit value as "dangerous".

However, you trust the new vaccination and testing options.

23.45:

The offer of a free corona test per citizen in one week - in the test centers - applies from March 8, says Merkel.

Daycare centers and schools should also receive sufficient rapid tests for self-application.

The federal and state governments set up a task force.

Angela Merkel on resolutions at Corona summit: "Vaccination is the way out of the pandemic"

23.41:

“There should be steps

towards

opening up and at the same time steps that should not set us back in the pandemic”.

There is a risk of a third wave.

But spring 2021 will be different than last year, due to the vaccines and the testing options.

"Vaccination is the way out of the pandemic." Most of the "very old" are now vaccinated and experts expect even more pronounced effects.

“We all want to use flexibility,” says Merkel.

The following topics were discussed:

  • Make use of the interval between the first and second vaccination.

  • Allow AstraZeneca for older age groups.

  • Clever subsequent return management in the event of missed vaccination appointments.

  • Include family doctors in the vaccination campaign.

  • Deliveries to general practitioners are to take place at the end of March / beginning of April.

  • Extend work in vaccination centers to a seven-day shift system.

23:37:

"We just made it with a good evening and don't have to say good morning yet," joked Chancellor Merkel at the beginning.

Today one can speak of hope and a transition into a new phase.

One can be proud of the successes achieved, says Merkel, referring to the intensive care units and, despite mutations, the number of infections is “still the lowest in a European comparison.

Corona summit ended after long negotiations: press conference with Merkel, Söder and Müller

Update from March 3, 11:30 p.m.:

The deliberations are over.

The press conference will start shortly.

Update from March 3, 11:15 p.m.:

What a choice of words at the still ongoing Corona summit.

“You don't have to grin that smurfy.

That is not your money, ”Markus Söder is said to have said to Olaf Scholz during the conflict over the hardship fund.

This is

what Bild Live

learned from the participants.

And Söder apparently added one more thing: “You are not the King of Germany or the ruler of the world”.

Update from March 3, 11 p.m.:

A compromise around the easing is within reach, but the nerves are on edge.

Participants confirm

Merkur.de

to the sharp exchange of words.

Several SPD regents try to calm down.

Corona summit: Markus Söder is tackling Scholz - nerves are apparently bare

Update from March 3, 10.55 p.m .:

“There has never been such a dispute at an MPK”,

Bild Live

claims to have learned from the circles

of participants.

Manuela Schwesig then said to Söder: “You, of all people, such an appearance.” Stephan Weil tried to calm the situation down.

Scholz apparently spoke of “my money” in the debate about hardship money - Söder reacted sharply because he felt the choice of words was a disgrace to the countries.

Update from March 3, 10:50 p.m.:

According to ntv information, the state of Saxony has requested a log note.

The state makes it clear that it “considers the unconditioned openings decided here to be unreasonable in view of the current and foreseeable infection situation and vaccination rate”.

Dispute escalates at Corona summit between Söder and Olaf Scholz: "You are not Chancellor here"

Update from March 3, 10:45 p.m.:

Huge scandal between Söder and Scholz:

According to information from

Merkur.de

,

Markus Söder

attacked Vice Chancellor Scholz.

“I don't know what you drank,” he says to the SPD candidate for chancellor.

Söder said further "you are not Chancellor here".

Update from March 3, 10:25 p.m.:

Further easing is largely consensus in the ongoing deliberations.

This has

Merkur.de

learn.

If the incidence value is below 35, more contacts should be allowed in a further step, then even three households with each other.

According to

information provided by the

dpa

, the compromise for the case of nationwide or regional openings provides for “the retail trade with a limit of one customer per 10 sqm for the first 800 sqm of sales area and another for every additional 20 sqm”.

Update from March 3, 10:20 p.m.:

According to information from

Merkur.de

, a new draft is on the digital table after the interruption - as of 9:20 p.m.

The incidence of 50 is included as the new limit.

Below this value, trade is allowed to open, museums and non-contact sports become possible again.

In the coming weeks there would therefore also be prospects for theaters and cinemas if the incidence locally remained below 50.

The federal-state meeting continues after an interruption - Merkel gives in to the incidence

Update from March 3, 9:50 p.m.:

The federal-state meeting continues.

And according to information from ntv and RTL, Chancellor Angela Merkel has given in to pressure from the country leaders.

Comprehensive loosening should therefore take place from an incidence below 50 - as a prerequisite for further openings.

This value should previously be set stricter with 35.

Update from March 3, 9:36 p.m.:

Free rapid

tests

for all citizens: inside should apparently be possible from next week.

This is currently reported by the

German Press Agency.

From then on, the federal government will take over the costs.

The federal states should offer the tests as soon as possible - with a certificate of the result.

At least one quick test per week should then be possible.

The tests are carried out by specialists in test centers or practices.

Corona self-tests are also to be used, which will soon be available in pharmacies, shops and on the Internet.

In addition, a task force is to be set up for the quick and inexpensive procurement of tests.

Corona summit scandal: "deadlocked discussion" forces interruption

Update from March 3rd, 9:30 pm:

According to information from the

German Press Agency

from participant circles, the background of the current break is a "deadlocked discussion".

This is about the incidence number used as a basis for further easing.

Merkel has signaled her willingness to allow easing for trade from an incidence value of 50.

However, no agreement could be reached on the part of the federal states.

According to

dpa,

a compromise

is now being

sought in a

small circle

.

Merkel, Söder, Michael Müller and Olaf Scholz come together for the special consultation.

The quartet is now trying to find a way out of the deadlocked discussion.

Corona summit interrupted for a break: disagreement over conditions for opening steps

Update from March 3, 9:15 p.m.:

The negotiations were interrupted for a break.

The discussion is apparently deadlocked.

There was trouble with the corona incidences.

The participants in the federal-state meeting have now reached the contentious point of the draft resolution: The conditions for further opening steps.

Merkur.de

had already

learned that Bavaria's Prime Minister warns against loosening too quickly

(see update from March 3, 8:30 p.m.)

.

While some politicians advocate lowering the incidence limit of 35 as a condition for further business openings, others are afraid of a third wave.

This is reported by the

picture

.

The values ​​35, 50 and 100 are up for discussion. That is a broad range.

According to the newspaper, Söder is in favor of opening shops for appointments with an incidence below 50 and allowing more contacts below 35.

According to information from ntv, Angela Merkel has proposed changing the incidence value from 35 in favor of 50 if the federal states refrained from opening retail outlets even faster than planned in the draft.

"If the Chancellor is the most cautious when she says she goes along with me, then I wouldn't turn it down,"

Bild

quotes

Markus Söder.

Nevertheless: The other politicians are apparently calling for the incidence limit of 35 to be removed from the draft resolution.

Update from March 3, 8:40 p.m.:

News from the federal-state meeting: Bookstores, garden markets and flower shops should be allowed to reopen nationwide from next Monday, March 8th.

This is reported by the

Bild

newspaper.

The passage from the decision paper was therefore approved.

Meanwhile, retailers are vehemently calling for openings.

Markus Söder urges caution at corona summits: keep incidence limits strict

Update from March 3, 8:30 p.m .:

"Each of us has a tough battle between feeling and understanding," said Söder, according to information from

Merkur.de

during the ongoing consultations.

In the group, the Bavarian Prime Minister is now urgently promoting not to loosen up too much in exuberance.

Everyone notices the pressure, but the mind says clearly: To loosen up when the numbers rise, you actually need accompanying instruments such as vaccination and testing.

However, neither is available to this extent.

“Anyone who opens without incidences risks a new lockdown.

The incidences are catching up with us all. ”He advocated keeping the incidence limits strict.

Update from March 3, 8:15 p.m.:

A new version for a compromise paper (as of 2 p.m.), which

Merkur.de

has, provides for a restart of tourism - on a small scale.

Presumably after Easter at the earliest, if the incidence is less than 100, holiday homes and holiday homes can be rented again within seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, as well as mobile homes.

So far there is no talk of hotels.

In earlier versions of the draft resolutions, tourism was not yet mentioned as part of a specific opening step.

Corona summit: Apparently confusion about corona tests - self-tests, not quick tests

Update from March 3, 8:10 p.m.:

The Federal

Ministry of

Health had not ordered enough rapid tests, it was initially said from the ongoing deliberations.

As

Business Insider

now explains, these are not quick tests, but self-tests.

The manufacturers of the self-tests will only be able to make these available in large numbers from the beginning of next month, April.

Also because only a few of these tests are officially approved.

According to

Business Insider

,

participants also say

that enough rapid corona tests are allegedly available.

These cannot be applied by yourself, but are carried out by third parties (specialist staff).

Update from March 3, 7:50 p.m.:

At the federal-state meeting,

according to

the

Spiegel

, the first loosening was decided.

From next Monday, private meetings with another household and a maximum of five people should be possible.

Couples count as one household, regardless of whether they live together or not.

Update from March 3, 7.40 p.m.:

According to

dpa, the

lockdown will be

extended until March 28.

This is what the federal and state governments decided at the Corona summit.

Update from March 3, 7.30 p.m.:

As

Merkur.de has

learned, there is now consensus that the range between the first and second vaccination should be maxed out for all corona vaccines.

Fewer doses should be held back as a reserve.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will also soon be recommended for people over the age of 65.

Inoculating the available vaccines directly would be a procedure similar to the British model.

Update from March 3, 7.24 p.m.:

The current Corona summit has been meeting since 2 p.m.

But the deliberations are making slow progress.

As

Spiegel

learned from participants, point one of the proposed resolution - vaccination and rapid tests - took around four hours.

Tensions during the Corona summit: Chancellor Angela Merkel defends Jens Spahn against country leaders

Update from March 3, 7.15 p.m.:

Chancellor Angela Merkel apparently stood in front of Jens Spahn at the Corona summit.

After the Federal Minister of Health raised the prime ministers against himself on the subject of rapid tests, Merkel took him under protection and defended him against the angry country leaders.

Update from March 3, 6:35 p.m.:

There are still tensions between the participants of the Corona summit.

The broadcaster ntv now claims to have found out that Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn asked the state bosses why four million doses of vaccine were withheld for the second vaccinations instead of vaccinating large parts of them to the citizens.

That was obviously not well received by the Prime Minister.

According to ntv, they did not want to be blamed for the sluggish vaccination campaign.

Bild also

reports

that Spahn has not yet ordered any rapid antigen tests.

These should not be available until April in such a number that all citizens can be tested regularly.

According to information from the newspaper, the federal government is now planning to process all of the orders for schools, daycare centers and municipal test centers.

Rapid test setback becomes known at Corona summit: Apparently not enough available

Update from March 3, 6.10 p.m.:

At the end of March, at the latest by the beginning of April, general practitioners and specialists should be able to vaccinate against corona more comprehensively than before in many practices.

The

German Press Agency

learned this from several sources during the deliberations.

A final decision on future measures was therefore still pending.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is also expected to be released to all age groups soon.

Update from March 3, 6 p.m.:

At the moment there are apparently not enough rapid tests for widespread use, as the

picture

wants to know.

A task force should now take care of the order.

The prime ministers reacted indignantly to the fact that the Ministry of Health was apparently unable to provide any specific information.

According to the report, there should be no rapid tests in Germany before April.

Zoff between Söder and Laschet: Bavarian Prime Minister clashes with the CDU boss

Update from March 3, 5.45 p.m.:

Violent controversy between the Union party leaders Söder and Laschet.

Merkur.de

has now received new details on this

.

During the meetings, Markus Söder demanded that the general practitioners be involved immediately when vaccinating.

Armin Laschet, on the other hand, wanted to push that.

The CDU boss is said to have said: If you talk about it today, you open the system for general practitioners, “then tomorrow we'll have them on our necks”.

The Bavarian Prime Minister responded by stating that he was not happy with postponing the release for general practitioners to mid-April.

He finds it regrettable if Armin Laschet otherwise breaks out in vaccination chaos.

Söder also asked whether the CDU politician had no confidence in the doctors if he was so critical of it.

As previously announced, a compromise was finally reached on the involvement of general practitioners “after Easter.

Corona summit is currently running - Markus Söder apparently angry - Zoff with Armin Laschet

Update from March 3, 5:38 p.m.:

As ntv wants to know, it should be possible again to stay in holiday apartments, holiday homes and mobile homes with sanitary facilities from March 22.

Under certain circumstances.

This can be found in the updated draft resolution that is available to the broadcaster.

In addition, the federal and state governments are to discuss the partial opening of the retail sector.

Also from March 22nd.

Here, too, under strict conditions and requirements.

A fourth opening step.

The prerequisite for this is, according to the broadcaster: stable or falling 7-day incidence of less than 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants: inside the region in question.

Update from March 3, 5:30 p.m .:

"Markus Söder is really angry today," quoted

Bild

Live from participants in the Corona summit.

The Bavarian Prime Minister had clashed several times with Daniel Günther, Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein.

Then there was a quarrel with Armin Laschet on the subject of vaccinations.

Apparently there was discussion about when the general practitioners could start vaccinating in their practices.

At the end of the discussion, Söder is said to have said to Laschet: "This is not a joke, the way you say it, it is best to do nothing at all, but push, push, push."

First agreement at the Corona summit!

Vaccinations possible in doctors' offices from the end of March

Update from March 3, 5 p.m.:

A first breakthrough in the deliberations, as

reported by

Bild Live

.

From the end of March, citizens should also be able to be vaccinated in medical practices.

This is intended to increase the vaccination rate in the Federal Republic.

From next week, the federal states should be able to flexibly decide on the sequence of vaccinations, as the newspaper claims to have learned.

Various statements by politicians: inside about vaccination had already made their way outside.

While Söder speaks of “all you can vaccine” and that the vaccination priorities should become recommendations;

warns Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) of chaos and defends the Stiko priorities.

"The Chancellor listened," the newspaper quotes from the deliberations.

Vice-Chancellor Scholz, on the other hand, warns that the vaccination centers could reach the end of their capacities as early as the end of March.

The federal states would therefore have to “upgrade”, said Scholz.

And then comes what the

picture

calls the “Spahn-Hammer”.

According to this, medical practices could possibly get more flexibility after a new regulation - and only use the list of priorities of the standing vaccination commission as a basis.

That could mean that doctors can make flexible decisions.

A possible end to the list of priorities?

Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz: Lift restrictions for people vaccinated against corona

Update from March 3, 4:35 p.m.:

Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to quickly lift restrictions on vaccinated people.

The SPD politician told the

Süddeutsche Zeitung

on Wednesday

.

"Now that the first studies suggest that vaccinated people no longer transmit the virus diseases and therefore do not pose a risk of infection, the next thing we should discuss is which restrictions can be removed for this group," Scholz is quoted as saying.

“I can well imagine that the vaccination certificate can be used like a negative rapid test.

Vaccinated people get access to all those places that are otherwise only accessible with a quick test. "

People who have already been vaccinated against the corona virus can visit beer gardens, cinemas, theaters and sports facilities without having to show a daily corona test.

According to the newspaper, Scholz gave the reason that the current restrictions were deeply interfering with the rights of citizens.

This would only be justified as long as there was a reason for it.

"This also means that the faster we progress with the vaccination, the more we regain our usual everyday life bit by bit."

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn during the Corona summit: AstraZeneca for people over 65

Update from March 3, 4:20 p.m.:

During the corona consultations, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn commented on the AstraZeneca vaccine.

It is based on the assumption that the vaccine can also be administered to older people in the Federal Republic of Germany in the future.

It became known from participants that Spahn assumed that the corona vaccine would be approved for people over 65.

This is thanks to data from Scotland and England.

The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) is in the final decision-making process.

Angela Merkel in Corona consultations: Chancellor speaks of a new phase in the pandemic

Update from March 3, 4.10 p.m.:

Markus Söder (CSU), Bavaria's Prime Minister, has called for

an acceleration of the vaccinations

according to the

dpa

in the Corona consultations.

The motto should be: "All you can vaccinate".

Doctors in the area would also have to be called in.

You have to get out of the rigid “vaccination bureaucracy” and achieve more flexibility.

According to Söder, all doctors should therefore be involved as soon as possible.

That means: general practitioners, company doctors, hospitals and then school doctors.

According to the information, the Bavarian Prime Minister initially referred to AstraZeneca, but later this must also apply to other vaccines.

Update from March 3rd: 4:05 pm:

 It is an "important day".

Chancellor Merkel is quoted from among participants at the beginning of the Corona summit *.

The

German press agency found out

.

The Chancellor emphasized the particular importance of digital consultations on possible easing of the corona lockdown.

"We can move into a new phase," Merkel is said to have said.

Interior ministers' conference on Corona demos: Upper limit for participants in Corona times

Update from March 3, 3:50 p.m.:

While the Corona summit is running, a message from the conference of interior ministers penetrates outside.

As

Spiegel has

learned, the federal and state interior ministers are calling for a maximum number of participants for corona demonstrations.

This can be found in a resolution reported by the newspaper.

The title: "Personnel limits at gatherings as an effective infection control measure".

This involves stricter restrictions on demos during the corona pandemic.

It also says that the paper was sent to Michael Müller (SPD), Berlin's Governing Mayor and Chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference.

It says that the interior ministers “viewed the extremely dynamic infection process with great concern”.

According to

Der Spiegel

, the paper can also be seen: The freedom of assembly is "undoubtedly an outstanding good", even in Corona times, demos should be "fundamentally possible".

But: “At the same time, assemblies must remain epidemiologically justifiable”.

The state has a “duty to protect the life and limb of those attending the assembly, the police forces and the general public”.

Depending on the number of incidences, “restrictions on the number of participants” may be necessary.

Corona in Germany: the federal and state summit has begun - tourism industry appalled

Update from March 3, 2.40 p.m.:

The Corona summit is now running - albeit with a delay.

The video circuit has been running since 2:30 p.m., actually the start was scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

+

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, at the beginning of the Corona summit.

© Guido Bergmann / Federal Government / dpa

According to information from the Berliner

Tagesspiegel

, this time there was no expert talk with virologists in advance as in previous federal-state consultations.

Instead, business and trade union representatives were invited to a meeting.

In the tourism industry, the horror at the previously announced plans was already great (

see update from 1:10 p.m.

).

Corona summit: Criticism of Merkel's plan is growing - "The values ​​will not be reached, so it will not be opened either"

Update from March 3, 2 p.m.:

Before the start of the Corona summit, there is increasing criticism of the plans of the federal government and some country leaders - accusations against the address of Chancellor Angela Merkel are also loud.

FDP leader Christian Lindner said in a guest

post

for

Der Spiegel

that Merkel used the word “opening”, but the head of government was not concerned with “a different policy, but a different language”.

Merkel has "so far defined conditions for an opening that can hardly be met," continues Lindner.

"So today the hopes rest on the federal states." The incidence values ​​50 and 35 are "not sacred", but justified from an administrative point of view, he further emphasized.

Lindner called for an ambitious opening plan with recourse to new means such as rapid tests, apps, masks and better protection of endangered groups.

At least behind closed doors there was also criticism from the group of negotiators.

"The values ​​are not achieved, so there are no openings," said a participant at the Prime Minister's Conference of the

picture

.

Corona summit too complex opening plans: Scholz orders his own graphics - the schedule becomes clearer

Update from March 3, 1.40 p.m.:

The complex plans of the federal and state governments for a step-by-step plan out of the lockdown are sprouting shimmering blossoms - but in any case colorful graphics: Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) apparently has the individual steps to make the individual steps easier to understand Creation of a visualization * commissioned.

This is reported by the

picture

.

The resulting graphic can also be viewed in the short message service Twitter.

A total of 29 graphic elements were required to illustrate the plans.

At the same time, the additional document provides more information than the circulating draft resolutions: Apparently, the easing linked to incidences 35 and 100 should actually be able to come into force from March 8th - and not from March 28th, for example.

According to the information available, the current lockdown should generally be extended up to this date.

So should be opened.

THIS graphic, which was created on the initiative of Vice Chancellor Scholz, was discussed in advance in the advertisements.

@ PICTURE pic.twitter.com/hvB9hrVIpU

- Paul Ronzheimer (@ronzheimer) March 3, 2021

Heidelberg24.de *

also reports

in detail

about the sequence of the five lockdown levels

.

Corona summit on lockdown relief: tourism industry appalled by Merkel plan

Update from March 3, 1:10 p.m.:

Even before the results of the Corona summit are fixed, there is horror in the economy: According to the proposed resolution, hotels and tour operators should not expect any easing for the time being - the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry speaks of a " Hit in the face".

Association President Michael Frenzel said on Wednesday that one was “stunned”.

Even for outdoor catering there is only a completely unsatisfactory perspective “in the penultimate step”.

“When it comes to the subject of coronavirus and travel, large parts of politics still give the symbolic rabbit in front of the queue.

After a year of pandemic, the time of political shock must finally be over, ”explained Frenzel.

Under no circumstances should the topic of tourism only be discussed at the next summit.

Merkel's Corona summit: test problems could upset everything

Update from March 3, 12.55 p.m.:

The Corona summit with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the country leaders starts in just over an hour.

But reports say there have been doubts about the planned easing behind the scenes since Tuesday.

Because one of the main arguments in favor of the openings in the papers at hand is the weekly rapid tests that are proposed for people in Germany.

It is apparently still unclear whether these tests are available in sufficient numbers.

This is what the

Business Insider

portal

claims to have found

out from “government circles”.

Jens Spahn's Ministry of Health only presented a strategy paper on Monday, but it lacks concrete figures.

There is also concern as to whether test centers can be set up by the federal states at sufficient speed.

A possible first reaction: In the updated draft resolution from Wednesday morning, only a weekly test in schools and companies is targeted - previously it was unclear whether there should be one or two tests.

However, it already seems clear that the test strategy will be expensive: According to the report, the Ministry of Health expects costs of 540 to 810 million euros per month.

On the other hand, however, this amount would also be offset by the immense costs of a continued lockdown.

Corona lockdown in Germany: But no Easter relief at the summit?

Merkel completes a 180-degree turnaround

Update from March 3, 11.55 a.m.:

Will the group around Angela Merkel have too much courage to open up?

One passage has completely disappeared from the updated draft resolution: the one in which a relaxation of the contact restrictions was announced at Easter.

According to information from the dpa, the latest paper comes from the Federal Chancellery, but has not yet been coordinated with all countries.

On the other hand, the pressure to open is growing: the retail sector is insisting on reopening at the beginning of next week in view of the existence-threatening situation of many shops.

The shops should be allowed to reopen on March 8, the German Trade Association (HDE) demanded on Wednesday.

"It is disappointing that the secure and fair opening strategy that was originally promised for February 10 and then for March 3 is still not in place," wrote HDE President Josef Sanktjohanser and Managing Director Stefan Genth to Chancellery Minister Helge, according to the association Braun (CDU).

The retail trade is "demonstrably not a source of infection";

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has classified both the risk of infection and the share of the retail trade in the general infection rate as low.

Corona summit with Merkel today: draft resolution now shows new "magical value" for easing

Update from March 3, 10:50 a.m.:

Even before the start of the Corona summit, the ideas of the round of four from Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), her deputy Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the country chiefs Markus Söder (CSU) and Michael Müller ( SPD) - and expanded with a view to possible easing.

A new magic incidence number in the new draft is the "100".

Countries or regions that remain stable below this number should also be able to loosen strongly, albeit with a delay.

This emerges from a further draft with the state of negotiations at 7.30 a.m.

The paper is available from

Merkur.de

*.

On the one hand, the incidence 100 should become the "emergency braking" value.

If an area exceeds this limit for three consecutive days, easing will be withdrawn.

At the same time, in regions below this mark, more cautious loosening is possible first - if the infection rate remains stable afterwards, it can be loosened with a 14-day delay just as it is in areas below the incidence of 35.

Specifically: Below the 100 incidence, "appointment shopping" and, for example, museum visits by making an appointment are initially possible.

After 14 days, outdoor dining, theater visits or outdoor contact sports should be possible - but only with a daily corona quick test.

After another 14 days under 100, retail and contact sports can be allowed without a test.

If the incidence rises above this magical mark, the "emergency brake" is applied at any point in time and the currently valid lockdown returns.

Corona summit: Merkel and the federal states are already stepping up - "emergency brake" and fifth opening step planned

Update from March 3, 9:20 a.m.:

A few hours before the Corona summit, the negotiators from the federal and state governments added: There is an updated draft resolution: The already quite extensive paper from Monday evening * has meanwhile been readjusted in some points.

The updated draft resolution of the federal-state working group, which was also

submitted to

Merkur.de *

on Wednesday, now provides exact specifications for an emergency brake mechanism in order to return to stricter contact restrictions in the event of an increase in the number of infections.

The emergency brake should be pulled if the seven-day incidence rises to over a hundred for three consecutive days, the draft says.

Then the previously valid contact restrictions should come into force "from the second following working day".

In the updated resolution, the conditions for the reopening of the retail trade were relaxed slightly.

Initially, it was planned to only allow one customer per 20 square meters of business space.

The current draft now envisages admitting one customer per ten square meters "for the first 800 square meters of sales area".

In addition, there can then be one customer per 20 square meters.

The updated draft resolution also outlines a five-step opening plan for the way out of lockdown - the draft announced the day before still consisted of four steps.

The newly added fifth level now provides for outdoor leisure events with up to 50 people;

The prerequisite for this is that the seven-day incidence remains below 35 for 14 days after the previous level has come into effect.

Corona summit on Wednesday: Merkel's education minister wants to see schools "in the first place" in the opening debate

Update from March 3, 7.45 a.m .:

From 2 p.m., the federal and state governments will discuss how to proceed in the coronavirus pandemic, an extended lockdown and careful opening steps are already part of the discussions in advance.

Before the consultations, Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek advocated prioritizing schools.

Further possibilities for easing schools should "be in the first place in the current discussion," Karliczek told the newspapers of the Funke media group on Wednesday.

An expansion of face-to-face teaching is only possible if loosening up in other areas is carried out “with caution and caution”.

“The schools are currently still a long way from normal operation.

This must not be forgotten, ”said Karliczek.

For the pupils affected, the “persistently difficult situation” becomes more and more problematic, “the longer the face-to-face teaching is suspended, which is recognized as the best form of teaching”.

Corona summit: Merkel fears that negotiations will be "still pretty complicated"

Background from March 3, 2020:

Berlin - After months of Corona * lockdown, further opening steps are on the horizon - but depending on the regional infection rate and with an "emergency brake".

According to the dpa, this emerges from a preliminary draft resolution for the Bund-Länder-Round this Wednesday, which is as of Monday 7:10 p.m. and, according to reports, has not yet been coordinated with all Länder.

Numerous openings are also linked to mass rapid tests *.

In principle, the lockdown * should be extended to March 28th, also because of the risk of the new virus variants *.

Most recently, many industries and sports clubs and associations had called for an end to the standstill.

Individual prime ministers slowed down.

Baden-Württemberg's head of state * Winfried Kretschmann does not currently see any quick opening steps - the infrastructure must first be in place for mass rapid and self-tests.

North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Armin Laschet * promoted cautious openings.

Chancellor Angela Merkel * announced a more regionally oriented opening strategy that no longer only relies on nationwide incidences or R values ​​*, she said according to dpa information in the Union parliamentary group meeting.

She, too, thinks openings are necessary.

The main point of conflict in the upcoming consultation between the Prime Minister and Merkel is likely to be which incidence values ​​are assumed for which opening steps.

Corona summit on Wednesday: draft paper makes the rounds in advance

+

Angela Merkel will advise the federal and state governments on how to proceed in the corona crisis on Wednesday.

© IMAGO / Political-Moments

The draft paper for the Bund-Länder-Round, about which

Business Insider

first

reported, was drawn up by a round from the Chancellery, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the states of Berlin and Bavaria.

Chancellor Merkel was quoted as saying: "In detail, it will certainly be quite complicated." Because: The negotiations have not yet been concluded.

Final decisions are only expected in a conversation on Wednesday afternoon.

The following steps were initially planned:

Contacts:


From next week onwards, meetings between your own household and another household may be possible, limited to a maximum of five people.

Currently, you are only allowed to meet someone who does not live in the household.

From a certain number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week, even more generous rules should be possible: Meetings with two other households, a maximum of ten people.

However, it is still unclear from which seven-day incidence * this should apply.

Over Easter - similar to Christmas - it could again be possible to visit relatives in a somewhat larger circle.

Corona summit: New rules for retail, museums and garden centers from next week

Garden markets, flower shops and bookshops:


in some countries they are already open, in others they are not.

This should be more uniform and possible everywhere.

This could also apply to so-called body-hugging services and driving schools - but only with a corona test.

Retail:


If the incidence remains stable below 35, retail could reopen with a limit on the number of customers.

Above an incidence value that has yet to be determined -

Business Insider

reported an incidence of 100 - at least shopping after booking an appointment and with contact follow-up could be allowed.

But there is still a great need for negotiation, it said.

Museums, zoos, botanical gardens, memorials:


they could reopen from a value of 35 - if the incidence has yet to be determined, at least by booking an appointment in advance.

Here, too, the

value of 100 reported

by

Business Insider

could be

decisive.

Corona summit on Wednesday: when can gastronomy reopen?

Gastronomy:


According to the draft, outdoor areas should only open if the incidence remains stable below 35 for 14 days.

From a value that has yet to be determined, you could at least go out to eat by booking an appointment.

Tests would be mandatory if people from several households are sitting at the same table.

Sport:


Sport could also be allowed again from an incidence of 35 in small groups of a maximum of ten people.

However, only outside and contact-free, such as fitness or jogging together, but no football.

The draft only envisages contact-free sports indoors, for example in the gym, and contact sports outdoors if the incidence in the region remains stable below 35 for 14 days - here too, daily tests could be relaxed earlier.

Theaters, concert halls, cinemas:


they could normally only open when the incidence is stable below 35, with tests possibly earlier.

Federal-state summit on the corona pandemic: "Emergency brake" should apply at a certain threshold

Emergency brake:


Should the incidence rise above a certain value on several consecutive days, the currently applicable lockdown rules should automatically come into force again - without an extra decision.

However, the threshold for this is still open.

Schools:


The education ministers announced that the lessons begun in primary schools should be extended to other years - "if the infection situation still allows it".

Further easing:


According to the draft decision, the draft decision will not discuss any easing for events, travel and the hotel industry until March 24th.

The 35 limit for relaxation on a broad front, announced at the last federal-state round, could now be abandoned - if much more is tested.

Regular Corona * tests represent "an important building block to enable more normality and secure contacts," it says in the draft.

(dpa / fmü)

*

Merkur.de

 and heidelberg24.de are offers from IPPEN.MEDIA

List of rubric lists: © Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-03-04

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.