Coronavirus News on Saturday: The most important developments regarding Sars-CoV-2 and Covid-19

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Daimler restarts the plants

9.15 a.m. – After four weeks of downtime in much of production, automaker Daimler is restarting its plants starting Monday. One focus is on transmission and transmission technology, an area that not only depends on the other plants in Germany, but also abroad and especially in China. While some places start with one shift, others should work two or three shifts. This was announced by the board and the works council.

The work will be carried out under strict hygiene requirements, which the Group and the works council would have prepared based on the risk assessments for each workplace. To ensure that employees do not have more contact with each other than necessary, shifts are not fully filled and schedules are changed so that employees do not meet at the factory gate or in the locker room. Where possible, work should continue from the home office.

Daimler had closed a large part of its production in March, and short-term work has also been applicable since April 6.

City Day doesn’t expect big crowds when stores reopen

8:55 am: The German Association of Cities expects customers to be reluctant to reopen smaller stores this Monday. “We assume that the public will be happy to take advantage of the opportunities recovered as of Monday,” said CEO Helmut Dedy of the German Press Agency. “But we don’t expect the big rush now: the stores they are opening can still be reached a week later.”

He appreciated the relaxation decided by the federal and state governments, which will apply in most federal states as of Monday. “People need vibrant urban centers. If more retail stores are opened now, it will be good for everyone – the people who want to shop, the retailers, their employees and the cities,” Dedy said. At the same time, he emphasized: “A return to normality will only be possible step by step.” Patience is needed in the fight against the pandemic.

The president of the Medical Association requests visits to nursing homes

8:51 am: Klaus Reinhardt, president of the German Medical Association, demands that visits to the nursing home also be possible during the crown crisis. However, the condition for this is that family members wear protective clothing, Reinhardt of the “Neue Westfälische” said.

According to Reinhardt, it makes sense from a medical point of view that the nurseries are still closed and that the young students stay home. “Because younger children still don’t understand the current situation and the associated constraints, like keeping a distance as well.” However, what is needed is an early perspective that will gradually open nurseries and primary schools. (Read a commentary here on the debate on nursery school openings: venture further questions about pee-kacka!)

Walmart plans 50,000 new hires

08:38: US supermarket group Walmart wants to hire 50,000 other employees to cope with the growing demand for food and hygiene products during the coronavirus pandemic. The previous goal of filling 150,000 new jobs had already been reached six weeks ahead of schedule, Walmart said. On average, 5,000 new employees would be hired every day. Many of these people previously worked in the restaurant or hotel industry. 85 percent of new jobs are temporary or part-time.

Applications for frequencies for movie theaters are increasing

8:09 am: According to the Federal Network Agency, there are currently more applications for cinema frequencies than ever before. Since the beginning of March, the authority has assigned 43 radio frequencies for cinemas across the country, said an official spokesman for the German Press Agency. “Before the crown crisis, only a few frequencies were requested for theaters.” An additional 80 frequency assignment requests were still pending and would be processed quickly.

Lower Saxony Prime Minister awaits mask requirement

8:00 am: Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, hopes that a mask will soon be required. “I am convinced that everyday masks will soon become part of our public life and, for example, will soon become a requirement on local public transport as soon as they are sufficiently available,” the SPD politician told Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. Until then, the state could not compel its citizens to wear the masks.

RKI has 3609 new infections and another 242 deaths in Germany

7:35 a.m .: According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of coronavirus infections in Germany has increased to 137,439, an increase of 3609 compared to Friday. The number of deaths increased from 242 to 4110. About 85,400 people have recovered, or some 3,600 more, as announced by the RKI on its website.

Media report: at least 7,000 older people died in American homes

07:26: According to a media report in the United States, at least 7,000 people in nursing homes have died after being infected with the coronavirus. This means that about a fifth of all coronary heart pandemic deaths in the United States are related to the facility, according to a New York Times count. By Friday night, more than 36,000 people infected with the virus had died across the country in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University in the United States. In total, more than 700,000 infections have been reported in the United States.

Hesse students do not have to fear sitting down due to the crown crisis.

7.20 am: Students in Hesse do not have to worry about being transferred to the next school year during the crown crisis. “Since performance evaluation will only be possible to a limited extent this school year, a transfer should generally be made,” the culture ministry said Friday. In cases where school performance may not have been sufficient for a transfer before school closed due to the coronavirus, discussions with students and parents should be sought to indicate the possibility of voluntarily repeating the school year , said.

Trump expects at least 60,000 crown deaths in the United States

7:15 a.m. – According to President Donald Trump, the United States government now expects between 60,000 and 65,000 deaths as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. The number is well below previous predictions of at least 100,000 deaths in the United States, Trump said at a White House press conference on Friday night. Each death is too many, the president emphasized. “I hope we can stay well below 100,000.” He added: “Right now, we are probably moving to around 60,000, maybe 65,000.”

Labor Minister Heil presents the possibility of an increase in short-term job benefits

7:09 am: Due to the crown crisis, Federal Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) offers the possibility of an early increase in short-term benefits. Heil told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” not only for low-wage earners, but also for skilled workers a significant depression: “Rent and bills still have to be paid. That is why we are intensely seeking a solution in government and with the social partners. “

The minister supported the request of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) to increase government subsidies for short-term labor benefits from 60 to 80 percent of net losses (87 percent for employees with children) during the months of May, June and July. “The DGB demand is plausible,” Heil told the newspaper. The discussions are on “how can we compensate for the loss of purchasing power if the crisis persists”.