The number of corona infections continues to rise.
In order to protect people who are particularly at risk, the Federal Minister of Health is committed to reintroducing the obligation to wear masks in nursing homes.
Berlin – While the corona situation initially seemed to have calmed down significantly after the peak of the omicron wave in March, the reported new infections are now increasing again every day.
The seven-day incidence is steadily increasing, today it is 646.3 newly reported cases per 100,000 population within the last seven days (as of June 29), compared to 488.7 a week ago (as of June 22). June) and two weeks ago 472.4 (as of June 15).
Despite the increasing numbers, people seem to have quickly got used to life without restrictions and without wearing a mask.
But that could soon be the end of it.
Scientists and politicians are currently discussing a return to the mask requirement from autumn - at least indoors.
It could happen even earlier in nursing homes.
Lauterbach demands: "We must act now."
Wearing a mask should already be mandatory again in the facilities during the summer wave.
Lauterbach is therefore appealing to the furniture stores to provide for the wearing of FFP2 masks for all visitors.
After talks with providers in Berlin, the SPD politician also emphasized that visitors should also be tested again and that more attention should be paid to the upcoming second booster vaccinations.
"We have to act now," says Lauterbach.
He warned against waiting for the new Infection Protection Act to take protective measures.
The current regulations expire on September 23, and the law must be reformed by then.
Lauterbach: Waiting for Omicron vaccine would be "negligent"
Lauterbach is also concerned about the vaccination rate in nursing homes.
Only 30 percent of those in need of care have received their fourth vaccination so far.
However, this fourth vaccination significantly reduces the mortality risk, according to Lauterbach.
In order not to expose those at risk to an unnecessary risk of infection, according to the Minister of Health, it would be “negligent” to wait with the fourth peak for the expected vaccines in autumn, which have been adapted to the Omicron variant.
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So far, only 30 percent of those in need of care have received their fourth vaccination.
© picture alliance/dpa/Sebastian Gollnow
Further regulations are planned for the facilities from autumn, as Lauterbach reports.
In every facility there should be officers for hygiene rules with tests and masks as well as for the progress of vaccinations.
Drugs that alleviate the course of corona should be used more frequently.
Virologist Klaus Stöhr has already criticized Karl Lauterbach and accuses him of scaremongering.
