Coronavirus News on Tuesday: Most Important Developments Regarding Sars-Cov-2 and Covid-19

According to Bafin’s crown crisis, banks can survive with injuries

12:10 p.m.: According to financial regulator Bafin, the crown crisis will not throw German banks off the rail. “The banking sector has what it takes to weather the crisis, albeit with some injuries,” said Felix Hufeld, president of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bafin).

However, “the end of the flagpole” has not yet been reached in the provision for possible credit defaults, Hufeld said. “Even billionaire aid packages for the real economy will not be able to completely prevent borrowers from failing in the coming weeks, months, and perhaps years.”

Latvia introduces mandatory mouth protection and allows private events

11.50 am: In Latvia, wearing a face mask is mandatory on local public transport on Tuesday. From now on, passengers of buses, trams and trains in the EU Baltic country will have to cover their mouths and noses. At the same time, further relaxation went into effect: As of May 12, up to 25 people can gather outdoors for private and public events, but they must comply with distance rules and hygiene rules.

80 new corona infections in a slaughterhouse in Baden-Württemberg

11.35am: At a slaughterhouse in Birkenfeld near Pforzheim, more than 80 people tested positive for the coronavirus. This increases the number of employees who are or were infected with Covid-19 to around 400, a spokeswoman for the district office in Enzkreis in Baden-Württemberg said Tuesday. That’s almost a quarter of the workforce of around 1,100 employees.

“Bastards Make Viruses”: Musician Bryan Adams Reaps Accusations of Racism

11.25 a.m. – Canadian rock star Bryan Adams received accusations of racism with a statement about the spread of the corona virus on the Internet. The 60-year-old man posted a video on Instagram in which he played his song “Cuts Like a Knife”. Regarding the pandemic cancellation of his shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the musician wrote that the entire world was currently on hold only because there were greedy bastards who made viruses that sold and ate bats in so-called wet markets. He recommended that they become vegans, he added. Many users criticized the statements as racist and disappointing.

RKI explains the increase in the number of breeders with outbreaks in slaughterhouses

10:45 am: Although the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced last week that it would suspend regular press briefings, Vice President Lars Schaade announced the current situation in Corona on Tuesday. This was caused by concerns about the number of views (R), which had risen to a questionable level above 1 in recent days.

“The number will always fluctuate, that just comes from the calculation base,” said Schaade. “As long as it fluctuates around the value 1, it means there is no increase. If it is permanently above 1, then we are in exponential growth, and the number of cases is permanently increasing.”

According to Schaade, the number now exceeding 1 can be attributed to local outbreaks, such as infections in slaughterhouses. The R value does not reflect the actual state, but the situation of approximately two weeks ago.

“As the number of cases in Germany is declining overall and is approaching a plateau, individual outbreaks have a greater impact on the number of reproductions,” said Schaade. As soon as the local shoots are under control, R should fall again.

Schaade recalled that the R value was only one parameter to assess the dynamics of the pandemic. Another important factor is the number of new infections, which is currently just under 1,000, Schaade said. “There are always distortions in the numbers because, for example, fewer infections are reported over the weekend,” said Schaade. “Many don’t go to the doctor there, and many health departments don’t provide any numbers on the weekends.” Therefore, the numbers must be estimated using a relatively complicated process (immediate prediction).

“Whether more vigorous action needs to be taken and to what extent not only depends on R and the number of new infections,” Schaade said. “But also from the current severity of disease, the burden and relief of the health system, and the availability of ventilation beds and intensive care.”

Merkel and Macron plan to relax the border.

10:35: Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and French President Emmanuel Macron have advised a media report on reducing border traffic between Germany and France. According to “The Capital Report” by “The Pioneer” editor-in-chief Michael Bröcker on Tuesday, they are both fighting for a solution that applies to citizens of both countries equally, at best, even beyond. Both would have called each other on Monday night.

Hand hygiene: dermatologists warn about eczema through frequent hand washing

10.15 a.m. – Frequent handwashing in the crown pandemic can lead to itching of hand eczema, dermatologists warn. “Soap attacks the skin barrier,” said dermatologist Christoph Skudlik, chief physician at the iDerm institute based at the University of Osnabrück and the BG Klinikum Hamburg. Anyone who develops skin problems should definitely go to a specialist.

According to the Robert Koch Institute, disinfecting hands with alcoholic preparations is “the means of choice” in healthcare and nursing. Outside of these areas, hands can also be thoroughly washed to inactivate the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen.

Spain imposes two weeks quarantine on immigrants

10:10 am: The Spanish government orders a two-week quarantine for all people who enter the country from May 15. Travelers are only allowed to buy food, go to the doctor and, in an emergency, it is stated in an official order. The quarantine applies to all people who come to Spain between May 15 and the end of the state of emergency scheduled for May 24.

Russia again reports more than 10,000 new cases

9.50 a.m.: This Tuesday, Russia reports 10,899 new cases of Corona in the country. This increases the number of proven infections to 232,243. Infections in Russia have increased by more than 10,000 per day. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to partially lift crown restrictions across the country.

RKI reports 170,508 cases in Germany on Tuesday

9.35 a.m.: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin reported 170,508 people on Tuesday who were infected with the coronavirus in Germany, an increase of 933 from the previous day. The RKI, which only takes into account the electronically transmitted figures from the federal states and updates its list once a day, has recorded 7,533 deaths so far, while Johns Hopkins University has reported 7,661 deaths. The number of people recovered was around 147,200.

Retail change: “70 percent buy online”

9.30am: Even if stores reopen: The consequences of the pandemic will keep German retailers busy for a long time. Because consumer behavior is changing, in the short term and also in the long term, managers and experts agree. “70 percent of Germans made online purchases in April,” says consumer expert Rolf Bürkl from Nuremberg market researcher GfK. “Even if not all remain online, a significant portion will remain there after the pandemic ends. E-commerce will continue to grow.”

Government approval is currently “exceptionally high”

9.16 am: Federal government job approval has increased dramatically in the crown crisis. In late April, 49 percent of citizens judged the government to be strong, according to a survey by the Allensbach Institute for the Bertelsmann Foundation. This was 20 percentage points more than half a year earlier and the highest value since the regular survey began in 1999.

“The population relies heavily on government measures during the first phase of the pandemic,” said Robert Vehrkamp, ​​democracy expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, “the values ​​are exceptional and the changes are more than clear.”

Despite dissent over crown measures: Laschet continues to appreciate Merkel

9.02 a.m. – North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Armin Laschet is still behind Chancellor Angela Merkel despite differences of opinion regarding the fight against the crown pandemic. “That doesn’t change the appreciation,” said Laschet. The prime minister and other country leaders campaigned early to ease the crown blockade. “I think that all the measures had to be taken, but that we did a lot of damage to society and that we had to talk about these damages from the beginning.”

Hamburg to open restaurants again tomorrow

8.34 a.m.: Restaurants in Hamburg can reopen from Wednesday, respecting hygiene and authorization rules. The German press agency learned from Senate circles. NDR 90.3 had previously reported on this. According to the station, restaurants and bars should be able to serve their guests indoors and outdoors. Also in Hamburg, therefore, it should apply that up to two families can sit at one table. Operators must wear mouth-nose protection, reported NDR 90.3.

The red-green Senate in Hamburg wants to announce further relaxation at noon on restrictions in the fight against the crown pandemic. This is the implementation of the steps agreed between the federal and state governments last Wednesday.

After a Senate meeting under Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD), it should also be announced when the loosening will need to be reversed if the number of new infections increases again. Recently, the number of hamburgers that tested positive had increased very slowly. The health agency reported five new cases on Monday. So far, 4951 tests have been positive for Covid-19.

Vice President of the FDP parliamentary group: “Borders and infections have nothing to do with each other”

8.19 am: Deputy leader of the FDP parliamentary group, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, speaks out against quarantine, for example, for returnees from Sweden and the Netherlands. “Borders and infections have nothing to do with each other,” Morgenmagazin said in the ARD. He found the demand of the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet (CDU) correct: Laschet had advocated relaxing the quarantine requirement for returnees from European countries (see entry from 5.40 a.m.).

“Borders should only be closed when there is an infection,” said Lambsdorff. Flat-rate border closings are the wrong way. Currently, anyone entering Germany from abroad must be quarantined for two weeks. There are exceptions for travelers, for example.

The FDP politician also called for a European supply of chemicals from which medicines can be produced. “So we can start production just in case.” Even before the crown crisis there was a shortage of supplies in pharmacies.

“Trump Death Watch”: the artist accuses the president of massive omissions

7.53 a.m. – A new panel of lights in New York’s Times Square shows the number of deaths in the crown for which the President of the United States, Donald Trump, is said to be responsible for a failed policy. Award-winning filmmaker Eugene Jarecki “Trump Death Watch” is based on the assumption that 60 percent of deaths in the United States are attributed to the President.

In mid-April, two epidemiologists published an article in the “New York Times” that said the number of expected deaths would have been significantly less with an earlier introduction of contact restrictions across the country. On March 16, the White House issued guidelines to close schools and avoid meetings, for example. If this had happened a week earlier, according to epidemiologists, 60 percent fewer deaths would be expected by the end of the first wave of epidemics.

By Monday, the New York City facility showed more than 48,000 deaths, totaling about 81,000 deaths in the United States. Jarecki said that, like the names of memorials to fallen soldiers, the “quantification” of human lives lost by Trump’s belated response to the pandemic was an “essential public function.”

The President of the United States is accused of reacting too late to the spread of the new virus. The United States is now by far the country most affected by the pandemic.

Deutsche Post increases sales, surplus collapses

7.38 a.m.: Despite the crown crisis, Deutsche Post performed better than expected in sales in the first quarter. Revenue rose nearly one percent year-on-year to € 15.5 billion, as the Dax Group announced when it presented detailed figures. Swiss Post, therefore, slightly exceeded analyst estimates.

However, the Bonn company still felt the consequences of the virus pandemic. As is already known, the operating result (EBIT) fell by almost half to 592 million euros, the performance of sales fell by 3.7 percentage points to 3.8 percent. The surprising ending for the street scooter caused additional costs in the millions. Production of the electric delivery truck will be suspended this year.

The bottom line fell 60 percent to € 301 million. The logistics group had recently withdrawn its annual forecast due to the high uncertainties caused by the crown pandemic. As soon as a more reliable basis for a detailed earnings forecast is provided, the company will communicate a new perspective, it said. Regardless of this, Deutsche Post reconfirmed its medium-term objective. Accordingly, EBIT should increase to € 5.3 billion by 2022.

“Reliable and cheap”: ESM chief encourages use of Corona crisis aid

7:01 am: ESM chief Klaus Regling has encouraged euro states to use the new crisis aid from the euro rescue fund crown. These ESM loans are “reliable and cheap,” the managing director of the European Stability Mechanism of the German Press Agency and other news agencies said in an interview. About half of the 19 euro countries would have interest advantages compared to the capital market. Only Italy could save seven billion euros in interest in the next ten years, Regling calculated.

The Eurogroup had decided to establish preventive lines of credit of up to € 240 billion with the ESM for direct and indirect health costs in the pandemic. He expects about a third of the framework to run out, about 80 billion euros, Regling said. The credit lines are mainly intended to help crisis-affected countries such as Italy or Spain. However, there were reservations because in the past the ESM called for difficult austerity programs in exchange for loan assistance. This time it was different, Regling said.

“It is a crisis that was not caused by wrong policies. No government can be held responsible for what is happening now.” As a result, there is no other condition than the requirement to use the money for health expenses. “There is nothing else, not even later,” Regling said. Nor should one fear a negative signal to the financial markets from the use of credit lines. “Markets understand exactly how ESM works.” They knew that countries could be financed cheaper, said the ESM chief. “It is good for a country’s reputation in the market.” International investors have confirmed this to him.

Space travel escapes with a “light blue eye”

6.07 a.m .: According to the head of the European Space Agency, Jan Wörner, space travel breaks out slightly in the crown crisis. “Until now, it can be said that space travel will probably be done with a black eye or a light blue eye. We certainly will not be the biggest problem of the crisis,” said Esa chief of the German Press Agency. “We have resumed all space operations as such. There is no satellite that has to fly without us now. That is important,” said Wörner. He estimates that the crisis so far has delayed space travel by about a month. “We always have a little bit of cushioning, it’s not dramatic.”

A few launches would have been delayed, mainly because the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana, South America, was closed for some time. The launch of another European-Russian space project ExoMars mission was also postponed for two years. According to Wörner, this was due less to Corona than to other problems. The launch of the new European launch vehicle Ariane 6 will also be delayed until early 2021. But that’s not a disaster, the Esa chief said.

Within Europe: Laschet wants to relax quarantine obligations for returnees

5.40 am: North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) is pushing for further easing of state requirements to contain the coronavirus. In the “Rheinische Post”, he advocated relaxing the quarantine obligation for returnees from European countries. He justified the end of the bull run in France, where people have had much more freedom since Monday. At the same time, he reiterated his call for the German borders to be opened quickly.

Anyone entering Germany from abroad must be quarantined for two weeks. However, this obligation does not apply to people who enter with a special permit, for example, for those who travel daily. France relaxed its strict exit restrictions on Monday. Freedom of movement remains limited. If you want to travel more than 100 kilometers from where you live, you need a good reason.

Laschet was one of the first leading politicians in Germany to aggressively demand an end to the harsh restrictions. In order to alleviate the situation in France, he is now pressing, like Saar Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) and his colleague from Rhineland-Palatinate Malu Dreyer (SPD), to quickly open borders to neighboring states . For weeks it had hurt that the European bridge between Kehl and Strasbourg was closed, Laschet said. “It is also painful that you, of all people, cannot go to Schengen through the Moselle and the flags fly at half-staff.”

France flies Europeans out of Central America

5.01 am: France has transported more than 150 people from Central America trapped by the coronavirus pandemic. As announced by the French ambassador to Panama, Brice Roquefeuil, the passengers included French, Germans, Italians, Dutch, Spanish and citizens of other European countries.

The travelers were reportedly flown out of Panama and Honduras. The machine started in Panama City and made a stopover in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where another 60 people boarded.

Originally, 300 citizens from 22 European countries were supposed to be brought to Paris on a single flight. However, due to restrictions by the French Crown on the minimum distance between passengers, the return campaign had to be divided into two flights. The second flight is scheduled for Wednesday.

The corona effect demonstrates the effectiveness of driving bans

4.54 a.m.: Less traffic means less pollutants. What seems logical is controversial in the crown crisis, and is taken as evidence against driving bans. Investigators are now correcting this, thanks to new data from the crash. Read more here.

Fewer car accidents in the crown crisis

4.40 am: During the restrictions in the crown crisis, fewer accidents occurred on the roads of Germany. This is shown in the figures of auto insurers, aerial kickers and the police. According to insurers, there were significantly fewer claims due to crown restrictions.

ADAC air rescuers were used about 1,300 times in traffic accidents from January to early May, as a spokesman said. That’s about 200 fewer missions than in the same period last year. DRF Air Rescue also saw a decrease in emergency response due to traffic accidents in April: rescuers were deployed 317 times across the country.

Overall, there was less traffic on the streets from mid-March to late April, as ADAC data shows. However, more vehicles have been on the road again since late April. The number of bottlenecks increased compared to the end of March. For example, while experts counted 467 freeway traffic jams on the last Monday in March, the number was 905 on the last Monday in April, before that, the number of traffic jams and the length of traffic jams had decreased significantly in mid-March .

Fiat Chrysler starts production in Brazil

3.46 a.m .: Car maker Fiat Chrysler is gradually increasing production at its three locations in Brazil. “When operations resume, the first step will be to train all workers in the new safety and hygiene standards and in process changes,” the company said. “Production volume will increase over the course of the month as the plant adjusts to new processes and market demand.” Initially, 6,400 of the approximately 10,000 licensed employees returned to their jobs, the automaker said. The tapes remained still for 48 days.

Los Angeles opens beaches

3.20 a.m.: Los Angeles wants to reopen its beaches to visitors after almost two months of closure in the crown crisis. As of Wednesday, the beaches should be accessible again for sports activities like swimming or jogging, the Los Angeles district said on Twitter. But people should stay away and wear a protective mask out of the water. Sunbathing and beach accessories like umbrellas and deck chairs are not allowed.

Neighboring Orange County had opened a few weeks ago. However, after thousands of people flocked and violated conditions, the California governor issued a temporary ban, which has since been lifted again.

American stars raise $ 115 million for those in need

2.48 am: Stars like Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Sting and Jennifer Lopez have raised funds for the needy in the New York metropolis, which was particularly hit by the pandemic, with a charity campaign in the crown crisis. A total of $ 115 million was raised for the Robin Hood charity, moderator Tina Fey said after the “Rise Up New York!” Broadcast on American television Monday at local time. “This city needs your help.” Among other things, the money is intended to support New Yorkers who lost their jobs during the crisis.

“New York, I know your strength and we will get through this,” singer Jennifer Lopez said in a video message. “We are all together and we will get through it together,” said singer Sting. The band Bon Jovi, moderators Trevor Noah and Jimmy Fallon, as well as actors Jessica Chastain, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick and Jake Gyllenhaal also participated with video messages.

Jefe de Boeing ve números de pasajeros por debajo del 25 por ciento en septiembre

2.33 a.m .: el jefe de Boeing, Dave Calhoun, anticipa un aumento más débil en el número de pasajeros en septiembre de lo que se suponía anteriormente. “El tráfico no volverá al 100 por ciento. Ni siquiera volverá al 25 por ciento. Quizás lleguemos a la marca del 50 por ciento para fin de año. Por lo tanto, definitivamente habrá que hacer ajustes por parte de las aerolíneas”. Calhoun le dijo a NBC. Auf die Frage, ob eine große US-Fluggesellschaft infolge der Pandemie Pleite gehen könnte, antwortete er: “Ja, höchstwahrscheinlich. (…) Im September werden wir mehr wissen.” Eine Boeing-Sprecher stellte im Anschluss der Ausstrahlung klar, dass Calhoun sich auf die allgemein vorherrschende Unsicherheit der Branche bezogen habe, nicht auf eine bestimmte Fluglinie.

Peace researchers warn of intensifying international conflicts

1.48 Uhr: Der Direktor des Stockholmer Friedensforschungsinstitut Sipri, Dan Smith, rechnet in der Coronakrise mit einer Verschärfung internationaler Konflikte. “This is particularly true in Iraq and Syria,” said media group peace researcher Funke. In Iraq, for example, there are already signs of strengthening the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization. “The fronts could harden in Yemen. In Afghanistan, the radical Islamic Taliban is expected to regain strength in the wake of the crown crisis.”

However, the peace researcher is also threatening new tensions in the Horn of Africa and in parts of West Africa such as Nigeria or Mali. “People don’t get the support they need, so some will join violent militias that promise help, like access to food,” Smith told the newspapers.

Es gebe aber auch nicht staatliche Akteure, die ihre Handlungen zurückgefahren hätten. Various groups, for example in Yemen or the Philippines, have also heeded the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, for a world ceasefire to combat the crown. “However, other groups have used the crisis for their own benefit.”

Trump may want to reduce contact with Pence

0.59 Uhr: US-Präsident Donald Trump will in der Coronakrise möglicherweise seine Kontakte zu Vizepräsident Mike Pence reduzieren. He will speak to Pence about limiting his contacts, Trump said. He could speak to his assistant on the phone. In the event of a Trump or Pence infection, the White House would still be able to act.

Last week it emerged that the vice president’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, had tested positive for the coronavirus. Pence selbst wurde aber negativ auf den Erreger getestet, wie Trump sagte. However, the vice president “comes into contact with many people,” he said.

A Pence spokesman said Sunday that the vice president had not quarantined. Trump’s comments the next day, however, suggested that Pence could be isolated at home. He had not seen Pence since the “quarantine period,” Trump said.

Measuring fever at US airports. USA: 1700 hours of meaningless work according to a CDC study

0.30 Uhr: Die Temperaturmessungen bei Passagieren zu Beginn der Coronavirus-Pandemie waren nach Einschätzung der US-Gesundheitsbehörde CDC wirkungslos. Humans could transmit the virus without experiencing symptoms such as a rise in body temperature, the agency said. This arises from a study by the CDC.

On February 3, the United States began measuring the temperature of passengers arriving from China and asking about possible symptoms. The step was later expanded to include entries from Iran. Since most of the first cases of Corona occurred in the United States on the west coast, CDC experts focused on California in their study. Of the 12,000 passengers who checked in there between February 3 and March 17, only three later appeared in the state among the approximately 26,000 Covid-19 patients registered in April.

According to the report, this suggests that the nearly 1,700 hours worked by temperature controls made no sense. In the case of a respiratory illness, which could spread before symptoms start and without the onset of symptoms, temperature measurements at airports can be of “limited use,” the CDC said.

Tesla begins production in California against instructions from authorities

0.10 Uhr: Tesla-Chef Elon Musk will das Hauptwerk in Kalifornien umgehend wieder hochfahren, obwohl er damit gegen Corona-Beschränkungen der Behörden verstößt. Musk tweeted that he would be on the production line himself. “If someone is arrested, I will ask that it be just me.”

Alameda County, where Tesla’s Fremont plant is located, continues to have restrictions on exiting. Tesla had filed a lawsuit against him over the weekend, and Musk had threatened to move the California automaker’s headquarters to Texas or Nevada, for example.

Musk had downplayed the coronavirus threat since the pandemic began, calling Alameda County’s restrictions on going out last week “fascist.” By far the majority of Tesla vehicles are being built in Fremont, while production at the new second plant in China is just beginning.

Mask requirement in the White House, except the president and his vice

0.01 Uhr: Nach dem Bekanntwerden von zwei Corona-Infektionen bei US-Regierungsmitarbeitern ist das Tragen von Gesichtsmasken im Weißen Haus vorgeschrieben worden. This was announced by the President of the United States, Donald Trump. The mask requirement applies to all public areas of the government headquarters, but not to offices, as reported by various US media, citing internal instructions.

The move is intended to help prevent further spread of the new coronavirus in the White House. However, Trump said that he himself would not wear a mask. Trump said he was not getting so close to anyone that this was necessary. Vice President Mike Pence is also said not to wear a mask.