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Corona test (symbol image): Little test and reporting activity during the holidays
Photo: INA FASSBENDER / AFP
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South Korea extends strict measures over Omikron
7.23 a.m
.: South Korea extends the stricter regulations that have been in force since mid-December to combat the Omikron variant until January 16.
Accordingly, no more than four vaccinated people are allowed to meet, restaurants and bars must close at 9 p.m., cinemas at 10 p.m.
In South Korea, almost 91 percent of residents over the age of twelve are vaccinated.
4875 new corona infections were reported on Thursday, a sharp decrease in a two-week comparison.
However, the number of seriously ill Covid patients remains at 1000.
Pediatrician President warns of renewed school closings
5.31 a.m.:
The president of the professional association of
paediatricians
, Thomas Fischbach, warns of considerations in some regions to temporarily close schools.
»I find it unbearable that individual politicians are already thinking about school closings again.
That would have massive and lasting consequences for the children and adolescents, the damage was enormous in the past, "said Fischbach of the" Rheinische Post "according to a preliminary report.
"If schools were to be closed again after the holidays, that would be a clear expression of political failure."
Hospital society against shortening quarantine times for staff
5.23 a.m.:
The chairman of the board of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gaß, has spoken out against a general shortening of the corona quarantine times to secure the health infrastructure.
"A widespread use of infected asymptomatic employees in the critical infrastructure is too high a risk, especially in the health system for the particularly vulnerable groups," Gass told the newspapers of the editorial network Germany (RND).
Gaß emphasized: "It would also be difficult to teach employees how to operate infection protection with a lot of effort while colleagues are infectious at the bedside."
There could only be shortening of the quarantine regulation after careful examination.
"We need valid data on the infection situation and significantly more data on Omikron in order to be able to really make decisions as to whether an early free test can shorten it," says Gaß.
"A shortening can only take place if the employee is symptom-free in highly specialized areas that would otherwise be irreplaceable."
In these weeks there are a number of sick reports in hospitals that correspond to a "normal" winter season.
There is currently no situation with a blatant staff shortage like in London, said Gass.
asa / dpa
