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Jens Spahn
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
The executive health minister Jens Spahn calls for a quick meeting of the prime ministers.
It is wrong to wait ten days in view of the difficult pandemic situation, says the CDU politician.
The transition from the previous to the new government should not lead to delays in the fight against corona.
Now all those responsible would have to stand together.
"The situation is dramatically serious, more serious than at any point in this pandemic," warned Spahn.
Two weeks ago he said it was five past twelve, a week ago it was ten past twelve.
"It's now half past twelve, but the wake-up call hasn't got there yet."
The wave will move from the previously badly affected regions in the south and east of Germany to the west and north.
In the short term, only one thing makes the decisive difference, said Spahn - to reduce the number of contacts.
“The number of contacts has to go down, significantly down.
It's all worthless. «Specifically, he named consistent access rules only for vaccinated and convalescent people with additional tests (2G plus), cancellation of celebrations and major events.
Spahn and RKI President Lothar Wieler urged again to get vaccinated. According to Spahn, deliveries this week and next will provide 18 million corona vaccination doses for vaccinations. Every fifth person over the age of 60 now has a booster vaccination, almost ten percent of the total population, he says. The vaccination campaign is picking up. This is a positive sign in a very difficult corona situation.
Too many, even with political responsibility, think it will be okay, Spahn criticized.
The minister complained that there are currently too many sidelines such as new vaccination requirements or new corona committees.
It is now also necessary to postpone predictable operations in clinics.
Within Germany, up to 100 intensive care patients would now have to be relocated to other hospitals at great expense.
as / Reuters / dpa