"There are very difficult weeks ahead of us": Spahn is raising the corona alarm and now wants to tighten it

Jens Spahn is sounding the alarm about the fourth corona wave.

After the conference of health ministers, he warns of difficult weeks.

These plans should now bring about the turning point:

• In Lindau on Lake Constance, Jens Spahn and the state health ministers discussed the fourth Corona * wave.

• Booster vaccinations * should now be possible for everyone six months after the second vaccination.

• Jens Spahn warns: "We have very difficult weeks ahead of us" (see update from November 5th, 1:10 pm)

Update from November 5, 2:13 p.m.:

In view of the aggravated corona situation in many regions of Germany, the federal and state governments want to enable booster vaccinations for all vaccinated people after six months. For this purpose, the federal states would, among other things, provide vaccination buses and vaccination centers, said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) after a meeting of federal and state ministers in Lindau on Friday. The resident doctors would also get involved in the booster vaccinations. “Boosters after six months should become the rule - not the exception.” This applies in particular to the elderly and the staff of nursing and health care facilities.

In addition, according to the will of the federal and state governments, strict 3G rules for indoor events are to help contain the coronavirus in Germany. The fourth wave is rolling through the country with full force and 3G has therefore become “even more important” indoors, said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) on Friday after a meeting of health ministers in Lindau. 3G means that only vaccinated, convalescent or tested people have access. The consensus is that “we need more control of 3G in everyday life,” said Spahn. In addition, 2G - i.e. access only for vaccinated and convalescent people - should exist as an option for regions with a very high infection rate. For the first time, there is consensus between the federal government and all states that such 2G regulations must exist.

The hospitals and nursing staff should also be relieved financially.

Here grants are planned.

"There are very difficult weeks ahead of us": Spahn is raising the corona alarm and now wants to tighten it

Update from November 5, 1:55 p.m.:

The press conference is over.

Update from November 5th, 1:42 pm:

Spahn

it is "good" that a possible vaccination requirement is being discussed.

There are arguments for and against.

He goes on to explain: "Anyone who works with old or vulnerable people has a moral obligation to vaccinate."

Update from November 5, 1:37 p.m.:

When

a journalist, Holetschek explains that the issues that have now been decided must be put into practice with the interior ministers of the federal states.

He explains that the vaccination centers, for example in Bavaria, are "on standby".

“It's good that they are still there”.

You can start them up again relatively quickly.

But the medical practices will also do their part.

Professor Janssen: Hospitals have "reached critical limits"

Update from November 5, 1:31 p.m.:

Professor Janssens talks about a nurse whom he recently retired after 45 years in the same hospital. She has now worked on the Covid ward for 19 months: "Those were the worst months of her life." Thanks to the vaccinations, "thank God" we have not yet that many Covid patients on the wards. "But we have full intensive care units," because there are not only corona patients, but much more without Covid-19. They would have to be treated with the same care. There we have now reached a “critical limit” because of the lack of staff.

"The concepts that have been decided today are sensible and important," says the professor.

"With the vaccinations, we now have at least a weapon in hand." But: "The next few months will be tough, I'm sure of that."

Update from November 5th, 1:23 pm:

"We not only have a tough time ahead of us, but also two tough years behind us," explains Monika Bachmann from Saarland.

She thanks that the chairman of the Holetschek conference had invited Professor Janssens and a nurse today to describe the situation on site.

The nurses are "finished and broken." They cannot just take five days' leave.

Update from November 5, 1:19 p.m.:

Minister Petra Grimm-Benne from Saxony-Anhalt announces financial support for the hospitals.

She wants to do that retrospectively to November 1st.

She emphasizes again that the tests in the homes will remain free until winter so as not to disadvantage the weak again.

So lonely Christmas, like last year, should be prevented.

Spahn announces booster vaccinations for everyone - "We have very difficult weeks ahead of us"

Update from November 5, 1:17 p.m.:

There is a lot of frustration in the intensive care units because "a lot of stress could have been prevented" - with more vaccinations. "Anyone who denies Corona, who says this virus is not that bad, anyone who hesitates, thinks about whether to get vaccinated or not, anyone who believes they are young, healthy, invulnerable, should maybe just talk to nurses, especially to speak to intensive care nurses and doctors. In the end, it's up to everyone, ”said Spahn.

Update from November 5th, 1:10 pm:

Jens Spahn speaks of a "force" that the fourth wave absorbed. “We have very difficult weeks ahead of us. This is evident from the high level of infections. ”It is all the more important to break this wave now. You have the tools in hand, such as the booster vaccinations. The medical profession as well as the federal and state governments agree that this booster should come for everyone. In addition, one must protect the places that are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly and nursing homes. The booster vaccinations now need more speed. “Boosters after six months should become the rule.” Not only are the medical practices involved, but also the vaccination centers and offers such as vaccination buses.

3G has also become "even more important" indoors, says Spahn.

The consensus is that “we need more control of 3G in

everyday life,” said Spahn.

In addition, 2G - i.e. access only for vaccinated and convalescent people - should exist as an option for regions with a very high infection rate.

Health Minister Holetschek warns: "The situation is serious"

Update from November 5, 1:03 p.m.:

The Bavarian Health Minister Holetschek speaks of a dramatic and worrying situation.

“The situation is serious and it is becoming more serious.

We made some decisions in great unity. ”In principle, booster vaccinations should be possible for everyone after six months.

But especially for the elderly, those with previous illnesses and medical staff.

A nurse who took part in the conference made the dire situation clear to everyone.

“Nursing is the mega-topic in future evaluations.” Holetschek also wants financial incentives for caregivers, such as a bonus or tax relief.

Visitors to nursing homes should again receive free tests.

Update from November 5, 12.27 p.m.:

At the moment, the Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn and the state health

discussing the further path in the corona pandemic with a view to winter.

At 1 p.m. they want to appear in front of the press and present their plans.

Corona numbers, booster vaccinations and lockdown - these are the health ministers' new plans

First report from November 5, 2021:

Lindau - The fourth Corona * wave is picking up speed.

The health authorities in Germany reported the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) to the new record of 37,120 new corona infections within one day.

The RKI even changed its risk assessment for incompletely or not vaccinated people from “high” to “very high”, according to the weekly report published on Thursday evening.

"For fully vaccinated people, the risk is assessed as moderate, but increasing due to the increasing number of infections," it said.

A week ago, the risk for vaccinated people was described as "moderate" in the report.

Corona: Health ministers advise on booster vaccinations

Against this background, the health ministers of the federal states meet in Lindau on Lake Constance.

The important topics: booster vaccinations *, protection of nursing home residents and support for hospitals.

At 1 p.m., a press conference with Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU *) and his country colleagues Klaus Holetschek (CSU *) from Bavaria, Monika Bachmann (CDU, Saarland) and Petra Grimm-Benne (SPD, Saxony-Anhalt) is scheduled.

The chairman of the conference, Bavaria's Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU), spoke on Thursday of a “big program”.

On some questions, however, there were trend-setting statements right from the start.

Video: Spahn about new measures in winter

Spahn and his colleagues want booster vaccinations for everyone after six months

According to Spahn, the health ministers agree that a booster vaccination six months after the second vaccination with a view to autumn and winter makes sense for everyone. “Boosters should become the rule, not the exception.” Because they are prioritized for first and second vaccinations, it is primarily older people, those with previous illnesses and medical staff who are first in line. “Boosting makes sense there,” said the Minister of Health. The Standing Vaccination Commission currently only recommends booster vaccinations for over 70-year-olds and those with previous illnesses.

Around 2.4 million people have received such a booster vaccination so far.

The Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology, Carsten Watzl, also expects a lot from it.

"People get a kind of super protection, so to speak, and can hardly pass the coronavirus * on," he told the

on Friday.

"If the virus hits someone like that, then the pathogen is the end of the line and the spread is stopped," added the immunologist. 

Corona: Health ministers advise on protection in nursing homes

In addition, the health ministers are also discussing an expansion of mandatory testing in nursing homes.

Baden-Württemberg's Minister of Social Affairs Manfred Lucha (Greens *) even called for mandatory vaccinations for employees in nursing homes on Thursday.

Holetschek refused this before the meeting began: “At the moment we have agreed, especially in Bavaria, that there is no compulsory vaccination - and that’s the case now.” Instead, the ministers want to agree that in the facilities as well Vaccinated and convalescents are tested.

How closely the tests should be carried out was, however, controversial before the conference.

Financial compensation for clinics and nursing staff should be decided

Financial support for hospitals is also an issue. Should clinics for the care of corona patients have to postpone interventions again, “a targeted financial compensation regulation” would be necessary, according to a draft resolution from several countries for the conference, which is available to the dpa. The Federal Ministry of Health should therefore enable compensation payments from the health fund. First, the

reported about it. In the current situation, Holetschek considers an expiry of the epidemic emergency of national scope, as Jens Spahn is calling for, to be wrong.

He emphasized that it was also time to help clinics and nursing staff financially - for example with tax-free allowances for employees.

The federal and state health ministers had recently exchanged videos almost every week.

The fact that on-site advice is now being provided in Lindau is "very important at the moment," said the Bavarian Minister of Health.