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Antigen rapid test center in the airship hangar at Essen / Mülheim Airport
Photo: Ralph Lueger / imago images / Ralph Lueger
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Mobility researchers: 35 incidence unrealistic for the time being
05.25 a.m.:
With the apparently rapid spread of a more contagious corona mutant in Germany, the target of 35 in the seven-day incidence is moving into the distance from the point of view of experts.
Without additional measures, reaching this value would appear "unrealistic for the time being," said Kai Nagel, head of the department of traffic system planning and traffic telematics at the TU Berlin, of the dpa.
His group models the infection process in Berlin, among other things with anonymized cell phone data.
According to Nagel, the results can be transferred to the situation nationwide.
The mutant B.1.1.7, which was first discovered in Great Britain before Christmas, is spreading, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) from last week, in Germany: within two weeks, the proportion increased in random samples from just under 6 to 22 percent.
If you take into account the significantly increased likelihood of infection, according to the model, the situation is "significantly more critical than we previously predicted," said Nagel.
“If the current measures are simply retained, we will then get a third wave according to the model;
any kind of opening enlarges this wave. "
Nagel added: "We can counter this by generally avoiding indoor contacts without protective measures." Such contacts to be avoided included schools, multi-person offices and mutual visits.
Possible protective measures are masks, rapid tests, vaccinations and the relocation of events outside.
The models of the TU scientists also include key figures on the virus and aspects such as temperature and the leisure activities that depend on it.
Most recently, no changes in people's behavior could be seen in the mobility data, described Nagel - with the exception of the weekends, when more people were out and about when the weather was better.
As long as these additional activities take place outdoors, "according to our models, they do not result in any relevant additional infections," says Nagel.
Giffey would demonstratively get vaccinated
5.15 a.m.:
According to her own statement, Federal Family Minister Franziska Giffey would also get vaccinated against Corona in a publicly effective manner in order to counteract possible vaccination skepticism.
The SPD politician told the dpa that the federal government had decided to join, like everyone else.
"We'll get vaccinated when it's our turn." In the event that a situation should arise in which there is enough vaccine, but there is a "wait and see" attitude among the population, Giffey pleaded that politicians should get vaccinated demonstratively.
“Then comes the point where we have to set a good example.
And I'm ready for it, ”said the Minister.
500,000 corona deaths in the USA: Biden mourns - Fauci attacks
4:50 a.m.:
More than half a million Covid deaths are registered in the USA.
President Joe Biden campaigned for optimism in spite of his grief.
Virus expert Anthony Fauci attacked ex-President Donald Trump.
Read more here.
EU Commission calls for an explanation of German entry rules
04.45 a.m.:
Germany is coming under increasing pressure because of the tightened entry rules for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Tyrol.
According to a letter of complaint from the EU Commission to the German EU ambassador Michael Clauss in Brussels, several requirements are disproportionate or unfounded.
"We believe that Germany's understandable goal - the protection of public health in a pandemic - could be achieved through less restrictive measures." The paper from Monday is available to the dpa.
The EU Commission now expects a response within ten working days.
In theory, it could initiate legal proceedings against Germany, but this is unlikely due to the ongoing pandemic.
Similar letters were sent to Belgium, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
The EU Commission does not agree with their border measures either.
At the urging of the EU Commission, the European Ministers of the EU states are discussing the procedure at internal borders this Tuesday.
The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Tyrol have been considered areas with particularly dangerous virus mutations in Germany since February 14th.
With a few exceptions, entry is therefore prohibited.
In the opinion of Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the border controls initially scheduled for ten days should be extended.
The CSU politician had recently brusquely rejected the EU Commission's criticism of the German measures.
The basis of the concerns from Brussels is that the EU states agreed on common recommendations for traveling within the EU a few weeks ago.
Home office annoyed people flee to the hotel: Finally work undisturbed again
03.35 a.m.:
If you can't concentrate at home, you book a room with WiFi - and you will only be courted like in the past only particularly well-off guests.
Read more here.
Intensive care physicians warn of easing the corona requirements as early as March
03.25 a.m.:
In the debate about easing the corona lockdown in Germany, intensive care
physicians
warn against hasty measures.
The President of the German Society for Internal Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Christian Karagiannidis, turned in the "Rheinische Post" on Tuesday against loosening the requirements already in March.
The federal and state governments now have to be careful not to »lose the game in extra time«.
According to calculations, vaccinations were not yet going fast enough to prevent a third wave of the coronavirus spreading if there was a return to a slight lockdown like in November before April, Karagiannidis said.
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga), meanwhile, called on the federal and state governments to rapidly develop opening scenarios for the industry.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the heads of government of the federal states shouldn't just keep silent about the situation of the hospitality industry at their next conference planned for March 3, said Dehoga CEO Ingrid Hartges of the Rheinische Post.
The industry now has “a right to a realistic opening perspective in the coming weeks”.
Politicians must work to ensure that the hospitality industry is not closed for a day longer than "absolutely necessary," demanded Hartges.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the industry has had "a quasi-professional ban for a total of six months".
The spokesman for the federal government, Steffen Seibert, expressed skepticism about possible easing in view of the recent increase in the number of infections.
Seibert said that a "sensible opening strategy" should continue to be discussed with the federal states.
However, it must be taken into account that "the first wave of opening is already rolling".
Seibert referred, among other things, to the opening of daycare centers and schools as well as garden centers and hardware stores in several federal states.
However, Merkel is considering a step-by-step plan for gradually exiting the corona lockdown.
According to participants in a CDU presidium meeting on Monday, the Chancellor suggested package solutions for three areas of society in combination with increased corona tests.
Merkel named the personal contacts, schools as well as sports, restaurants and culture.
In view of the increasing number of infections and the spread of the British virus mutation, the Chancellor warned, according to the information at the meeting, to be very careful.
"Opening steps with increased tests must be introduced wisely," she was quoted by participants as saying.
Variant B.1.1.7: More contagious - or only longer contagious?
3:05 a.m.:
The infection
numbers
in Germany seem to be reaching a plateau.
Is that because of the mutant?
An analysis gives clues as to why it leads to more infections.
Read more here.
Dreyer calls for a concrete step-by-step plan to get out of the corona lockdown
02.55 a.m.:
The Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) has called for a concrete step-by-step plan for the way out of the corona restrictions before consultations with the federal and state governments.
Such a plan must be linked to "clear incidence values, test options and the vaccination rate," said Dreyer of the "Rheinische Post".
This Tuesday, a working group with the head of the Chancellery, Helge Braun (CDU) and the heads of the state chancelleries, will begin deliberations.
The next meeting of the heads of government from the federal and state levels is planned for March 3rd.
Dreyer said a "perspective plan" does not mean a quick return to normalcy.
“But we need specific and binding targets that people can use for orientation.
That also increases acceptance if we have to extend the measures. ”In addition, companies urgently need to be given“ planning options ”.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, headed by Peter Altmaier (CDU), made them responsible for the fact that financial aid was not distributed quickly enough.
Restaurant couple in shutdown: This crisis can make their love stronger - or destroy it
02.45 a.m.:
Terry Krug and Jan-Ole Bauer run two
trendy bars
- and a relationship.
Instead of questions of meaning, the corona crisis is about existence: What money do we live on when there is none?
Read more here.
Venezuela returns to corona switch strategy
1:15 a.m.: In
the fight against the
corona virus,
Venezuela is returning to a switch strategy in which a week with hard lockdown is followed by a week with fewer measures.
President Nicolás Maduro praised the strategy on Twitter on Monday as "the best method".
In a week with a “radical” lockdown, as in Germany, only pharmacies, supermarkets and other essential stores are allowed to open.
In a week with fewer measures, on the other hand, numerous businesses and shops will be able to receive customers at certain times, including restaurants and cafes.
Venezuela has already followed this corona strategy earlier, but the time for Carnival week (February 11th to 16th) was extended with fewer measures.
While the carnival was canceled in the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, the government in Caracas encouraged people to celebrate.
According to official information, more than 136,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Venezuela and more than 1,300 patients have died.
The actual numbers are likely to be much higher, not least due to the lack of tests.
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cop / dpa / AFP / Reuters
