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Tents of the Corona ambulance in Bremen
Photo: Sina Schuldt / dpa
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More than 18,500 new infections in Germany
6:05 a.m
.:
In Germany, the number of known infections increases by 18,633 to 961,320.
This comes from data on the website of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
That was a good 1,000 cases more than a week ago.
Last Wednesday, the number of new infections reported was 17,561.
On Friday, a high of 23,648 reported cases was reached.
However, the number of new infections is only partially comparable with that of the previous weeks, as the RKI, among other things, has adjusted the recommendations for corona tests as to who should still be tested.
The step was necessary as more and more laboratories were reaching their limits.
But the decision could not only affect the number of new infections but also the proportion of positive tests.
Read more here.
A new high has been reached for corona-related deaths: 410 more people died from or with the virus within 24 hours.
The total number of deaths rose to 14,771.
The highest level to date was reached in mid-April with 315 reported deaths within one day.
According to the RKI situation report from Tuesday evening, the so-called seven-day R was 0.97 (previous day: 0.97).
This means that 100 infected people infect almost 100 more people.
The value represents the occurrence of the infection 8 to 16 days ago.
If it is below 1 for a long time, the infection process subsides.
First the cities, now the country
4.20 a.m.:
Because of the increasing number of Covid cases, clinics in the rural Midwest of the USA are completely overloaded.
Is Trump's negligence now taking revenge?
You can see a video here.
Bahn is said to have made a record loss of 5.6 billion euros
03.45 a.m.:
According to a newspaper report, the second corona wave is massively exacerbating the economic problems of Deutsche Bahn.
The long-distance trains are currently only used to an average of 20 percent, the regional trains 55 to 60 percent, writes the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung".
This is one of the reasons why the federally owned group is heading for a record loss of 5.6 billion euros this year.
The number goes on from the documents for the supervisory board meeting on December 9th, reports the newspaper.
For the first half of the year, the railway had reported a loss of 3.7 billion euros.
In order to compensate for the losses, the federal government promised the railway in the economic stimulus package of June an increase in equity by five billion euros.
New York Synagogue Fined $ 15,000 for Wedding
02.15 a.m.:
The New York authorities have imposed a heavy fine on a synagogue because thousands of guests celebrated a wedding there despite the corona pandemic.
The synagogue in the Williamsburg district would have to pay $ 15,000, said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Despite the current assembly restrictions, the community invited people to the wedding on November 8th via word of mouth without the knowledge of the authorities.
The event was exposed by a video circulating on social media showing thousands of people singing and dancing without masks.
New York was the epicenter of the corona pandemic in the United States in the spring.
Districts in which Orthodox Jews live were also particularly affected.
"A disaster for people with previous mental illnesses"
1:55 a.m.:
The psychiatrist Sabine Köhler explains how she is helping her patients through the corona crisis, which is causing her great concern - and which people are even better off than usual in the pandemic. Read more here.
SPD leader Esken for alternating lessons - teachers demand a clear line
1.30 a.m.:
Before the top Corona talk on Wednesday, SPD boss Saskia Esken calls for the schools to be relieved by alternating lessons - that is, class division and alternating learning at home and at school.
In order to make this possible, the federal government has supported the federal states in equipping schools, pupils and teachers digitally, Esken told the Tagesspiegel.
"Graduated starting and break times are also recommended, especially to smooth out the transport of schoolchildren." In the school buses, the children and young people are "sometimes accommodated like sardines".
From the point of view of the teachers' union GEW, there is still an urgent need to catch up on digitization.
The acquisition of appropriate end devices for teachers and students must be accelerated, and a data protection-compliant digital infrastructure and sufficient IT system administrators are needed.
As far as alternating lessons are concerned, the schools need "a clear announcement" from the federal and state governments as to which development of the infection rate the classroom lessons should be restricted, said union leader Marlis Tepe to the editorial network Germany.
"So far, unfortunately, politicians have not worked so well that it is possible to switch from classroom teaching to digital learning without any problems."
The federal and state governments are planning these new corona measures
Earlier Christmas holidays, fewer people in the supermarket: the federal and state governments want to tighten the corona measures - there will only be easing over the holidays.
Here you can see an overview of the points.
Macron doesn't want to open winter sports resorts until the new year
0.15 a.m.:
Despite a somewhat improved Corona situation in France, President Emmanuel Macron has spoken out against the rapid opening of winter sports resorts.
A government vote is still going on, but it seems impossible to him to consider opening up for the holidays at the end of the year.
That said the head of state on Tuesday evening in a televised address.
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Emmanuel Macron
Photo: CAROLINE BLUMBERG / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
A reopening in January under good conditions is preferable.
"We will coordinate this with our European neighbors," said the 42-year-old.
France has important winter sports centers in the Alps and in the Pyrenees.
Before Macron's statements, Italy's push for a later start of the winter sports season in the EU had sparked a dispute among Alpine countries.
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wants to keep ski areas closed at least until January 10th.
Austria reacted with vehement rejection.
Christmas as a super spreader event
0.05 a.m.:
At the end of the year, what has been forbidden for weeks should suddenly be allowed: Meetings with up to ten participants from different households.
Whether that goes well depends on an important factor.
Read more here.
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cop / dpa / Reuters / AFP
