The corona situation in Germany is getting worse. The traffic light parties concretized their measures. And Merkel finds drastic words. The news ticker.
- The traffic light parliamentary groups have summarized their corona measures in a new draft, which is to come to the Bundestag shortly (see first report from November 17, 11:05 a.m.).
- Meanwhile, CDU chairman Norbert Röttgen accused the traffic light parties of a “serious mistake” in the corona policy (see update from November 17th, 11.35 a.m.).
- Angela Merkel is urging quick clarifications at the Corona summit (see update from November 17, 12:15 p.m.).
- This news ticker is continuously updated.
Update from November 17th, 12:45 p.m .: One day before the federal-state round on the corona situation, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) expressed harsh criticism of SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz. Angela Merkel (CDU) spent a lot of time in her tenure as Chancellor in the Corona crisis consulting with the countries before making a decision, Wüst said on Wednesday in a special session of the Düsseldorf state parliament. “Olaf Scholz let the countries drain and tried to put them before a fait accompli with the Infection Protection Act – with devastating consequences.”
Wüst – currently also chairman of the Prime Minister’s Conference (MPK) – asked Scholz to correct course. From the upcoming SPD-led traffic light coalition in Berlin were negative signs, he said. “To let the epidemic situation come to an end with this development is a mistake and a wrong signal. It is not yet too late to correct this mistake. ”Everyone should have brought back wrong decisions in the pandemic. “Even the future Chancellor would not break a spike from the crown to turn back at this point.”
Unfortunately, on Tuesday evening, the main committee of the Bundestag refused to allow the federal states to continue to use tried and tested instruments to protect people, criticized the CDU politician. “The numbers are increasing, the instrument box is getting smaller. It doesn’t go together. ”Parliament and the government must be able to protect people in the event of a fall.
Corona escalation: Chancellor Merkel still wants clarifications – “dramatic pandemic situation”
Update from November 17th, 12.15 p.m .: Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has sharply criticized the traffic light parties’ departure from the epidemic emergency with a view to the current corona situation. “Even if there is no longer a legal majority for the extension of the epidemic emergency of national scope, I can have no doubt that we are in the middle of such an emergency,” said Merkel on Wednesday at the general meeting of the German Association of Cities.
In addition, she called for urgent clarifications to contain the corona infections in the upcoming federal-state consultations. The current pandemic situation is dramatic, said Merkel. “The fourth wave hits our country with full force.” The consultations with the Prime Minister this Thursday are “overdue”, the Chancellor made clear.
Specifically, she called for a brand to be set as to the level of clinical pollution from which additional containment measures must take effect. Without a threshold value, the agreed index for the number of corona patients admitted per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days would remain “a toothless tiger”. But it would be “a disaster” not to act until the intensive care units are full.
It is also crucial to make progress with vaccinations. “Even now it is not too late at all to decide on a primary vaccination,” said Merkel. At the same time, a national effort is now necessary for booster vaccinations from vaccinations that have been in the past. Scientific knowledge and experience from Israel showed that one could break the wave with “booster” vaccinations.
Merkel said she was “deeply concerned” about the situation in some countries. The primary goal is to avoid overloading the health system and thus to protect human life. This includes the fact that corona patients, but also everyone else, can get the best possible treatment. The “bitter truth” is that this is no longer possible in the worst affected districts.
Corona policy of the traffic light: Röttgen accuses “serious mistake” – “small government crisis”
Update from November 17th, 11.35 a.m .: The CDU chairman Norbert Röttgen accuses the possible future traffic light coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP in the fourth wave of the corona pandemic to make a serious mistake. The planned ending of the epidemic situation of national importance on November 25th was “party politics before politics that protect the people,” said the member of the Bundestag on Wednesday in Early start from RTL and ntv.
“The epidemic situation is stronger than ever. But because you announced it once, you don’t want to get off your high horse now, ”said Röttgen. That is a decision against reality. “It’s a little government crisis this traffic light before it’s even government.”
Röttgen also spoke out in favor of compulsory vaccination in certain professions, including nursing and educational professions. Employees in these professions have to deal with particularly vulnerable people on a daily basis. “That you can expect them to protect these people through vaccination, that’s what I am for.”
Corona measures of the traffic light now more concrete – 3G at work and home office
First report from November 17th, 11.05 a.m .: On Thursday (November 18) the Prime Minister’s Conference will take place to discuss the nationwide escalating Corona situation. The measures in the fight against the pandemic could be largely tightened. The traffic light parties have now clarified their measures in a draft that is due to come to the Bundestag on the same day of the conference.
In the draft, the traffic light advocates a 3G rule at work and an obligation to work from home. In addition, you want to crack down on fraudsters. Selling or using fake tests and vaccination certificates is to be punished on the basis of a new legal regulation. The exceptions in the case of tougher measures and the obligation to test in clinics or nursing homes are also part of the template.
Corona plans of the traffic light – CSU with criticism and warning of “epochal false start”
In the meantime, the CSU expressed clear criticism of the actions of the traffic light parties. She sees the future traffic light groups of the SPD, Greens and FDP facing an epoch-making false start because of their corona policy. The traffic light parliamentary groups did not seek talks with the federal states before the Bund-Länder round with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on Thursday, criticized CSU General Secretary Markus Blume on Wednesday in Berlin. SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz and the SPD had torpedoed talks. In contrast to usual, there has not yet been any preliminary coordination with the federal states. This is bad style, especially in a future coalition that propagates it differently.
The problem is that the policy in the transition of government in the fight against corona is in parts behind the situation, criticized Blume. The CSU still wishes to extend the so-called epidemic situation of national scope beyond November 25th. The traffic light groups would give responsibility to the federal states. This is not consistent: the situation is regionally different. But you know that no country will make it. Among other things, they wanted a more extensive opening clause for the federal states.
Blume called for a discussion about new compensation regulations for the economy in the fourth corona wave. The situation is darkening for some industries such as gastronomy. This must be taken into account as soon as possible. This also applies to the subject of mandatory vaccination. Every day you wait will make things more difficult. (bb with material from dpa)
List of rubric lists: © Michael Kappeler / dpa
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