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Toasting with mulled wine: "I appeal to everyone to forego larger celebrations," says Bärbel Bas
Photo: Patrick Seeger / picture alliance / dpa
Celebrate with your colleagues again this year?
Please not at larger gatherings, advises Bärbel Bas (SPD) in view of the high and increasing numbers of corona infections
"All citizens should decide for themselves whether they want to take part in Christmas parties or carnival meetings this winter," said the President of the Bundestag to the newspapers of the Funke media group. »If such events take place at all, the 2G rule should go without saying. I appeal to everyone to refrain from major celebrations. ”At work, she called for“ at least 3G ”.
Bas was skeptical about compulsory vaccination.
»Certainly one could increase the vaccination quota with a compulsory vaccination.
On the other hand, you run the risk of dividing society further, ”Bas told the Funke newspapers.
She also argued with the potency of the vaccines.
"If you resort to the harsh sword of compulsory vaccination, you should be able to use the vaccine to eradicate the virus, or at least get a complete immunization," she said.
"This is the case with measles, but not so far with Corona."
Lauterbach recommends avoiding larger celebrations indoors
The economy Monika Schnitzer has also advised companies to cancel large Christmas parties. "In the current situation, I do not think big Christmas celebrations are appropriate," said the economist, a member of the Advisory Council for assessing macroeconomic developments, in the newspapers of the Funke media group on Friday. Instead, the 2G rule would be a consideration for "small celebrations".
The business expert also considers the 2G rule "in many companies" to be "sensible" in general. However, this now requires the booster vaccination. In principle, employers should also be able to know the vaccination status of their employees, said Schnitzer. "It is incomprehensible that you can send employees to customers who require such evidence, while the employer is not allowed to ask for it." In addition, many people would have to share an office with colleagues without knowing whether they are vaccinated. "That unsettles many."
Last weekend, the SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach recommended that large Christmas and carnival celebrations be avoided.
“This will probably be the last big wave of the pandemic, but it can still cost a great many lives.
It is therefore important that people are more careful, "said Lauterbach of the" Rheinische Post "on Saturday.
"This includes avoiding company Christmas parties indoors as much as possible, celebrating Christmas in smaller groups and not going to the carnival."
Massive cancellations of events
The new corona wave and tightened measures are already having an impact on the event industry. According to a survey of almost a thousand companies, over 77 percent have recorded massive cancellations in the past five days, as the industry association FWD announced. Many events are currently being canceled: trade fair participations, Christmas markets, concerts, cabaret, festivals or annual general meetings. Employee events such as Christmas parties are particularly affected. According to the survey participants alone, the loss of sales amounts to around 98 million euros.
"The pandemic wave is turning into a cancellation wave," says FWD managing director Jan Kalbfleisch.
The industry utilization is only 40 percent and the current development is delaying the restart of the industry.
"With the current collapse of the event industry in the upcoming high season, the two million jobs and 240,000 companies are in acute danger of existence."
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The general manager of the hotel and restaurant association (Dehoga), Ingrid Hartges, told the "Passauer Neue Presse" that it was "crucial" for the industry that the establishments "remain open permanently". There should be no lockdown for people who have been vaccinated twice and those who have recovered; the industry would not survive it, especially mentally and emotionally. However, concerns about it are growing. "It is an alarm signal that there have already been cancellations of Christmas parties and other bookings in regions such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg," said Hartges.
Bavaria is not planning a lockdown for the time being, but is tightening the access rules for restaurants and hotels.
Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) announced that the 2G rule will apply from next Tuesday.
At the same time, he calls on the federal government to create a legal basis for 2Gplus regulations in clubs and discos.
Visitors would then also have to submit a negative corona test.
The number of corona infections is currently increasing steadily and is constantly reaching new highs.
The nationwide seven-day incidence of new corona infections rose to 277.4 on Saturday.
More than 45,000 new infections were recorded within 24 hours.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) called for major events to be canceled and for contacts to other people to be reduced if possible.
abl / dpa / AFP
