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The date has been set for Corona’s next consultations: the federal and state governments want to meet on Tuesday. Given the high numbers, it is about “doing more,” said government spokesman Seibert.
The federal and state governments will again discuss measures to combat the corona pandemic next Tuesday. “The number of new infections is still too high,” says government spokesman Steffen Seibert. There is also the risk of a new mutation of the virus. It’s about doing “even more” to reduce the number of infections.
With the help of the incisive measures put in place, it was possible to “keep the numbers on a certain plateau,” Seibert said. Germany is still far from the goal of reducing the so-called incidence value below 50 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days. Greater contact reduction is needed whenever possible. The same applies to increased work from home. “It is urgently needed in view of the situation,” Seibert said.
No regulation for the home office
However, the federal government is not planning a home office requirement. At the moment, “there is no mandatory regulation on the agenda,” Seibert said. While he joined Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s call to expand home work, he also emphasized: “The home office is not suitable for all professions, for all activities.”
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economy also questioned whether an obligation would actually be more effective. In his opinion, the agreements between those affected lead to greater acceptance. Seibert also emphasized, however, that the proportion of home offices was higher in the first close of spring: “Then it’s possible.”
Originally, Monday, January 25, was scheduled for the next meeting. However, the Foreign Ministry had called for earlier consultations.
RKI also warns of mutations
Chancellor Angela Merkel has been concerned about the spread of the mutated virus for days. As in the spring of Italy, Ireland is now seen as a deterrent and a warning to act quickly. In December, Ireland was the model boy in the fight against the second crown wave: after a six-week lockdown, the Irish had dropped the incidence value below 80. But since the beginning of the year, the curve in Ireland has been fired almost vertically to an incidence value of just under 1400.
The mutated British variant is spreading rapidly among the Irish and is already responsible for nearly half of all new infections. Even if the Robert Koch Institute in Germany has only found around 20 cases of the British variant: Merkel sees Germany in a race against time. The incidence value has to drop significantly, he warned, before the mutated variant spreads to us.
The president of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, had also daily topics He warned about the most contagious pathogen: “My concern is great because we know that if these mutants spread, they spread faster. And if they spread faster, more people would be infected.”
Merkel denies public transport closures
Another reason the chancellor is lobbying: unlike the spring closure, the mobility of German citizens is still too great. According to RKI chief Wieler, current mobility data shows that citizens are not implementing the current lockdown as strongly as they were in the spring. Significantly less work at the head office, too many citizens continue to travel by bus and train, and there are still too many trips and weekend trips.
The newspaper “Bild” had reported that the Foreign Ministry is therefore considering a considerable tightening of the previous measures: Among other things, the suspension of local and long-distance public transport.
However, according to information from, Merkel denied that public transport closures were planned. ARD capital studies at the CDU presidium meeting. However, according to constant media reports, people at the Foreign Ministry are concerned if significantly more people would be able to work from home.
With information from Martin Ganslmeier, ARD capital studio
