In the midst of the high number of infections, many notice that this Advent season is not carefree either. And how does it become a festival? Politicians justify stricter requirements – and force vaccination.
Berlin – In view of the dramatic Corona situation, increased caution for the Christmas holidays is again in focus.
The designated Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) recommended in the “Bild am Sonntag”: “In the current situation, it seems more sensible to spend Christmas in a small group at home and not plan any major trips across the country.”
Scholz: “Give yourself a jolt”
The prospective Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) again appealed to unvaccinated people: “Give yourself a jerk now, do it.”
Scholz campaigned for acceptance of tougher restrictions in Advent, which are difficult to endure after all this long time. “But precisely because we haven’t had enough vaccinations, we have to do it again,” he said on Saturday – and emphasized that 2G access is now only possible for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered to restaurants or shops. Last winter closings affected everyone. Scholz called for “tens of millions of vaccinations” to be added by Christmas. “That is the order of the day.”
FDP leader Christian Lindner said on Sunday in Berlin: “Everyone had hoped and with the availability of vaccines also expected that this winter would be different from last year. This hope has not been confirmed. ”It is now a matter of a strategy“ which combats risks more consistently, but which at the same time maintains more social life ”. So that no further measures have to be decided, one builds on the sense of responsibility of all people to reduce contacts and get vaccinated.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt turned against possible government travel restrictions for Christmas. “Of course, travel is possible, and of course in compliance with the corona rules,” he told the “Augsburger Allgemeine” (Monday) with a view to Wissing’s statements. A longer critical phase up to the holidays is expected in politics and medicine. The number of more than 5000 corona patients in intensive care units will be significantly exceeded, said Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU). The situation will “reach its sad climax around Christmas”.
Extra sessions in the Bundestag
In the Bundestag, with two extra sessions on Tuesday and Friday, further regulations are to be discussed and decided, as it was said from circles of the traffic light groups. This includes a planned mandatory vaccination for staff in facilities with risk groups, such as nursing homes and clinics. According to information from the German Press Agency, the SPD, FDP and Greens set as a target date that employees must submit proof of being fully vaccinated or recovered by March 15, 2022 – or medical evidence that they cannot be vaccinated.
In addition to doctors, temporary vaccination authorizations, for example for pharmacists, veterinarians and dentists, are to be regulated. Prior medical training should be a prerequisite. Another aspect should include compensation payments to clinics for postponed treatments and beds that have been kept vacant.
The outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel once again called for solidarity and more vaccinations: “Take the insidious virus seriously,” said the CDU politician in her last weekly video message. She referred to “overcrowded intensive care units”, seriously ill people who would have to be flown across Germany, and the “so terribly high number” of people who were killed by the virus. “It’s so bitter because it could be avoided.” Every vaccination helps.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of new infections reported per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days fell slightly again – but remains high at 439.2 (previous day 442.7, previous week 446.7). The health authorities now reported 42,055 new cases in one day.
In order to contain the wave, the federal and state governments have already adopted a number of stricter measures. These include audience restrictions at major events and extensive restrictions on those who have not been vaccinated. They are denied entry to most shops during the Christmas season. The city council called for more support from the police for controls. “Not just on a case-by-case basis, but through increased presence at Christmas markets and in public spaces,” said General Manager Helmut Dedy of the German Press Agency.
Union faction leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) called for stricter measures. “In areas with high incidences one must also think about temporary contact restrictions for vaccinated people,” he told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday). In Saxony, with the nationwide highest seven-day incidence of more than 1200, the state parliament wants to vote on the determination of an epidemic situation this Monday. This is intended to create legal certainty for a continuation of protective measures and possible extensions.
Nationwide, there is also a general compulsory vaccination, which the Bundestag is likely to decide on without any parliamentary group specifications. The federal and state governments had advocated an introduction “as soon as it can be ensured that everyone to be vaccinated can also be vaccinated promptly, ie from around February 2022”. However, the schedule should continue to be discussed if a closer vaccination requirement for staff in sensitive facilities does not take effect until mid-March 2022.
Almost two thirds of citizens also support a general compulsory vaccination, as a survey by the YouGov institute on behalf of the dpa showed. 63 percent were in favor of this, 30 percent against it, and 7 percent did not provide any information. The mood has thus turned since the start of the corona vaccinations. Shortly after the first vaccination on December 26, 2020, in a YouGov survey, 56 percent were against compulsory vaccination and 33 percent were in favor. The federal government had long also rejected compulsory vaccination. dpa
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