Germany does not rule out withdrawal of border loosening – Coronavirus –

If the infection escapes from authorities – that is, there are more than 50 new infections per 100,000 residents in the border area within a week – the loosening would have to be withdrawn again, CSU politician Seehofer said Wednesday night in the ARD talk show “Maischberger.die woche”. . That would be “in perfect agreement with our neighbors.” Seehofer also said: “If the infection remains as cheap or becomes even cheaper, we will finish border checks on June 15.”

The day the planned border openings for Germany and Switzerland were made official, shortly after a night-long journey of several hours, was discussed with those responsible on the spot. The Kleinwalsertal with around 5,000 inhabitants belongs to Vorarlberg, but can only be reached by road through Germany. Because the borders are still closed, the Federal Chancellor had to obtain a transit permit from the Bavarian Interior Ministry in order to arrive.

Kurz’s first date outside of Vienna in ten weeks triggered some outrage on social media and a NEOS announcement. Because at the Kleinwalsertal, many visibly enthusiastic people came to meet Kurz and, as can be seen in a video of the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten”, they did not adhere to the minimum distance from Corona. The chancellor also addressed this in a makeshift speech: “I ask everyone to keep their distance for a bit,” he said.

Although efforts were made in organizing before and during the visit, residents and media representatives “unfortunately did not keep the minimum distance,” the Federal Chancellery said Thursday. The appointment agreed with the municipal representatives of Mittelberg was made in two small rounds and with a safety distance of two meters. And the municipality had informed the population before the visit that, due to crown rules, a brief public meeting was not possible. On the way to Walserhaus, the chancellor himself asked the population and media representatives on the street several times and called for distance rules to be followed, a spokesman said in a statement to APA.

“You know how difficult it is to keep your distance, especially when the number of infections decreases,” he said. Kleinwalsertal has been rid of the virus in recent weeks due to its de facto geographic closure, and Vorarlberg has had no new infection for several days.

However, the Chancellery again pointed out how important it was to follow the rules: “Regardless of whether you meet the Chancellor or friends on the street: the distance must be kept.” The mask is no different in the federal states than in Vienna: when it moves in closed rooms, it uses mouth protection, not outdoors.

On Twitter, in view of a video posted by the “Vorarlberger Nachrichten” on YouTube, there was not only criticism that the 1 meter rule had been violated in the crowd in front of the Walserhaus, but also that some people there who Kurz had no mask No plexiglass sign occurred. NEOS MP Sepp Schellhorn announced an announcement.

In view of the fewer new infections in the coronavirus crisis, the EU Commission recommended that borders within the EU be reopened gradually. A common approach to lifting current travel restrictions is important, the EU authority in Brussels said on Wednesday. Austria and Germany took the first step. The crowned borders between Germany and Austria are reopened. Starting Friday, there will only be random checks. The Swiss border with Austria should also reopen from June 15. According to the Bern Police and Justice Department, the condition is that the development of the pandemic remains positive.

Seehofer had announced on Wednesday that controls at the German border with Luxembourg would end on Saturday night. At the German-Denmark border, Germany is also ready to end controls “as soon as the Danish government has carried out its ongoing consultations with its neighboring countries,” he said. On the other hand, controls at the borders with France, Austria and Switzerland will continue until June 15.

EU Council leader Charles Michel also spoke about ending border controls in Europe. He called for the borders to be reopened as soon as possible, he said at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday. Michel emphasized that it is about the free movement of people, which is also socially important. He expects EU countries to make coherent decisions, said the leader of the EU Council.