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Compared to the value of a week ago, about 500 more cases were reported. Last Saturday, the number of new infections reported was 22,461. The peak was reached on Friday with 23,648 reported cases. However, the number of new infections is only partially comparable to the previous weeks, as the RKI, among other things, has adjusted the recommendations for corona tests as to who still needs to be tested. The step was necessary as more and more laboratories reached their limits. But the decision could affect not only the number of new infections but also the proportion of positive tests. (Read more here.)
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the RKI has counted a total of 902,528 infections detected with Sars-CoV-2 in Germany. The number of deaths related to the virus rose by 254 as of Saturday to a total of 13,884. The RKI estimates that around 593,100 people have recovered.
According to RKI’s situation report on Friday, the so-called seven-day R was 1.05 (previous day: 0.99). This means that, on average, each person who is infected with SARS-CoV-2 infects approximately one more person. The value represents the onset of infection 8-16 days ago. If it is below 1 for a long time, the infection process subsides.
Virologists and medical professionals for longer anti-corona measures
5.45 am: An extension or even tightening of the above restrictions is deemed necessary by several virologists and medical professionals in view of the continuing high number of corona infections.
»The goal was to achieve a significant decrease in new infections. Almost three weeks after the start of the measurements, however, we do not see any significant drop, but a lateral movement, “said the chief virologist of the University of Heidelberg, Hans-Georg Krausslich, of the” Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung. Therefore, it is clear that the real objective has not been achieved.
Therefore, the virologist Alexander Kekulé calls for a hardening. »At the next federal-state meeting on Wednesday, the new anti-crown resolutions are absolutely necessary. This should include that in all secondary schools the classes are immediately divided and switched to alternate lessons, “said the University of Halle-Wittenberg expert from the” Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. “At the same time, he advocated leaving kindergartens open. and elementary schools.
“Second, the Christmas holidays across the country should start a week before December 24.” That would be December 17; In most countries, holidays start on December 19, in others not until December 23. “This would also significantly reduce out-of-school contacts,” says Kekulé. That could create a valuable buffer to get back on the green for the turn of the year.
The president of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt, expects the restrictions, initially limited at the end of November, to be extended. “You have to assume that the closing light will continue in December. This is also necessary in view of the situation in the intensive care units ”, he told the“ Passauer Neue Presse ”. He warned against excessive tightening: “We must pay close attention to the specific design of the measures.”
Chancellor Braun: Christmas without grandparents is unimaginable
3.40 am: Despite the continued high number of corona infections and the discussion about tightening the measures, Chancellor Helge Braun (CDU) is counting on the fact that Christmas can be celebrated with the family. “For me it is inconceivable that grandparents do not celebrate at Christmas,” he told the Germany publishing network. At the same time, he appealed to the people to act with due care. “More important than the number of people you meet is that you cut down on your contacts beforehand and make sure no one has symptoms,” he said.
The Chancellery’s wish that each family only have private contact with one person from another household is not an obligation. “It is not a rule, it is a guide to behavior. It’s kind of a winter tag, ”Braun said.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of state governments want to discuss how to proceed against the pandemic on Wednesday. An extension of the restrictions in force since November is being discussed.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the idea of making the data protection of the Corona Warning application more flexible in order to expand its functions. »We will not compromise data protection. Since it is a voluntary instrument, we need the maximum acceptance and trust of the user, ”said Braun. »The application works very well. It does exactly what it is supposed to do and what citizens need it for. “After many of those who initially tested positive had not triggered an application warning, the program has been improved and simplified.
Spahn calls the partial lockdown a success in the fight against the corona pandemic
3:00 am: Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) called this month’s partial shutdown a success in fighting the corona pandemic. “The breakwater works,” Spahn said in a dispute between the daily “Die Welt” and FDP leader Christian Lindner. “Exponential growth has stopped,” Spahn added, referring to the corona infection figures. “We agree that this is not enough. But he succeeded once again. “
Spahn justified that the federal government prioritized reducing the number of infections. “We are the country with one of the oldest populations in the world,” emphasized the minister. “If the number of infections increases, sooner or later the need for treatment in intensive care units will also increase.” Belgium, the Netherlands and France have again asked Germany to admit patients because their intensive care capacities are exhausted.
“I want us to break the wave before there is unnecessary suffering in the hospitals,” Spahn said. So far, the federal government has achieved good results with relatively soft measures.
FDP President Lindner accused the government of a lack of strategy. “My fear is: we will not find a way out of the current blockade of November this year,” he told the “Welt”. And if we finish it, the next one will be here a few weeks later. That would be an intermittent policy that would cause enormous social and economic damage. “
Lindner criticized that with better protection of risk groups, the closure of restaurants, culture, leisure and sports would have been unnecessary. It is “possible to make public, cultural and economic life possible as long as distance and hygiene are maintained.”
DIHK survey: partial lockdown hits German economy hard
02.55 am: The corona pandemic triggers a drop in demand in more than half of German companies. This is the result of a current DIHK survey of more than 13,000 companies from all industries and regions. “Tight investment budgets are currently depressing demand for German products in many regions of the world,” announced the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). Nationwide, the new corona restrictions and partial lockdown in a number of industries are causing further losses in demand. “Overall, more than two-thirds of companies in Germany expect a drop in sales in 2020.”
The share of companies complaining of less revenue is particularly high in the hotel industry (93 percent), the travel industry (94 percent), and the cultural and creative industries (90 percent). “In these sectors in particular, the business is currently totally or largely paralyzed.” But also in the motor vehicle trade (73 percent) and in the industry (69 percent), a higher than average number of companies registered a decrease in sales this year. According to DIHK, this is due, among other things, to lower demand (51 percent), canceled orders (29 percent), and logistics bottlenecks for suppliers’ products (14 percent).
According to the survey, 49 percent of companies have to cancel or postpone investments in response to the crisis. Four out of ten companies would have to cut costs and almost a quarter would have to cut their staff. However, many companies also developed creative solutions during the crisis, for example promoting digitization (36 percent), expanding their online presence (32 percent), or converting business models (22 percent).
Federal Minister: Corona vaccine will meet safety standards
01:05 am: Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU) has emphasized the safety of potential new corona vaccines. “The vaccine will meet the same safety standards as all the others,” Karliczek told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. “That also means that authorities will continue to monitor closely after approval and will be vigilant about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, exactly as it normally works.” He added: “So no one should worry.” Karliczek emphasized: “Vaccination remains absolutely voluntary.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had made it clear that she expected a corona vaccine to be approved in Europe in early December or “very shortly after the turn of the year.” Mainz-based company Biontech is already preparing an approval application for Europe together with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, the two companies said on Friday.
