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According to media reports, there could be more stringent protective measures against the spread of the corona pandemic in Saxony from next week. With reference to government circles, the newspaper “Bild” reports that it is being discussed whether to close the stores as of December 14. As in spring, only essential stores should remain open. It is not yet clear what exactly these are besides grocery stores.
The »Free Press« published in Chemnitz also reported that the stricter measures will begin next week and will last until January 10. The exact beginning is unclear, the newspaper writes, December 14 is considered a possible date.
Saxon government spokesman Ralph Schreiber did not initially confirm the reports. He noted that the cabinet wanted to meet Tuesday to discuss the crown’s toughest protection measures. Then key points for new measures and a timetable must be established, said Schreiber of the German Press Agency. This could then be discussed by the parliamentary bodies. Then a special cabinet session could make a decision on Friday.
Who sharpens, who cuts?
Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) announced tougher protective measures on Monday after a conversation with representatives of industry and commerce, but declined to elaborate. He said additional measures are needed, so they will be there.
Kretschmer is no longer alone with this demand. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) urges a new meeting with the prime minister before Christmas in order to sharpen the previous federal-state decision. With the measures taken so far, the number of infections, which is stagnating at too high a level, does not go down. The measures would always find acceptance if the federal and state governments made a joint decision. So far, a new prime minister conference is scheduled for January 4.
The federal and state governments agreed to allow ten more children to attend family reunions from December 23 to January 1 at the latest. Otherwise, a maximum of five people from two households can be together. Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have already limited relaxation from December 23 to 26 and 27 respectively. In Berlin, a maximum of five people is allowed during the entire holiday.
Vacation considerations
In addition to Saxony, in view of the high number of infections, other countries are also considering moving away from relief during the holidays. The Saarland and Baden-Württemberg governments, like Merkel, insisted on a quick additional meeting of prime ministers. After Christmas and before New Year’s Eve, the stricter Corona rules must be returned, said Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU), the SPIEGEL. North Rhine-Westphalia does not rule out a tightening of measures at the national level. “If the overall situation does not improve rapidly, an even more restrictive approach across the country appears necessary to reduce the number of new infections more significantly,” said NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) of the dpa. .
On the other hand, the president of the Prime Minister’s Conference, Michael Müller (SPD), does not consider absolutely necessary a new meeting of the country’s leaders before Christmas. “Those who have a large number and have to do even more can do so on the basis of our latest resolutions,” said the mayor of Berlin. “In fact, we decided on a good basis for all variants in December.” Thuringian Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (Die Linke) made a similar statement.
By the end of November, the federal and state governments had generally agreed that, in the event of particularly high infection levels with an incidence of more than 200 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days, that is, in so-called hotspots, stricter measures would be taken. Hessian Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) prepared people in regions with a high number of infections for possible nighttime “curfews”: he thought it was correct that a “curfew” should also be imposed there, he said when visiting the newly established corona vaccination center in Wiesbaden.
