Corona summit: Lindner wants noticeable relaxation - minister demands "end of fear culture" in schools

Created: 02/14/2022 05:28

By: Cindy Boden, Jonas Raab

In view of the current debates, it seems clear that the next Corona summit will bring relaxation steps.

But what can the federal and state governments agree on?

News ticker.

• Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens*) advocates a phased plan for corona easing.

  CSU * boss Markus Söder also calls for restrictions to be lifted (

  see first report).

• Karl Lauterbach* does not see any scope for “massive easing” at the Corona summit – but he does not want to deny a “loosening perspective”

  (update from February 12, 12:10 p.m.).

• In addition to FDP boss Lindner, the municipalities and federal states are also demanding significant easing

  (update from February 13, 3:15 p.m.).

  The schools are also in focus

  (update from February 12, 4:59 p.m.).

• This

  news ticker on possible corona loosening

  is continuously updated.

Update from February 13, 7:26 p.m .:

The next Corona summit is on Wednesday (February 16) – but two days before the next federal-state round on the Corona situation, the state health ministers and federal health ministers Karl Lauterbach (SPD) on Monday about how to proceed in the pandemic.

Much-discussed topics such as compulsory vaccination and possible relaxations are likely to be on the agenda of the video conference.

Afterwards (6.15 p.m.), the chairwoman of the conference of health ministers, Saxony-Anhalt’s department head Petra Grimm-Benne (SPD), wants to make a statement.

Corona loosening in Germany?

Cities and communities demand a "signal of hope" from the summit

Update from February 13, 3:15 p.m .:

The German Association of Towns and Municipalities is also in favor of easing the corona measures before the Corona summit.

"After more than two years of the corona pandemic, people and the economy finally want a signal of hope," said the general manager of the Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, to the Funke newspapers.

The municipalities are demanding that the access restrictions in retail should first be lifted nationwide.

"In addition, simplifications should be specified nationwide, especially for young people and at sporting events," Landsberg demanded.

There are no signs that hospitals will be overburdened and it is to be expected that the peak of the omicron wave will be reached in a few days.

Similar tones came from the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer (SPD): She called for gradual, uniform easing from March.

The forecasts indicated "that we will reach the peak of the omicron wave in mid-February," she told the

.

Corona is not the end of the matter and caution is still required.

“But people rightly expect that we will then relax.”

Corona summit: Lindner and FDP colleagues are pushing for noticeable relaxation

Update from February 13, 9:15 a.m .:

Before the Corona summit of the federal and state governments on Wednesday, the FDP is pushing for quick and noticeable easing.

After the consultation of the state leaders with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), there must be a "noticeable difference in our everyday life", said party leader Christian Lindner of the

.

“It is clear that you can be too bold when opening.

However, this danger is now extremely manageable.”

FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr is pushing for the lifting of all measures on March 19.

"And so that this doesn't happen all at once, we should already start taking the first restrictions step by step," he told

.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, l.), Robert Habeck (Greens, center), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, and Christian Lindner (FDP), Federal Minister of Finance, take part in a meeting of the Federal Cabinet in the Federal Chancellery.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Relaxation in Germany: President of the Conference of Ministers of Education with a clear idea for schools

Update from February 12, 4:59 p.m .:

Karin Prien has a clear idea of ​​how things should continue in German schools.

In the

, the President of the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) called for the corona measures in schools to be relaxed considerably.

"We have to get out of a culture of fear in schools," said the Schleswig-Holstein CDU Minister of Education.

“Sports and music lessons must take place again in full.

Testing must end gradually.

By the end of March at the latest, two tests a week will probably be enough,” said Prien.

The obligation to test must gradually become a “test option”.

The mask requirement must also gradually fall, first in the classroom on the square, then in the building.

Corona rules in schools: teachers' association counters the conference of Ministers of Education - tweet causes a stir

The President of the German Teachers' Association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, has a different opinion: Omikron still has school operations firmly under control.

The number of infections should not be increased again by loosening the restrictions too early, said Meidinger of the German Press Agency.

Some student representatives had also accused politicians of a "contamination plan" in an open letter of complaint.

They speak out against compulsory attendance and call for smaller learning groups, PCR pool tests and air filters in all schools.

Meanwhile, another statement by KMK President Prien caused a stir on Twitter.

Responding to a user's tweet (see above) about skyrocketing child death rates, Prien replied: "Please differentiate: children are dying.

This is extremely tragic.

But they die with COVID_19 and only extremely rarely because of COVID_19." This answer drew numerous - sometimes insulting - reactions.

Many accused the politician of lack of empathy and demanded an apology.

The hashtag #Prienruecktret trended.

Corona: When is "Freedom Day"?

CDU general secretary gives a clear rejection

Update from February 12, 12:10 p.m .:

When is “Freedom Day” in Germany?

Some are interested in an answer to this question.

But the new CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja thinks it is too early to set a date for the end of the Corona measures.

“I can understand the longing for a Freedom Day.

But in the past it has always been shown that a hasty promise that cannot be kept destroys more trust than making prudent decisions for the next few weeks now," he said in an interview with the

.

You have to gradually loosen it now.

Robert Habeck and Markus Söder are also pursuing such a plan

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach was reluctant to open things up on Friday and sees no room for faster easing: "But I see that we need a perspective of easing and it is therefore also right that we will talk about easing on Wednesday." For "massive easing" could be but there is no space.

In his view, this would prolong or possibly exacerbate the problem.

"Doesn't make sense anymore": Söder is forcing corona openings - Habeck with Scholz on the loosening line

First report from February 12:

Berlin – Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) surprised a little on Friday in the Bundesrat.

Suddenly he spoke of

Corona "opening steps" - just a few days before the next federal-state meeting on Wednesday (February 16).

According to the wishes of his Vice-Chancellor, Economics Minister Robert Habeck, the first steps in this direction should be agreed.

"According to the experts, the peak of the wave of infections is to be expected in mid-February," said the Green * politician of the German Press Agency.

"Therefore, the next prime ministers' conference on February 16 is the right time to coordinate closely on the first opening steps." From his point of view, a uniform approach would be important.

Corona loosening in Germany: "What comes first, what can the individual steps for an opening look like"

"We have to clarify what comes first, what the individual stages for an opening can look like and what are the nationwide criteria," says Habeck.

According to the ideas of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, easing should take place gradually and regionally differentiated.

In addition, uniform target indicators and threshold values ​​are needed to indicate an imminent overload of the health system - which should be decided by the Robert Koch Institute * and the expert council of the federal government, it said.

If a new virus variant threatens to overload the healthcare system, it should be possible to decide on new restrictions when certain values ​​are reached.

Video: Lauterbach defends himself against "minister of fear" criticism

Habeck for a step-by-step plan for corona easing: details from the Ministry of Economic Affairs

From an economic policy point of view, a gradual relaxation of Corona* makes sense, the ministry said.

First, those measures that are associated with high economic costs should be relaxed.

In place of 2G and 2G Plus regulations, there could be a nationwide obligation to wear FFP2 masks indoors.

Limits on the number of visitors at outdoor events could also be relaxed in a first stage.

In places like clubs, where many people come together indoors without distance and masks, test and vaccination certificates remain necessary.

In a second step, the ministry believes that the obligation to work from home, the obligation to test for employers and 3G obligations in the workplace should be discussed.

In the case of close contacts, an FFP2 mask requirement can remain in place.

In further steps, relaxation of participant restrictions at events and entry restrictions can be tackled.

According to the ministry, the relaxation should be decided according to the regional situation.

Depending on the status of the omicron wave, regional vaccination progress and the utilization of the health system, earlier and more comprehensive easing is possible in some countries than in others.

However, the standard should be nationwide criteria.

Before the Corona summit: Söder comprehensive Corona loosening for trade and gastronomy

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder * (CSU) also calls for comprehensive easing of the corona restrictions.

“First: 2G in retail no longer makes sense.

The FFP2 mask makes more sense there.

Secondly: 2G in gastronomy is sufficient, there is no need for 2G Plus," he told the

.

Relaxation is also necessary in sport and culture, explained the Bavarian Prime Minister.

Face-to-face teaching should be retained in schools.

Söder advocated testing and wearing masks instead of distance learning or lifting compulsory attendance.

"In general, the mask should be the last thing to keep - it is and remains the best protection," he said.

The CSU * boss spoke out in favor of a step-by-step approach.

“But the idea of ​​'Freedom Day' doesn't work.

Because Corona doesn’t stick to any date,” he emphasized.

He suggested that the opening steps should be based on the situation in the hospitals.

The politician emphasized that the measures taken to combat the pandemic should not only look at the virological dimension, but also at the psychological and socio-economic dimension: “Team caution, yes, but not team stubborn.”