Karl Lauterbach: "We are facing severe corona waves"
Created: 07/02/2022, 09:01
By: Fee Halberstadt
Three experts, three opinions: Karl Lauterbach and members of the expert council present a report on the effectiveness of the corona rules.
© Fabian Sommer/dpa
Lauterbach is worried about the fall because the corona situation could get worse again.
That is why he also intends to adapt the protective measures.
Berlin (dpa) - Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach speaks of an imminent deterioration in the corona situation in Germany.
"We are facing heavy waves in autumn and winter," said the SPD politician on Friday evening (July 1) in the
ZDF-heute journal
.
After submitting an expert report, Lauterbach promised to implement the new version of the Infection Protection Act quickly.
Already in the spring, the rules and regulations were scaled back and some expired.
The current nationwide legal basis expires on September 23.
On Friday (July 1st), a committee of experts presented a long-awaited report on the effectiveness of previous corona protection measures.
Accordingly, protective measures such as wearing a mask can continue to be helpful against the corona virus.
However, the experts put question marks behind many other well-known conditions, due to a lack of sufficient data, reliable assessments are not possible.
Autumn wave with high numbers of cases: Lauterbach wants stricter protective measures
"It will be a difficult autumn, we have to be prepared," said Lauterbach in the
ARD
daily topics
.
He believes that "we will have great difficulties with the BA.5 variant that is now spreading here".
He expects a very high number of cases, which could also lead to an overload of the critical infrastructure.
Lauterbach ruled out a lockdown like at the beginning of the pandemic on
ZDF
: "We wouldn't repeat that." But it could be that one or the other measure would make sense again.
Lauterbach did not want to give details, referring to confidential negotiations with Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).
They had already started a one-and-a-half-hour conversation on Friday (July 1).
"I think we'll be quick," said Lauterbach.
In the next few weeks, a good infection protection law will be prepared.
Corona protective measures changed in a timely manner: An autumn wave is to come
The German Association of Cities also warns to hurry.
“The traffic light has to come to an agreement before the summer break.
It is too late to start a legislative process for a new infection protection law in the fall," said Managing Director Helmut Dedy to the newspapers of the
Funke media group
(July 2).
The federal government should make it possible “to wear masks indoors in dangerous situations,” Dedy demanded.
Access regulations for 2G/3G also belong in the toolbox.
The number of infections has been rising again for some time, and the more contagious omicron subline BA.5 is already dominating the infection process.
According to a survey, almost half of the people in Germany are in favor of immediate, stricter rules.
In a survey by the opinion research institute Civey on behalf of the
Augsburger Allgemeine
(July 2), 49 percent answered in the affirmative whether the current corona measures should be tightened immediately.
43 percent were against, 8 percent undecided.
(fh/dpa)
