Health Minister Jens Spahn envisions new measures: Vaccinated people should continue to wear masks. Those who have not been vaccinated may be excluded from gastronomy. The proposals have provoked criticism.
The Federal Ministry of Health thinks that new measures are needed to successfully cope with a possible new wave of the Corona pandemic. There is already a lot of talk about the fourth wave, although it is hoped that its effect will be much weaker. The Minister of Health, Jens Spahn has drafted a document on the envisaged measures, which he has sent to the Bundestag. The report was also seen by DPA, “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
In addition to the increase in the number of infected while traveling abroad, recently the population is also behaving in contact with others almost as before the pandemic, the document said. In addition, seasonal viruses are expected to increase in the fall and winter, as well as increasing problems with the Corona virus.
Masks until “spring 2022”
Despite the increase in the number of vaccinated, distance, hygiene and wearing a mask continue to be among the basic measures of protection against pandemics. Masks should be worn everywhere where many people meet indoors. Spahn says protective masks will be needed until the “spring of 2022”, especially in public and long-distance traffic, as well as in shops. The masks should be worn by everyone, including those who have been cured and vaccinated, because they too can become infected and transmit the virus, the document said. Experts in particular warn of the Delta variant.
rule
The Ministry of Health further explains that vaccination and testing can prevent the entry of infected persons into closed facilities. “Therefore, from the beginning or mid-September, depending on the situation, it will be required to respect the 3-G rule in certain organizations, which means that in activities such as. only vaccinated, cured or tested persons can participate ”. The document states that these rules will enable admission to restaurants, accommodation in hotels, nearby bodily services, sports and activities inside as well as participation in major activities inside and outside.
The ministry intends to abolish free speed tests in mid-October. “Since a direct vaccination offer can now be made to all citizens, it is not right for taxpayers to pay the cost of tests for those who do not want to be vaccinated,” the Süddeutsche Zeitung quoted part of the report as saying.
Will the vaccination of unvaccinated persons be allowed in restaurants?
People who are not vaccinated are not only affected by the disease and infection, but they may also have other limitations. This includes restrictions on contacts, restrictions on participation in activities and the possibility of banning their entry into restaurants, the document said.
The FDP speaks of breaking promises
Harsh criticism of these proposals has come from the liberal FDP party. The party’s deputy leader, Wolfgang Kubicki, accused the federal government of violating promises, writes the newspaper “Bild”. These rules can be treated as a direct request for vaccination, if the government excludes unvaccinated people from social life. “The warning to exclude unvaccinated people from entering restaurants” is the most shameful breach of the word by this federal government, which has repeatedly vowed that there will be no compulsory vaccination in Germany, “Kubicki said. This violation of the word weighs even more heavily than the “obligation to vaccinate.”
Problems in schools
The recent decision of the Conference of Ministers of Health, to provide more vaccines to children and adolescents aged 12-17, could cause tensions in schools. The president of the School Management Association in Germany, Gudrun Wolters-Vogeler, fears that an increase in the number of vaccinated students will also open heated debates between teachers, parents and students. There will be conflicts over the rights of students and parents, Wolters-Vogeler told the Funke group newspapers. There may also be tensions over the possibility of quarantine, because in the event of a positive case for the Corona virus in a given class, only those who have not been vaccinated should stay home.
A study by British experts published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health magazine shows that children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 can expect a significantly easier and faster course of Covid-19 disease than adults. In this study it is said that students of this age can recover on average after six days. This study looked at 1,700 cases of sick people. Children and adolescents have shown an average of three symptoms: fatigue, headache, and loss of taste and smell. Only in rare cases have children had symptoms of Covid-19 disease even after four weeks or later. Only 4.4 percent of the people in the study showed such symptoms.
The incidence of infections in Germany has meanwhile reached 19.4 infected per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days. The Robert Koch Institute announced on Thursday (05.08) Wednesday about 3,539 new infections.DW
