Söder complains about the Corona summit: "We were surprised and annoyed"

Created: 01/25/2022, 11:15 am

By: Florian Naumann, Astrid Theil, Andreas Schmid

A Corona summit met again today with Olaf Scholz.

The Chancellor rejected easing, Markus Söder was disappointed.

The ticker.

• On Monday, the prime ministers met Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) for the Corona summit.

• The federal and state governments are sticking to the previous rules

  (see update from January 24, 6:16 p.m.)

  .

• Markus Söder was disappointed with the "unsatisfactory" summit

  (see update at 10.42 p.m.)

  .

• This news ticker is continuously updated.

Update from January 25, 7.42 a.m

.: After the top meeting of the federal and state governments, criticism of the planned restrictions on access to PCR tests is increasing.

"We were surprised and annoyed," said Bavaria's Prime Minister Söder.

The impending test shortage is "not a strong sign for logistics and material procurement in Germany".

The leaders of the federal and state governments had agreed on Monday evening to stick to the previous protective measures despite the sharp increase in the number of infections.

In addition, clinic staff and high-risk patients should be given priority in PCR tests.

However, the details have yet to be determined.

At the same time, "every effort should be made to increase PCR testing capacities."

The chairman of the Association of Accredited Laboratories in Medicine (ALM), Michael Müller, then warned in the newspapers of the editorial network Germany (RND, Tuesday editions): "We cannot expand capacities at will from one day to the next." Such a step requires "prompt "Conversations and a "clear statement" about the actual need, said Müller.

The laboratories had already created additional capacities for 500,000 PCR tests “on their own responsibility” since October.

Criticism of the politicians' decision also came from the chairman of the Patient Protection Foundation, Eugen Brysch.

"It's good that vulnerable people are now prioritized for PCR testing," Brysch told RND.

“But the largest nursing service in Germany was forgotten.

Five million loved ones now do not have access to lab tests.”

The teachers' representatives also feel unlawfully ignored. "It is of course a blatant contradiction when politicians affirm in unison that keeping schools open has top priority, but, as so often before, ducks away when it comes to specifically prioritizing students and teachers in health protection measures," said the Head of the German Teachers' Association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, the RND.

Update from January 24, 10:42 p.m

.: Olaf Scholz described the Corona summit as “a good conference overall”.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder sees it differently.

In the ARD daily topics, the CSU boss expressed his dissatisfaction.

It "was unsatisfactory because we only postponed it again," he said on Monday evening on ARD.

His question was weeks ago: "What do we have to change now?" Since the omicron variant that is now predominant is apparently less aggressive and also milder in course than earlier corona variants, it is no longer appropriate, as it was last year, "with To solve everything," said the CSU chairman.

"We have to think of a smarter way."

It is also not satisfactory that the PCR test capacities are not sufficient.

"We were surprised and annoyed," said Söder.

The prioritization that has now been decided means that from this point onwards “we have no idea how high the number of infections really is”.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder in conversation with ARD presenter Caren Miosga on Monday evening.

© screenshot ARD

Update from January 24, 7:35 p.m

.: Scholz's press conference is just half an hour away when there is already the first deviation from the MPK course.

Markus Söder renewed his commitment to relaxing sports and cultural events in Bavaria.

More viewers will be allowed in both areas, said the Bavarian Prime Minister on Monday evening on BR television - each under 2G plus conditions and with a mask requirement.

The cabinet wants to decide on the details as early as Tuesday.

Other heads of government such as Volker Bouffier (Hesse) or Michael Kretschmer (Saxony) have meanwhile announced that they will retain the measures as before.

"So no loosening and no tightening," as Kretschmer said.

Update from January 24, 7:02 p.m

.: The press conference ends without any major surprises.

The federal and state governments are following the course of "keep it up".

Means: No tightening, no loosening*.

However, further steps will be agreed if there is a risk of the health system being overloaded.

It is currently too early for concrete opening steps, emphasized Olaf Scholz, Hendrik Wüst and Franziska Giffey.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz together with NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst and Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey.

© Hannibal Hanschke/Pool/AFP

After the Corona summit, however, there may still be different measures in some federal states.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder already commented on possible easing in the Free State on Monday morning.

"We want to enable more participation in culture, sport and youth work again." In Baden-Württemberg, the black-green state government is moving into focus after decisions by a court.

Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) is under pressure to relax

.

Whether, and if so how, individual heads of government deviate from the course of the MPK will become apparent in the coming days when the individual state parliaments meet.

Update from January 24, 6:57 p.m .:

The peak of the infection process was on February 15, says Scholz. Only then can one make a conclusion about how Omikron is affecting the pandemic, especially with regard to the situation in the intensive care units. “We are doing everything to ensure that the situation is less challenging.” The press conference ended shortly thereafter.

Update from January 24, 6:52 p.m .:

Giffey defends the current course at schools.

The Berlin mayor previously suspended compulsory attendance at schools in the capital.

There are parents who would rather leave their children at home.

"They want to make the decision about whether their children go to school," says Giffey.

"If they wish, they can take an exception to this presence."

However, it is important that the schools generally remain open.

“The schools remain open.

The face-to-face offer is the standard offer, but there is a possibility to deviate from it." It is a "reaction to a changed situation.

It has nothing to do with losing control."

There needs to be a “practicable way for as many people as possible,” said Giffey.

Corona summit: Scholz' vaccination goal "not as I would have liked"

Update from January 24, 6.45 p.m

.: Scholz speaks of “infection numbers that we have never known before”.

However, that is not why you have lost control of the pandemic.

"Even if our own ambitious goals have not yet been achieved, we are still pursuing these goals," said the Chancellor.

Scholz refers, for example, to the Federal Republic’s booster campaign, which is good by European standards.

"We have a situation in which the federal and state governments can make the right and appropriate decisions."

However, the Chancellor also has to admit that he will miss his target of 60 million vaccinations by the end of January.

"We will not reach the goal on the day I would have liked." But: "The goal of 60 million remains."

Chancellor Olaf Scholz again appealed for vaccinations on the sidelines of the summit.

© Hannibal Hanschke/POOL AP/dpa

Corona summit live: Scholz rejects easing

Update from January 24, 6:41 p.m

.: The MPK’s draft resolution speaks of an “opening perspective”.

Wüst also took up the word in his statement, but without becoming specific.

Scholz does the same as the head of the Prime Ministers' Conference.

When asked, Scholz rejected timely relaxation, for example in sports (spectator capacity).

“We don't want to give the impression that this is now the course for easing.

He's not." One is aware that the number of infections will continue to rise.

Only when it is foreseeable that the situation will relax permanently can one talk about concrete openings.

"Only then," emphasizes Scholz.

Update from January 24, 6:39 p.m

.: Scholz defends Karl Lauterbach.

Although there was an exchange about the status of those who had recovered, this was not accompanied by large-scale, cross-party criticism of the Minister of Health.

Lauterbach is "a really great and committed minister".

Previously there were reports of differences on the edge of the MPK around the Lauterbach* personnel.

Update from January 24, 6:37 p.m

.: Scholz speaks again of digitization of the healthcare system, also with a view to vaccination.

When asked, the Chancellor did not answer whether this meant a vaccination register.

A debate must first be initiated.

Update from January 24, 6:34 p.m

.: Franziska Giffey is now speaking.

The Governing Mayor of Berlin defends the current course.

“Relaxing is not the method of choice.” But there is no need for tightening at the moment either.

In addition, the SPD politician appeals to vaccination.

Corona summit: Wüst comments on the recovered status - "has unsettled many

Update from January 24, 6:29 p.m

.: Wüst reports that the Corona summit was also about the recovery status.

The Robert Koch Institute surprisingly recently reduced the status from 180 to 90 days.

The decision caused irritation, in particular due to the unclear way it came about.

On Karl Lauterbach's instructions, the Federal Council gave the responsibility for this assessment to the Paul Ehrlich Institute and the Robert Koch Institute.

The new regulation became known a day later*.

"That surprised and unsettled many people," says Wüst.

“All countries agreed across party lines that this must not be repeated.

Such changes require adequate advance notice.

A forward-looking pandemic policy also includes reliability.”

Update from January 24, 6:24 p.m

.: Now NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst speaks.

The CDU politician goes back to the PCR tests and speaks of bottlenecks in the evaluation of the PCR tests.

Therefore, PCR tests are prioritized.

Means: only vulnerable groups receive a PCR test.

With a view to neighboring countries, however, Germany must make improvements in the area of ​​​​testing capacity, emphasized Wüst.

Update from January 24, 6:19 p.m

.: Overall, a lot remains the same.

The current rules continue to apply, there are adjustments in some areas such as the quarantine regulations for nursing staff and in particular PCR tests.

Not everyone is entitled to a PCR test anymore.

In addition, the healthcare system is to be digitized.

The federal and state governments also decided to agree on further steps if there is a risk of the health system being overloaded.

Corona summit live: Scholz explains how to proceed – “stay on course”

Update from January 24, 6:16 p.m

.: “One of our decisions is to continue the previous measures,” says Scholz.

The motto is: "Stay on course." In view of the Omicron variant, there is still uncertainty as to how the infection process will affect it.

But one is prepared for all eventualities - relaxation or deterioration of the situation.

Update from January 24, 6:12 p.m

.: Now the press conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst and Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey begins.

Before Scholz comments on the Corona situation, he announces his regret about the killing spree in Heidelberg.

"It breaks my heart."

Corona summit: Kretschmer sets the direction for MPK

Update from January 24, 6:10 p.m

.: The results of the Corona summit will be presented soon.

Before Olaf Scholz presented himself to the press, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had already given the direction.

The federal and state governments will stick to the current restrictions, said the head of government in Magdeburg.

The heads of government of the federal states, together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, “came to the conclusion that essentially everything should remain as it is now for the next few weeks”.

Means: "No tightening, but also no loosening."

In addition, Kretschmer criticized the adjustment of the recovered status from 180 to 90 days.

The citizens had learned "holterdipolter" that their recovered status was no longer valid.

"It doesn't work that way, we need a different form of reliability here.

Michael Kretschmer (CDU), Prime Minister of Saxony.

© Robert Michael/dpa

Update from January 24, 3:22 p.m

.: The Corona summit is now underway, and according to dpa information, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has also joined the country round.

However, major innovations are not expected.

The most important points at a glance:

• Corona loosening:

  Politicians from the FDP and CSU are already calling for a plan for future steps - some immediate steps are also required (

  update from 10:23 a.m.

  ).

• PCR tests:

  A decision is expected to concentrate PCR tests on risk groups and on employees who look after and treat them in the future.

  The aim is to avoid capacity bottlenecks.

  Prioritization for the schools was also requested in advance (

  update from 1.32 p.m.

  ).

• Quarantine:

  The draft resolution also provides for shortening the quarantine and isolation periods for hospital and nursing staff.

• Confirmation of the current measures:

  According to the working paper, “the current measures should be consistently continued”.

  Scholz, the chairman of the conference of prime ministers, North Rhine-Westphalia's head of government Hendrik Wüst (CDU), and several other state leaders also made corresponding statements.

A sensitive topic on the side could also be displeasure with Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).

According to a report, at least three prime ministers want to impose a new rule on the head of department * and indirectly record a reprimand.

Corona summit: Scholz round has to change plans at short notice

Prime Ministers Markus Söder (right) and Winfried Kretschmann (archive photo) © Jörg Carstensen/dpa

Update from January 24, 2:28 p.m .:

In their coalition negotiations, the traffic light demonstratively refrained from night sessions.

At the Corona summit, at least one round is now apparently threatening until the evening hours: According to a report by Bild, the start of the Prime Minister's conference is delayed.

Instead of 2 p.m., the summit is now scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

The reason was initially not public.

The state leaders had already started their conversation at noon - without Scholz.

Corona summit: The Green head of state faces an unpleasant dilemma

Update from January 24, 2:15 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the federal states will presumably refrain from making major adjustments to the measures and rules at the Corona summit that is about to begin – this outlook puts at least one state head in a dilemma: Baden- Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) is under pressure to relax.

Most recently, courts had given his government clear guidelines.

After the judgment of the administrative court, which declared the freezing of alert level II with severe restrictions for the unvaccinated to be partially illegal, the country must reinstate its level system.

In view of the - relatively speaking - reduced burden on hospitals, this would provide for relaxation.

Before the summit, the FDP called on the green-black government to stick to its own rules.

But Kretschmann has already explained that the government reserves the right to adjust and possibly tighten the rules previously planned for the alarm level.

FDP parliamentary group leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke doubted that Kretschmann would be able to maintain the strict corona rules and put the tier system back into force at the same time.

"Basically, it doesn't work at all.

Either you stick to your own rules, then you have to relax.

Or you go a special way and tighten up," said Rülke of the dpa.

Update from January 24, 1:32 p.m .:

The topic of “school” could also come up at the Corona summit – there is already alarming news from the federal states: In many regions there is hardly a class that is not affected, said the state chairman of the trade union for education and science, Thilo Hartmann, dpa.

A member of the expert council has meanwhile spoken out with a flaming appeal.

He calls for Chancellor Scholz and the Prime Minister to make improvements for the benefit of “hundreds of thousands” of children*.

Corona summit is on - without Scholz for the time being

Update from January 24, 12:36 p.m .:

The first act of the Corona summit has already begun: the prime ministers connected to an “internal” conference at noon.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will not join until 2:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, internal noise has also become public: the health ministers of the federal states apparently reacted indignantly to a decision by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) at the weekend – including personal attacks*.

Corona summit: Union countries want easing - Grüner attests shocked "decision-maker exhaustion"

Video: Probably no new corona measures

Update from January 24, 12:10 p.m .:

Actually, there were hardly any prospects of innovations at today’s prime minister’s conference on the Corona crisis – the SPD and the expert council also spoke out in favor of keeping the rules.

But before the round that

at 2 p.m., supporters of easing form from the ranks of the Union (

).

This is exactly what irritates a prominent Green *.

",Exit strategy'?

This discussion on the way to the peak is a bit out of date," tweeted former member of the Bundestag Volker Beck in view of the current infection numbers.

He raised very fundamental reproaches: The pandemic is overtaxing social reason and is taking “the rational social control ability to its limits”: “This is not only evident in the scumbags, but also in the exhaustion of decision-makers and the politicization of decisions, which should actually be decided on the basis of expertise appropriate to the complexity.”

Corona-MPK with Scholz: Linke raises serious allegations – "How can you actually fail so blatantly?"

Update from January 24, 12:00 p.m .:

The left raises serious allegations against the federal government before the Corona summit - and calls for far-reaching new plans. "After two and a half years of the pandemic, how can it be that the PCR test capacities are not sufficient? How can you actually fail so blatantly?” said the parliamentary manager of the parliamentary group, Jan Korte, on Monday with a view to the draft resolution for the prime ministers’ conference *.

"So that the same mistakes are not made every year, the federal government must now present a plan for a public pandemic infrastructure that can be used to process the basic load of the tests - for example, docked to a network of public research institutions, laboratories and health authorities," demanded he.

The state is responsible for such services, not the private sector.

At the turn of the year, prevention expert Hajo Zeeb also called for more forward-looking planning from the traffic light coalition in a guest article for IPPEN.MEDIA. 

Corona summit: easing front is formed against Lauterbach - the head of state announces a clear plan

Update from January 24, 10:23 a.m .:

Despite the skyrocketing number of corona infections, politicians from the FDP and CSU are demanding clear relaxation plans from the corona summit.

CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt told the

that he expected a clever strategy from the round of prime ministers with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to “move out of the pandemic bit by bit”.

One thing is clear: “The status of the pandemic will be different with Omikron.

Therefore, the assessment standards must also be adjusted.

It is important to recognize and absorb the effects of fatigue in society” – similarly, party leader Markus Söder recently

justified his change of course

in the

.

Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) said in the ARD talk “Anne Will” that if the peak of the omicron wave expected for mid-February was exceeded and the numbers in hospitals also fell, the measures would have to be relaxed. This is self-evident. The FDP parliamentary group leader in North Rhine-Westphalia, Christof Rasche, went even further and demanded easing at major events and that the 2G regulation in retail and 2G plus in restaurants be abolished. He pointed out that courts in some states have already overturned 2G in stores. "We have to enable more normality again in the short term."

There will also be another prominent advocate for quick easing at the summit: Hesse's Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) wants to campaign for a limited return of spectators to sports and cultural events at the top-level talks. Bouffier's proposal stipulates that, under certain hygienic conditions, 25 percent of the spectator capacity can be used both indoors and outdoors at cultural and sporting events. This regulation should apply in general and not only to professional sports.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach had promised openings - but only for the time after the rampant omicron wave (

).

The Federal Government’s Expert Council had also advocated maintaining the measures*.

Corona summit on Monday: CDU state chief puts pressure on vaccination - topic remains highly controversial

Update from January 24th, 8.39 a.m

.: A few hours before the MPK with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (

), NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has reiterated the call for compulsory vaccination from the age of 18.

The CDU politician said in Düsseldorf that the corona vaccination rate among older people in his state was already very high.

That's why it's important "to start where we're not yet so heavily vaccinated.

For me, compulsory vaccination from the age of 18 would be correct,"

quotes him as saying

.

The vaccination requirement is not formally the topic of the round - but remains a main point of contention.

Update from January 24, 7.16 a.m .:

In view of the rapid spread of the highly contagious omicron variant, the federal and state governments want to discuss the corona protection regulations on Monday (2 p.m.). According to the draft resolution, no easing of the corona restrictions is planned, the paper is available on

. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD)* and several prime ministers had already rejected corresponding demands in advance. Due to bottlenecks in PCR tests, according to the proposed resolution, these should from now on be available as a priority for certain groups.

Before the video conference with Scholz, the heads of government of the countries discussed separately (11.30 a.m.).

The seven-day incidence in Germany has been rising to new highs for days.

On Sunday, the value had exceeded the 800 mark for the first time.

So far, however, the rapid spread of infections has not been reflected in a renewed increase in the load on hospital intensive care units.

Corona summit: Lauterbach announces "step-by-step openings" - and fears new mutation problems

Update vom 23. Januar, 20.11 Uhr: In der Beschlussvorlage zum Corona-Gipfel am Montag ist von einer „Öffnungsperspektive“ die Rede. Was meinen Bund und Länder damit? Gesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach sagte am Abend im ZDF: „Wenn die Fallzahlen wieder runter gehen, dann kann es bei den Einschränkungen natürlich nicht bleiben. Dann würde man Schritt für Schritt wieder Öffnungen machen.“

Bis dahin dauere es aber noch. Lauterbach rechnet Mitte Februar mit dem Höhepunkt der aktuellen Omikron-Welle. Aber: „Das, jetzt schon ins Auge zu fasse, ist richtig.“ Zudem sprach sich der Minister in der Sendung „Berlin direkt“ erneut für eine allgemeine Impfpflicht aus. Dass die Omikron-Variante die letzte Corona-Mutation ist, glaubt der SPD-Politiker nicht. „Ich glaube, dass es weitere Varianten geben wird, weil wir weltweit noch so viele Menschen haben, die sich infizieren können.“ Es könnten sich weitere Kombinationen bilden. „Ich befürchte, im Herbst haben wir wieder Probleme.“

Lauterbach defended that there are no transitional regulations when the convalescent status is reduced from six to three months*.

"I can't say now that there will be a transition if it cannot be maintained medically." In view of the now predominant omicron variant, people who have recovered from corona unfortunately lost their vaccination protection after three months and could become infected.

"If you want security and want to control the number of cases and protect the vulnerable in particular, then you have to act quickly."

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Karl Lauterbach (SPD), Federal Minister of Health, take part in the SPD federal party conference.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Corona summit on Monday: draft resolution in the direction of “keep it up”

Update vom 23. Januar, 17.58 Uhr: Keine großflächigen Lockerungen, aber auch keine weitreichenden Verschärfungen. So lassen sich die Pläne von Bund und Länder zusammenfassen. Anpassungen in einzelnen Bereichen gibt es allerdings dennoch. Das zeigt die Beschlussvorlage der MPK*.

So sind künftig nicht mehr alle mit einem Schnelltest positiv Getesteten berechtigt für einen PCR-Test. Die Labore kommen nicht hinterher. Deshalb sollen die nur begrenzt verfügbaren PCR-Tests künftig auf vulnerable Gruppen und Beschäftigte, die diese betreuen und behandeln, beschränkt werden. Außerdem gibt es leichte Änderungen bei der Kontaktverfolgung und den Quarantäneregelungen für Pflegepersonal.

Lockerungen kommen in dem Papier nur wenige vor. Denkbar seien allerdings Anpassungen bei Veranstaltungen im Freien. Darunter fällt womöglich der Profisport wie die Fußball-Bundesliga. In der Beschlussvorlage ist in diesem Zusammenhang allerdings nur von einer „Öffnungsperspektive“ die Rede. Wie diese konkret ausgestaltet sein soll, wird nicht klar.

Der klare Kurs geht in Richtung „Weiter so“. „Der Bundeskanzler und die Regierungschefinnen und Regierungschefs der Länder sind sich darin einig, dass die bisher geltenden Regeln für soziale Kontakte und Veranstaltungen weiterhin Bestand haben.“

Regel-Lockerungen? Kanzler Scholz wird vor Corona-Gipfel deutlich

Update vom 23. Januar, 16.50 Uhr: Vor dem Corona-Gipfel sind weder großflächige Lockerungen, noch weitreichende Verschärfungen abzusehen. Darauf wies nun auch Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD) hin. „Ich bin dafür, den Weg, den wir eingeschlagen haben, weiter zu gehen“, sagt Scholz der Süddeutschen Zeitung. Der Kanzler erteilte Lockerungen damit eine klare Absage: „Es ist jedenfalls sicher nicht angebracht, mitten in der Omikron-Welle auf breiter Front die Regeln zu lockern.“ Es brauche „keine Kurskorrektur“. Die „strengen Regeln“, die man seit November eingeführt hatten hätten dazu geführt, dass die Omikron-Welle Deutschland später als andere europäische Länder erreicht habe, so der Kanzler.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) makes a statement before the start of the Federal Cabinet's closed meeting in the Federal Chancellery.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

Corona summit: Job-related vaccination requirement on the brink - incidence at maximum

First report from January 23

: Berlin – On Monday (January 24), the prime ministers want to discuss further action in the corona pandemic with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

The measures that could be decided are influenced by the current infection process and expert opinions.

An overview.

Die Corona-Zahlen steigen aktuell rapide in Deutschland an. Die Sieben-Tage-Inzidenz der Neuinfektionen hat erstmal den Wert von 800 überschritten. Am Sonntagmorgen (23. Januar) meldete das Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) eine Inzidenz von 806,8. In den letzten Tage stieg dieser Wert stark an: noch am Vortag lag die Inzidenz bei 772,7 und vor einer Woche bei 515,7. Die Infektionszahlen seien aber laut Experten vor allem zukünftig mit Vorsicht zu genießen. Es wird damit gerechnet, dass immer mehr Infektionen nicht erfasst werden können, weil Testkapazitäten und Gesundheitsämter zunehmend am Limit sind.

Corona-Expertenrat: Keine weiteren Verschärfungen der Maßnahmen empfohlen

Der für das politische Vorgehen in der Corona-Pandemie wichtige Expertenrat der Bundesregierung* veröffentlichte am Samstagabend (22. Januar) eine Stellungnahme zur aktuellen Lage und gab Empfehlungen. Angesichts der hohen Inzidenzwerte und Fallzahlen waren diese überraschend: Das Gremium empfiehlt keine neuen Verschärfungen der Corona-Maßnahmen. Stattdessen müssten die bereits bestehenden Regelungen beibehalten und konsequent durchgesetzt werden.

Nur falls die Hospitalisierungsrate in den kommenden Wochen kritische Marken überschreitet, müssten weitere Maßnahmen eingeführt werden. Das Gremium schreibt in der Stellungnahme allerdings nicht, welcher Wert kritisch sei und welche genauen Maßnahmen dann ergriffen werden sollten. Maßnahmen sollten bereits jetzt vorbereitet werden, damit sie - falls nötig - „ohne Verzögerung umgesetzt werden können“.

Ende der Pandemie: Experten setzen weiterhin Hoffnung auf Impfung

Als wesentliche Maßnahme zur Überwindung der Corona-Pandemie betrachtet der Expertenrat weiterhin Kontaktbeschränkungen und die Impfung. Die Intensivierung der Booster-Kampagne habe daher eine hohe Priorität. Ansonsten müsse man immer wieder „mit starken Infektions- und Erkrankungswellen“ rechnen. Mit Zunahme der Grundimmunität in der Bevölkerung und Abnahme der Fallzahlen und Krankenhaus-Einweisungen, könnten Kontaktbeschränkungen sogar schrittweise zurückgenommen werden.

Allerdings wird auch gewarnt: Durch die bestehende Kontaktreduktionen und das besonnene Verhalten der Bürger sei der international beobachtete steile Anstieg der Infektionszahlen in Deutschland zunächst verlangsamt worden. Der Expertenrat erwartet aber einen weiteren Anstieg, an dessen Höhepunkt Sieben-Tage-Inzidenzen „von mehreren Tausend regional erreicht werden könnten“.

Gesundheitsminister Lauterbach: Mit Lockerungen würde man „Öl ins Feuer gießen“

Auch Bundesgesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) hat sich mehrfach dafür ausgesprochen, die bestehenden Maßnahmen ohne Verschärfungen beizubehalten. Gegenüber der Rheinischen Post warnte er aber auch vor Lockerungen: „Aber eine Lockerung wäre fatal. Wir würden Öl ins Feuer gießen und die Welle beschleunigen.“ Darüber hinaus schlug er eine Priorisierung der besonders zuverlässigen PCR-Tests und eine Konzentration der Kontaktnachverfolgung auf ausgewählte Berufsgruppen vor.

Auch die anstehenden Impfpflicht für Pflegekräfte und Krankenhauspersonal könnte ein wichtiges Thema beim anstehenden Corona-Gipfel werden. Mitte März soll die berufsbezogene Impfpflicht eingeführt werden. Allerdings wurde an dieser immer mehr Kritik geäußert. Laut dem Tagesspiegel pochen mehrere Bundesländer auf eine Verschiebung der Corona-Maßnahme. Es solle zunächst auf die Einführung des Proteinimpfstoff Novavax gewartete werden. Zu viele Pflegekräfte wollen sich nämlich nicht impfen lassen und würden dementsprechend im bereits unter starkem Personalmangel leidendem Gesundheitssektor zusätzlich wegfallen.

Berufsbezogene Impfpflicht auf der Kippe: Warten auf den Proteinimpfstofff Novavax

However, since the new Novavax vaccine is more accepted by many vaccination skeptics than the previous mRNA vaccines, many nursing staff could still be vaccinated with it.

The first shipment of 1.75 million doses is expected to be available from February 21.

With two vaccinations, however, this could delay the introduction by several weeks.

Crisis talks are said to have taken place on Saturday in this context in the presence of Health Minister Lauterbach (SPD).

Meanwhile, Markus Söder (CSU) * insists on a postponement of the vaccination requirement because he fears too many staff losses.