On the evening before the Bundestag vote on the end of the epidemic emergency, the “Markus Lanz” group emotionally discusses the right course of action.
Markus Lanz welcomed the politician Karl Lauterbach (SPD) in his broadcast on Wednesday evening to talk about the corona pandemic.
The talk show host asks the Social Democrats' health experts to assess the current situation.
He explains his point of view: "We are in a catastrophic situation at the moment."
Lauterbach explains what this will mean for the next three to four weeks: “I don't know for sure whether the number of cases will rise.
But I know they won't go down.
If the number of cases stays roughly where they are now, we will have about 200 to 300 additional sick people entering the intensive care unit every day, and we can expect somewhere between 100 and 150 deaths per day.
This is a human catastrophe. "
Corona debate at "Markus Lanz": Karl Lauterbach complains about the many unvaccinated people
The intensive care nurse Ralf Berning agrees with this assessment and praises Lauterbach: “I always think very highly of the statements and prognoses made by Mr. Lauterbach because I believe that he is one of the few people in Germany and Berlin who have understood how they did Location is. We see that in the intensive care units too. ”Lanz would like to know from Lauterbach how many unvaccinated people in Germany would have caused this situation. His answer: “We don't have really good numbers, but I would estimate that we have fully vaccinated 67.68 percent of citizens. That means, we're missing a third, of course you have to count the children, that's no question. But it's already way too much. "
“Most of them ask themselves: How can the pandemic rage now, even though two thirds are vaccinated?” Lauterbach asks himself the next question. “Exactly,” agrees host Lanz, whereupon Lauterbach continues: “It's easy to explain .
A year ago, when there was still no vaccination, we had the original variant and now we have the delta variant.
The Delta variant is six times more contagious.
In other words, if I have a third of those who have not been vaccinated, i.e. two thirds less, then I still get infected more because it is six times as contagious.
If we hadn't had the original variant last year, but the Delta variant, it would have exploded and we would have had to shut everything down. "
Epidemic situation of national scope: The Bundestag vote is heating up the minds
Journalist Helene Bubrowski criticizes the fact that the Bundestag wants to decide to let the epidemic situation of national scope expire on November 25: “The signal to the population is: The pandemic situation is over. I really think that's a big mistake in this situation. And I also can't understand that Mr. Lauterbach is sitting here defending this law. "Before Lauterbach can answer, politician Christoph Ploß (CDU) intervenes:" That tomorrow the German Bundestag may send out the signal to end the epidemic emergency, In view of the descriptions we have just heard that is absolutely fatal. It is the completely wrong signal into the country. That is why we as the CDU / CSU parliamentary group will move to extend the epidemic emergency and I also expectthat you agree. "
Lauterbach does not come to an answer again, because the moderator Lanz is stunned by Ploß's statement: “Jens Spahn is in the CDU. This is her husband. He has declared the pandemic emergency over. That means that you will vote tomorrow against your own Federal Minister of Health? "Ploß replies:" We as a parliamentary group dealt with it and were very unanimous of the opinion that the epidemic emergency must be prolonged. "Lanz does not let Ploß get away with it and asks:" As Fraction, that means Jens Spahn was there too? "" Yes, of course, he is also in the fraction, "replied Ploß. Lanz: “And he will vote against his own announcement tomorrow too?” Ploß tries to defend Spahn: “Jens Spahn doesn't say: 'At the moment it's all over, we can just continue as we did two or three years ago.' Jens Spahn never said that."After further back and forth, Ploß gives himself up:" Now I can only advertise what makes sense. "
"Markus Lanz" - these were his guests on November 17th:
Karl Lauterbach
(SPD) - politician
Christoph Ploß
(CDU) - politician
Helene Bubrowski
- journalist
Ralf Berning
- intensive care nurse
Ploß hopes that the vote will turn out differently than expected because it is public: “We will have a roll-call vote on it tomorrow. That means that every member of the Bundestag must ask themselves beforehand whether they want to send the signal now to end the epidemic emergency? ”“ Mr. Lauterbach, how will you vote tomorrow? ”Asks talk show host Lanz. “I am voting for the law that we will introduce tomorrow. There are numerous measures in the Ending Epidemic Emergency Act to help countries cope with the pandemic. I took care of some of these measures myself, for example in long discussions with Olaf Scholz. Therefore I am voting for the instrument case that we have. "
“Then take away your instruments,” Ploß replies, but Lauterbach reacts sharply: “I've just been listening to you patiently.
I've really tried.
I find it unsympathetic how party politics is now tearing into it again.
We got along quite well in the first three waves because we didn't do party politics. "
But I am a doctor and a politician.
I'm trying to make the best of the situation. "With the role of the CDU, Lauterbach is tough on the court:" It would be nice if the CDU were now so supportive of the state and not try to cash in cheaply for the 20th time it was a mistake to end the epidemic situation. "
Karl Lauterbach addresses the Hamburg CDU boss Christoph Ploß with "Markus Lanz": "That is not serious!"
However, Ploß sticks to his point of view: "What is happening now: You are taking instruments away from the federal states and that means that we will drive on summer tires in the harsh Corona winter. And that can't be true. ”“ Normally I don't say something like that, ”replies Lauterbach,“ but what you are saying now is simply dubious. ”His reproach to the Hamburg CDU chief:“ It's dubious too say, in the case of a law where you might be of the opinion that it contains 80 percent, the law even contains tightening, for example in the workplace. But then to drive such a metaphor: 'We drive into winter with summer tires.' That is not serious. "
"Mr. Lauterbach, you have to say one thing about the curfews: The mayor here in Hamburg, SPD, said that he could only fight the corona crisis with curfews a few months ago and that is why the numbers went down. You are now taking this instrument away from him, ”says Ploß. “No, I won't take it away from him,” Lauterbach replies, but in his answer refers to an examination of the legal situation: “This instrument was attacked by the lawyers. The reasoning why this is now being removed is that you can do something like this if you haven't had a vaccination yet. And that's where it worked. And if the vaccination is there and I have vaccinated two thirds of the population because of me, then it would no longer be proportionate, then it would no longer be durable."Towards the end of an intense debate, Lauterbach still chooses clear words:" You have to be honest: if 2G and 2G + don't work, if we don't have it checked, then we cannot control the disaster. "
"Markus Lanz" - the conclusion of the show
The "Markus Lanz" group will discuss Germany's situation in the corona pandemic on Wednesday evening. The politicians Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Christoph Ploß (CDU) are irreconcilably opposed to each other. Markus Lanz and the journalist Helene Bubrowski take part in the discussion no less emotionally. The intensive care nurse Ralf Berning has little understanding for the party-political discussion: "I believe that if we don't slowly get out of the discussion and arguing, but try sensibly to change the situation now, with a sensible catalog of measures - then we will not have to talk more about 2G in the form of being vaccinated or recovering. Instead, we will have to talk about 3G in a few months' time - vaccinated, recovered or dead. Because then it is simply too late. "
One scene that took place between Lauterbach and talk show host Markus Lanz was particularly revealing.
In focus: the booster vaccinations that are currently on everyone's lips.
And the urgency of the matter was recently emphasized by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU).
For months it has been clear, according to Lauterbach, that every adult must receive a booster vaccination.
Lanz cannot hide his bewilderment: “Has that been clear for a few months?” Asks the moderator.
And touches his face in disbelief.
(
Hermann Racke)
