[ad_1]
KOffice minister Helge Braun, with his assessment that the Chancellor’s Corona meeting with the prime minister on Wednesday will have a “historical dimension”, provoked a mixture of perplexity and anger in some state capitals. Some wondered why Berlin was causing such a stir, in Kiel, Prime Minister Daniel Günther was really angry because he even had to travel to Berlin in person.
In countries where infection rates are reasonably under control, regionally targeted measures were indicated to have worked. The warning went directly to the federal government not to set the rhetorical bar too high, because that would only disappoint expectations.
Each country has its line
By the time the meeting’s motion for a resolution was released a few hours before it began, it was clear what Braun did not mean: that resolutions of historic dimensions be made. In view of the growing crown numbers, the federal and state governments want to turn some screws and adjust existing measures.
A “supplemental mask requirement” should apply if the limit of 35 new infections per 100,000 population in seven days is exceeded in an area. Then a curfew should also apply, bars and clubs should be closed. This can be tricky, especially for big cities with an intense gastronomic life. The number of participants in the events will also be limited to 100,000 inhabitants of a size of 35 infected. The exact numbers were not yet known prior to the meeting.
But only the passage about the currently highly controversial housing bans shows the helplessness of the federal government in relation to the states. Citizens are asked to avoid unnecessary German domestic travel from or to areas with 50 infected people. Ultimately, this means that all countries adhere to their rules. As is well known, these range from an outright rejection of the ban to a more stringent form.
With his comment, the head of Merkel’s Chancellery expressed above all his boss’s urgent wish that everyone realize the gravity of the situation. That no one denies this can only be seen from the fact that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in response to the comparatively low number of infections, advocates particularly strict rules for travel and does not become casual. Nobody gets casual.
Chancellor Merkel, who had already complained about the “opening discussion orgies” in the spring, does not back down on the reminders. You can understand this because you would end up being thrown at your door if you lose control of the pandemic. No matter what is decided in Schwerin, Düsseldorf or Munich, in the end the question will always be: How did Merkel deal with Corona?
The federal government should stick with the effort to find as many uniform regulations as possible, such as wearing masks, keeping your distance, washing hands, and ventilating. However, it is doubtful that in a situation where a second crown wave and a confusing array of German national travel regulations, the Chancellery’s dramatic rhetorical exacerbations will help to calm people down. On the contrary: this can also reduce acceptance of the measures.