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North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst
Photo: Malte Krudewig / dpa
The chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference, North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU), wants answers to the planned corona vaccination requirement at the Prime Minister's Conference on Friday.
Before Olaf Scholz (SPD) became chancellor, he advised her for February, said Wüst on Monday in the ARD morning magazine.
"The word must also apply if he is Chancellor," emphasized the CDU politician.
Scholz had spoken out in favor of a general vaccination requirement at a federal-state meeting in November.
At that time - even before he took office - he accompanied ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He named the beginning of February as the time for compulsory vaccination - by then everyone would have time to be vaccinated twice.
Too many people in Germany have not yet had a first or second vaccination.
"We need this mandatory vaccination," emphasized Wüst.
At the upcoming federal-state meeting on the corona crisis on Friday, he wanted to know from the federal government how it will proceed now.
"I'd like to hear something about that."
The Prime Minister's Conference (MPK) is coming at exactly the right time, said Wüst.
Until then, there will be valid figures on the current infection situation as well as information from the Federal Government's Expert Council.
Before that, the ministers of education would hold consultations on Wednesday on the situation at the schools after the Christmas holidays.
"Children shouldn't suffer again"
In North Rhine-Westphalia the course continues to apply: "We want children to have lessons as long as it is justifiable - if possible in attendance, if possible in class," affirmed the head of government.
“Children shouldn't suffer again.
You have suffered too much in this pandemic. "
At the MPK, among other things, the continuation of the booster campaign will be discussed, as well as services of general interest and quarantine regulations, announced the chairman. With a view to the comparatively easier course of the disease with the Omikron variant, a joint decision must be made on the basis of the expert advice whether 14 days of quarantine are really necessary or a few days less would also be okay. The Expert Council is due to meet on Tuesday whether a recommendation should emerge from the meeting is not yet clear.
There could be different quarantine regulations for those who have been vaccinated three times and those who have not yet had a booster vaccination, said Wüst.
He was skeptical as to whether a differentiation should also be made according to whether someone works in the so-called critical infrastructure - this includes electricity and water supply, healthcare, fire services and the police.
"I'm not sure if this is the right way," said Wüst.
mfh / dpa
