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AIn view of the worsening crown situation in Germany, several prime ministers are pushing for tougher measures. A harsh lockdown is looming with closures in operations until January 10. The start of tightening is still open.
An official date has not yet been set for another round by Chancellor Angela Merkel and the prime ministers of the federal states. Individual state governments have already announced stricter measures.
North Rhine-Westphalia
In North Rhine-Westphalia, compulsory school attendance will end on Monday for the time being, as Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) announced on Friday.
He also promoted a “fastest possible blockade throughout Germany”. Heads of government at the federal and state levels should advise on Saturday if possible and agree to drastic contact restrictions.
He deliberately did not name a day for the start of the lockdown before the start of federal and state consultations so as not to cause “confusion,” Laschet said. North Rhine-Westphalia wanted to do this “as soon as possible”, the Prime Minister repeatedly stressed to journalists.
Baden-Württemberg
Due to the increase in the crown number, an exit restriction will apply throughout Baden-Württemberg from this Saturday. Exceptions could be work or a visit to the doctor, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) said in Stuttgart on Friday. More contacts are allowed during the day than at night. Only during Christmas, from December 23 to 27, are also allowed to attend private and religious events in the evening, Kretschmann said. The measures should be applied initially for four weeks.
Kretschmann firmly assumes that after Christmas there will be a nationwide lockdown on the fight against the corona virus until at least January 10. According to his perception, there is a consensus among the heads of state government, said the Green politician in Stuttgart. “So you can assume that. The population can adapt. “
It had previously announced that if a uniform national solution could not be found, it would strive for a joint solution with neighboring federal states.
Bayern
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) spoke again in favor of a national shutdown before Christmas. The federal and state governments would now have to consider bringing the holidays forward and also closing stores earlier, he said in an appointment with Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) at the future Corona vaccination center in Nuremberg.
Söder emphasized that the federal and state governments should agree on a common line. But he also hinted that he would do it only with Baden-Württemberg. The “South” will act if not everyone cooperates, he said. In Bavaria, stricter measures have been in place since Wednesday, such as changing classes from the eighth grade or night curfews for hotspots.
Sedan
The president of the Prime Minister’s Conference, the mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller (SPD), wants new measures from December 20. Müller said on Thursday night on the ZDF “Markus Lanz” program that there were references to “significant cuts” by various prime ministers from this date. This included Müller, for example, significantly shrinking the retail sector. “In this sense, it can be said that between December 20 and January 10 we have already had massive restrictions for practically three weeks, which will surely also lead to a fall in incidence,” Müller said.
Brandenburg
Brandenburg Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) announced a decision on a strict lockdown over the next week. The goal of restricting contacts was obviously “not successful” with the above measures, Woidke said on private BB radio on Friday. “That is why there will have to be a blockade if we decide (…), which will be very extensive.” The decision is “very likely” for next week. Closing stores or other things wouldn’t do much good if everyone didn’t join in. “My urgent request is that each individual adapt to their behavior.”
Hessen
Hessian Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) called for uniform crown regulations at the national level in the event of a strict lockdown. It is mainly about the possible closures of schools and shops, as well as contacts at Christmas, said Bouffier on Friday at the Hessian state parliament in Wiesbaden. In the case of older people in particular, one must carefully consider whether it is humanly justifiable that they no longer have any contact with their family at Christmas.
According to his assessment, the weekend before or the weekend after the Christmas holidays could start the blockade, the head of government said. Initially, consider that the January 10 deadline is the correct period. However, there should always be the opportunity to react to the current development of the crown with new decisions.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) also expects uniform restrictions from the crown at the national level from an imminent summit on the crown crisis. “We have great interest in early action,” he told the ARD “Morgenmagazin” on Friday. It is now clear that current measures are insufficient and “we have to sit down again.” The strict entry rules in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to which entry is only possible to visit the family nucleus, are also necessary during the Christmas period. “As you can see, the north acts strictly,” said Schwesig.
Lower saxony
Lower Saxony Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) expects a hard shutdown to take place soon: “I suppose that between December 19 and January 10, overall, we will have a very, very quiet phase in Germany. And that has to be the case, “he said Thursday in a” special “ZDF on the corona pandemic.
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) called for a uniform approach at the national level. He emphasized in the “Rheinische Post” that a uniform approach was necessary, “because otherwise we would experience corona tourism between countries with and without blockade, which would be counterproductive.”
A confinement is always serious. “At a time when schools and many businesses are closed for vacations, the economic damage is less than at other times,” he said.
Saar
Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) called for a crown lockdown lasting at least two weeks after Christmas. In addition, a binding goal was necessary for the start, he told the “Rheinische Post”. “If the target incidence values have already been reached during this period, the lockdown could possibly relax earlier, otherwise it would have to be extended.” Such an approach does not raise false expectations and provides citizens with planning security.
“Our previous restrictions, unfortunately, have not caused a notable decrease in the number of infections in Germany, on the contrary,” said the CDU politician. A “coordinated, uniform and understandable procedure” between the federal states and the federal government is now critical.
Saxony
The Saxon cabinet wants to decide on new measures to combat the corona pandemic this Friday. The new state regulation should apply as of Monday. Provides a partial block hardening. Schools, kindergartens and many stores should close before January 10. So a mask is required on all public streets and squares.
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) called for an early meeting of all prime ministers with Chancellor Merkel. “Preferably today, tomorrow at the latest,” Günther said in Kiel on Friday. No time should be wasted in fighting the further spread of the corona virus, Günther said. He is vehemently committed to a tough blockade that must come as soon as possible.
Günther also announced stricter contact rules in the state. Among other things, instead of ten people from two households, a maximum of five people from a maximum of two households should be allowed together. This also applies to Christmas. Only the closest family is excluded. As of Monday, there will be no face-to-face classes in the schools from the eighth year. Günther has also reviewed the already promised option of staying in hotels in Schleswig-Holstein to visit relatives during Christmas.
Thuringia
In Thuringia, the state government has already tightened some measures. Much of the business will be closed after Saturday, December 18. Stores for daily necessities are excluded. With the exception of competitive sports, sports clubs can no longer train as of Monday. Schoolchildren must go to distance education from the time the business closes until January 10 inclusive.
Record number of new infections and deaths
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) had also called for the immediate imposition of a national lockdown. “The only possibility to regain control of the situation is a shutdown, which must take place immediately,” the minister told “Spiegel”, according to a report published online on Friday. “If we wait until Christmas, we will have to struggle with the high numbers for months,” he warned.
On Tuesday, Leopoldina advocated using the holidays and the turn of the year for a hard lockout. From December 24 to at least January 10, 2021, public life should largely rest throughout Germany, and shops, except for daily necessities, should also close.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported a new record number of 29,875 new infections in one day on Friday morning. This is more than 6,000 infections more than the previous high on Thursday. A new record was also set for the number of deaths related to a corona infection with 598 in one day.
