The federal and state governments are meeting about Germany's future corona policy.
There should be easing - but also for the unvaccinated?
All developments from the summit in the news ticker.
After a longer break, another “Corona summit” * is due on Tuesday (August 10th).
Chancellor Angela Merkel * and the country leaders are discussing the future Corona course in the Federal Republic.
The most exciting question: Which regulations apply to vaccinated and which to unvaccinated?
For unvaccinated people there should be compulsory testing for indoor spaces.
In addition, corona tests will no longer be paid for from October 11th
(see update from August 10th, 3:20 p.m.)
.
This news ticker is continuously updated.
Update 5:21 p.m.:
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder is now speaking as the third member of the group.
"The truth is: If there is not enough vaccination, there is always the risk of mutations," explains Söder at the beginning.
“We don't want any vaccinations.
Everyone decides whether they want to be vaccinated or not.
But everyone in a free state is also responsible for this, ”says Söder, explaining the abolition of the free tests.
Corona summit with Merkel live: "The group of unvaccinated people is too big"
Update 5:17 p.m .:
"Those who do not accept this offer cannot permanently assume that the solidarity community will finance this path for them," says Müller with a view to the end of the free tests on October 11th. The ruling mayor also points out that there is a free way out of the problems caused by paid tests: a vaccination. "Now we can lay the foundations together so that we can get through this time well in autumn and winter", the SPD politician concludes his statement.
Update 5.15 p.m.:
Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller is now taking the floor.
“The group of unvaccinated people is too large.
There is nothing to talk about, ”said the SPD politician.
"The fact that we are now at a vaccination quota of 60 percent makes it clear that we still have a lot to do."
Update 5:12 p.m.:
As the last point, the Chancellor names the extension of the epidemic emergency of national scope.
However, this has yet to be confirmed by the Bundestag.
Then Merkel's short statement is over again.
Corona summit with Merkel live: 3G rule in focus - tests from October subject to a charge
Update 5.10 p.m.:
"With the number of infections increasing, we are now relying on testing for those who have not yet been vaccinated," explains Merkel.
The 3G rule will be reintroduced at an incidence of 35.
As already reported, this also applies to hospitals, fitness studios and the like. The free rapid tests will be abolished on October 11th.
But only for those who can get vaccinated.
Update 5:06 p.m.:
The incidence now correlates differently with the number of hospital stays due to the high number of people vaccinated, ”continues Merkel.
“We all want that we can curb the increase in the number of infections with low-threshold measures.
But as the pandemic continues, we need more basic protection measures for the entire population.
Update 5:02 p.m .:
"Today we vaccinated 55.1 percent of the population," the Chancellor lists and praises the vaccination rate among the older members of the population.
"The not so good news is that the vaccination rate has slowed down", the Chancellor continued and asks again private individuals to advertise the vaccination in their circle of friends.
Update 4:57 p.m.:
The Chancellor takes the stage and the press conference begins.
Update 4:54 p.m.:
The Prime Minister's
Conference
has probably agreed on another decision.
The epidemic emergency of national concern caused by the coronavirus is expected to be extended by three months beyond September 30.
This is reported by
bild.de.
However, this extension still has to be decided by the Bundestag.
That could be on September 7th.
Corona summit with Merkel live: Next decision announced - 3G rule will be expanded
Update from August 10, 3:47 p.m
.: Unvaccinated people in Germany can expect further restrictions.
As
Business Insider
reports, the so-called 3G rule is to be expanded.
Unvaccinated people therefore need a negative corona test to attend certain events and facilities.
Either a negative rapid antigen test (not older than 24 hours) or a negative PCR test (not older than 48 hours) is required.
According to
Business Insider
, the resolutions will apply to the following areas and will apply from August 23.
Hospitals, retirement and nursing homes and facilities for the disabled.
Indoor events (indoor catering, certain sporting events).
Body-hugging services such as going to the hairdresser.
Indoor sports (fitness studios, indoor sports, indoor swimming pools, etc.)
It still seems unclear whether these regulations are linked to incidence.
The conversation continues.
Update from August 10, 3:33 p.m
.: In addition to the corona course, the afternoon was also about dealing with the flood disaster.
The federal government wants to support the flood helpers with around 30 billion euros.
Corona summit with Merkel live: first decisions on unvaccinated people have apparently been made
Update from August 10, 3:20 p.m
.: The first decisions at the Corona summit have apparently been made.
According to information from the
picture
, two tightenings have already been determined.
For example, from an incidence of 35, there should be compulsory testing for interiors.
Vaccinated and convalescents are excluded from this rule.
In addition, corona tests will be chargeable from autumn.
Starting October 11th, people will have to pay for their test.
People who have not yet been vaccinated continue to get paid for the tests.
This includes pregnant women or children under 12 years of age.
Update from August 10, 2:33 p.m
.: Armin Laschet does not want a new lockdown - at least not in North Rhine-Westphalia.
NRW's black and yellow state government has ruled out that there will be further extensive corona-related restrictions on economic, public and private life in the state.
"We want, have to and will prevent a new lockdown," assured Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) on Tuesday in a special session of the Düsseldorf state parliament.
The governing coalition showed great unity on this course.
Since the corona pandemic did not overload the health system, there should no longer be such a far-reaching shutdown of all public life, underlined FDP parliamentary group leader Christof Rasche.
“Excessive rules are no longer accepted.
They are an enormous risk for jobs, for the economy, culture, sport and also for volunteering. "
Corona summit: leftists criticize "back and forth" and "pegs"
Update from August 10, 1:47 p.m
.: The Left calls on the participants of the federal-state summit to contribute to calming the situation with their decisions on pandemic policy.
"After the back and forth about measures and free tests, I would like the Bund-Länder-Round to find a reliable and comprehensible line," said party leader Susanne Hennig-Wellsow on Tuesday to the AFP news agency.
“We have to get out of this mess of measures.
That just makes people crazy, ”criticized Hennig-Wellsow.
“Instead of questioning tried and tested measures such as free tests, one should concentrate on making improvements where it also helps.” Instead, the 43-year-old asked for the “vaccination turbo” to be started.
Hennig-Wellsow also raised serious allegations with a view to the schools. "What really upsets me is that the federal government has continued to make no efforts to make the schools Corona-proof before the fall," she said. Although most children and adolescents are not vaccinated, “they are not protected across the board by air filters and ventilation systems”. A nationwide supply of school laptops is also necessary. “That is also a social question, and it makes sense regardless of Corona.” Annalena Baerbock had previously criticized the way she dealt with children and adolescents. The Chancellor candidate of the Greens called for a "political promise" *.
Update from August 10, 1 p.m
.: The country leaders have now started their consultations with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
Actually, the start was scheduled for 12.30 p.m.
A press conference is planned after the talks.
When exactly it should start is still unclear.
In the past, the corona peaks had sometimes dragged on considerably.
There's a lot to talk about.
Corona summit: Scholz promotes vaccinations and chargeable tests
Update from August 10, 12:07 p.m
.: Before the federal-state conference on Tuesday, Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) advertised corona vaccinations.
In the meantime, 52 million people have been vaccinated and “nobody has become an alien,” said the SPD candidate for chancellor of the
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung
.
"Many who have been skeptical up to now will hopefully now also get vaccinated, and then they will no longer have to be tested."
If it were up to the finance minister, corona tests would soon be chargeable.
“The tests should no longer be paid for from tax revenue in the foreseeable future.” There was enough vaccine available so that every adult could be vaccinated.
Scholz pleaded for a time “in autumn so that people can adjust to it”.
According to the draft of a draft resolution for the federal-state conference, the previously free corona rapid
tests
are to be abolished for most citizens in October
(see initial report)
.
However, the specific date was left open in the paper.
Corona summit: Laschet expects decision on Corona scale - "first breakthrough will be successful today"
Update from August 10, 11:11 a.m
.: The epidemic emergency in Germany is likely to be extended. The federal and state governments have recorded this in the decision paper for the Corona summit
(see initial report)
. North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister welcomed this step - also in relation to NRW. So that the country can continue to use its instruments in the fight against Corona, this declaration is needed, said Armin Laschet in the morning in the Düsseldorf state parliament.
The FDP, coalition partner of the CDU, contradicted the head of government. An epidemic of national importance is based on an emergency and leads to the restriction of civil rights, said FDP parliamentary group leader Christof Rasche. Since the health system is hardly burdened, there is no such emergency. Therefore, the declaration of emergency should not be extended.
In addition, Laschet expects resolutions from the Prime Minister's Conference to supplement the seven-day incidence as a benchmark for measures against corona.
“As the vaccination rate increases, we have to consider a broader spectrum.” On the basis of various indicators such as hospital occupancy and vaccination progress, it is important to develop a clear mechanism for protective measures.
A proposal will be discussed at the Conference of Heads of Government.
"A first breakthrough will be made today."
+
Armin Laschet (CDU), Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, speaks in the state parliament.
© Federico Gambarini / dpa
Corona summit: Söder fears "pandemic of the unvaccinated" - testing could come
Original notification from August 10th
: Berlin - At the federal-state summit, the further course of action in the coronavirus pandemic * will be discussed. In view of the increasing number of cases and the announced next wave of infections in autumn, politicians are faced with the crucial question: Should a differentiation be made between those who have been vaccinated and those who have not been vaccinated? And if so, how?
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder * (CSU) fears a "pandemic of the unvaccinated" and therefore wants to exert pressure. "Whoever does not get vaccinated is also responsible," said Söder on Tuesday on Bayerischer Rundfunk. “And that also means that the taxpayers cannot cover all of the costs. And then you have to pay for it yourself, ”he said, referring to the corona tests that have been free so far. The debate about paying for the tests * had recently picked up speed. Several Prime Ministers, including Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet * or Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann * (Greens), want to ask the unvaccinated to pay.
At the same time, there could also be a general compulsory test for unvaccinated people. Berlin's governing mayor, Michael Müller (SPD), supports this idea. “Anyone who cannot prove with a vaccination that they are safe for others must do a test,” said the chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference on Tuesday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. He assumes that the obligation to test indoors will be expanded. Müller named hotels, restaurants and large events as examples. Tests from unvaccinated people would be expected there. Shopping is excluded from this. Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet (CDU) apparently wants to go a little further: In the future, tests will have to be carried out wherever you meet strangers in the interior, he said internally on Monday.
Corona summit: restrictions for unvaccinated people?
“3G” should stay
Corona tests are just one example of how a distinction could be made between vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
The most exciting question remains the access to public events.
Laschet spoke out against discrimination against unvaccinated people - and wants to adhere to the "3G rule".
Means: With a negative corona test, even a non-vaccinated person can go into restaurants and the like without restriction.
"3G" plays a decisive role in the resolution proposal for video switching *.
However, a way out of the regulation is also planned - for the individual countries.
The paper says, among other things: "The federal states can provide regulations that the 3G rule are wholly or partially suspended." The passage refers to an incidence limit that has yet to be defined.
In the meantime, Söder spoke out in principle in favor of exempting vaccinated persons from corona restrictions: "Those who are vaccinated pose no danger, so constitutionally it is mandatory to give them back their basic rights." The vaccination is a decisive criterion.
"Those who do not get vaccinated endanger themselves and others".
The primary goal is to prevent another lockdown.
Corona summit: Relaxation for vaccinated people - mask requirement should remain, epidemic situation extended
However, it is not to be expected that vaccinated people will be completely exempted from restrictions. Although there are further advantages such as an out of the quarantine obligation after travel, the mask requirement remains. The draft resolution states: "The wearing of medical protective masks in retail and public transport remains important and is therefore mandatory for the entire population."
In order to obtain the legal basis for the updated Corona course, the summit participants would like to maintain the epidemic situation of national importance.
Germany is "still in a pandemic situation", so it needs an extension beyond September 11th.
The federal government wants to refer to new indicators apart from the seven-day incidence.
These include the vaccination quota, the number of serious illnesses and the resulting burden on the health system.
We will keep you up to date on the final results of the summit in this news ticker.
(as / dpa) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
List of rubric lists: © Janine Schmitz / photothek.de / www.imago-images.de
