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Shortly before the next federal-state meeting, many ideas for the fall of Corona in Germany will be discussed. Bavarian Prime Minister Söder proposes a nationwide “warning light”.
They all agree on one thing: the videoconference scheduled for Tuesday between the chancellor and the prime ministers of the federal states on how to deal with the coronavirus in the cold season makes sense. What to agree on during deliberations: Opinions differ on this.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder puts into play a nationwide “Crown traffic light” in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “Now we need a set of binding, proportionate and reliable rules for winter,” said the CSU politician. Precise guidelines are needed on what measures to take if the number of infected people exceeds certain limit values. There is such a traffic light in neighboring Austria.
When the traffic light turns yellow
According to Söder’s suggestion, the German “Corona traffic light” should turn yellow if there are 35 or more infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in a district within seven days. To prevent further spread of the virus, for example, preventive tests could be requested for risk groups, Bundesliga matches would be replayed without spectators, and the requirement for masks in schools from the fifth year could also be extended to teaching.
If the number increases to 50 infected people, and the traffic light turns red, according to the report, even stricter rules should apply: fewer participants in private events, mask requirements in public places, earlier curfew, restrictions on sale of alcohol.
Scholz against uniform upper limits for private parties
SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz will also participate in the deliberations as vice chancellor and has reflected. It’s important to agree on fast, well-agreed reactions and specific criteria, Scholz said in Anne Will.
Scholz was skeptical about demands for uniform upper limits nationwide for the number of participants at private parties. You have to look at the situation from a very regional perspective. The Association of German Districts had required a national upper limit of fewer than 50 people at private parties. The current patchwork quilt irritates people.
Haseloff and Dreyer for a uniform testing strategy
However, several prime ministers from less severely affected countries reject a uniform approach to the number of participants or the requirement to wear a mask. This also includes the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff. “The fact that we have to act differently is related to the wide spread of infections,” said the CDU politician at the Berlin report. However, what is needed is a uniform testing strategy. “It’s fall break, there are expected trips, people coming back from vacation.”
This point is particularly important to the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer. The federal government had to present its new testing strategy and updated quarantine regulations this week. “People have the right to know what to expect,” the SPD politician told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn does not plan to present the revised strategy until mid-October.
Hans asks for a “clear sign”
Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans makes clear in the “Rheinische Post” that he hopes the consultations with Chancellor Angela Merkel “will send a clear signal from the political leadership in the crisis.” “In other words, now is not the time for parties and meetings without distance and without a mask,” said the CDU politician. It is important to keep the situation stable in Germany. “We must avoid another blockage of the economy, our children have the right to care and adequate schooling.” Therefore, to achieve this, one must continue to be vigilant and adhere to the basic rules of distance and hygiene in everyday life.
More tests, but also more new infections
Experts have long warned that the number of infections could rise again in the fall. Last week, several large cities exceeded the important limit of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days. Also, with 2507 new corona cases in one day, the highest value in Germany since April was reached on Saturday. On Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute reported another 1,411 cases.
The rise in new infections can be partly explained by the fact that more tests have been done in recent months than before. However, an indication that the infection status is recovering again regardless of the number of tests is that a higher proportion of corona tests were positive. According to RKI’s management report, the so-called positive rate was 1.19 percent in the week of September 14-20 (previous week: 0.86). That is the highest value in more than ten weeks.
