Countries are demanding corona tool kits before the summer break

Created: 07/01/2022Updated: 07/01/2022 17:53

Saxony-Anhalt's Health Minister Petra Grimm-Benne speaks at a press conference.

© Ronny Hartmann/dpa/archive image

The next corona wave is already emerging - and the countries want to be prepared for it.

For this reason, they are calling for a new infection protection law with a toolbox for the federal states before the summer break.

Hamburg – Because of the next wave of corona expected in autumn, the conference of health ministers asked the federal government for an amended infection protection law with extensive state powers before the summer break.

"You always have to keep in mind that the Bundesrat still has to do this and that we want to be included this time," said Saxony-Anhalt's Health Minister Petra Grimm-Benne, chairing the conference in Hamburg on Friday.

Hamburg's Health Senator Melanie Leonhard (both SPD) emphasized that the development of the pandemic cannot be planned.

"For this very reason, the homework must now be done to create federal regulations."

Now that the opinion of the Committee of Experts, the Expert Council of the Federal Government and the seven-point plan of the Federal Ministry of Health are available, the heads of departments of the federal states are demanding the possibility of compulsory testing in addition to basic measures such as a possible mask requirement and distance requirements indoors.

Corona tests should be able to be ordered in facilities with vulnerable people, in schools or daycare centers.

Hygiene concepts should also be required.

In the event of an unfavorable development of the corona pandemic, access restrictions should also be enacted and upper limits for persons set.

"It is very important for us that we do not want any further closures," said Grimm-Benne.

This applies to schools and daycare centers as well as to events.

"Nevertheless, these instruments for fighting the pandemic must also be available in the worst-case scenario," says the decision of the conference of health ministers.

The prerequisite for this is that the health system is about to be overloaded or has already occurred.

The ministers were dissatisfied with the federal test ordinance that came into force on Friday, according to which the costs for corona tests are no longer covered.

The heads of department called on the federal government and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians to immediately seek a solution.

The regulation is obviously very complex to implement, said Lower Saxony's Health Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD).

It is not a good situation that citizens cannot be sure at what price they can do a corona test, and the test stations do not know exactly how to deal with the new regulation.

In addition to vaccination, testing is an important component in combating the pandemic, emphasized Behrens.

The health ministers also called on all relevant bodies to quickly make recommendations for further booster vaccinations.

"The vaccination campaign in autumn will only be successful if it is ensured that everyone who wants to be vaccinated can be given a vaccination nationwide, either by the resident medical profession or additionally by vaccination centers or vaccination offices," the decision says.

dpa