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The German Bundestag approved changes to the Infection Protection Act on Thursday, extending the “nationwide epidemic situation” by three months. For the proposal of the Union coalition and the SPD, 368 deputies voted, 293 voted against, three abstained, as announced by the Vice President of the Bundestag, Claudia Roth.
“Nobody wants restrictions one day longer than necessary. But we are still in a special situation,” Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn said in front of the parliamentarians. “The pandemic is not over yet.” So the extension is “correct” https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/. “The situation is also dynamic due to mutations.” It is “difficult to find the right balance” between the “longing for normalcy” and the “need to keep this pandemic under control.”
So far, the deadline for regulation was March 31. By law, the Bundestag must now decide an extension every three months. “We are still in the middle,” Spahn said. “But everything speaks for the fact that this will be the last spring in this pandemic.”
In the amended Infection Protection Act, all measures to combat the corona pandemic will also be oriented in the future towards the possible spread of mutant viruses. In the case of possible loosening, it is now emphasized that not only the seven-day incidence should be used. “When examining the abolition or restriction of protection measures,” the number of people already vaccinated and “the number of reproductions dependent on time” must be taken into account, the text says.
The RKI reports 11,912 new infections and 359 more deaths.
German health authorities reported 11,912 new corona infections to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in one day. In addition, 359 additional deaths were recorded in 24 hours. That comes from Thursday’s RKI numbers. Exactly a week ago, the RKI had recorded 11,869 new infections and 385 new deaths in one day. The data reflects the status of the RKI dashboard at 5:20 am, changes or additions are possible at a later date.
According to the RKI, the number of new infections reported in seven days per 100,000 population (seven-day incidence) was 64.7 nationwide on Thursday morning and thus slightly higher than the day anterior (64.0). Four weeks ago, on February 4, the incidence had been 80.7. Its previous high was reached on December 22 at 197.6.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the RKI has counted 2,471,942 infections detected with Sars-CoV-2 in Germany (as of March 4 at 5:20 am). The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected. The RKI stated that the number of people recovered was around 2,283,400. The total number of people who died with or with a proven Sars-CoV-2 infection rose to 71,240.
According to RKI’s management report on Wednesday, the seven-day R-value nationwide was 0.93 (the previous day 0.94). This means that, in theory, 100 infected people infect 93 other people. The value represents the onset of the infection 8 to 16 days ago. If it is below 1 for a longer period of time, the infection process subsides; if it is constantly higher, the number of cases increases.
The federal and state governments agree: Gradual openings according to incidence
Chancellor Angela Merkel and federal state prime ministers discussed on Wednesday how to proceed in the Corona crisis. The lockdown to combat the corona pandemic in Germany basically runs until March 28, but with many opening options depending on the infection situation.
Bookstores, florists, and garden centers can do this if they meet hygiene requirements. from March 8 reopen nationwide. Also on this date it should be stable or decrease Incidents between 50 and 100 to be able to go shopping again by reserving appointments at points of sale. Here a maximum of one client per 40 square meters applies. Visits to individually reserved museums, galleries, zoos and botanical gardens will also be possible again. TO Incidents under the age of 50 open the mentioned facilities. Retail can also be opened at this point.
14 days later, in March 22, the next opening step follows if the incidents are stable. TO Incidents between 50 and 100 Theaters, concert halls, opera houses and cinemas can be visited by submitting a daily quick test or self-assessment. Sport is allowed indoors without contact and outdoors with contact. If you book an appointment, you can also visit the outdoor dining room. TO Incidence values below 50 the above mentioned options are also possible without testing.
Another 14 days later, So, at the earliest, April 5 In the higher incidence ranges, non-contact indoor sports and outdoor contact sports are allowed without a test. With incidents below 50, outdoor leisure events with up to 50 participants are possible.
The important elements for future openings should be vaccination and testing. It was agreed that at the end of March / beginning of April the GPs and specialized consultations will fully participate in the vaccination campaign to accelerate it. Free corona rapid tests for all citizens are expected to be possible starting next week. Thereafter, the federal government will bear the costs. It should be possible to perform at least one rapid test per week, which can be performed by trained personnel in test centers or doctor’s offices.
RKI: most contagious mutant in 46 percent of positive samples
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the spread of the Corona B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in Great Britain, has increased further. Its share of a sample of nearly 25,000 positive cases from last week is around 46 percent, according to an RKI report released Wednesday. At the beginning of the survey, about a month ago, the RKI had calculated the proportion of mutants at six percent, two weeks later it was 22 percent. Estimates that about half of the cases now go back to B.1.1.7 were already known on Tuesday.
The 46 percent proportion relates to new testing by various laboratory groups for key mutations of the variant. According to the RKI, “it cannot be safely transferred to all Sars-CoV-2 positive samples in Germany.” The report draws on other data sources: If you look at full genetic analyzes, which are performed less frequently but are considered clear evidence, about 22 percent are mutants. The trend of rapid growth in the proportion of variants is observed regardless of the method used.
The RKI writes that a further increase in the proportion of B.1.1.7 can be expected. It is a more contagious variant that, according to initial studies, also causes serious illness more often. Containing the pandemic is expected to become more difficult as it spreads.
Rapid tests still in short supply in March
In federal-state consultations, it is estimated that the need for rapid tests in a comprehensive testing strategy is greater than in the plans of the Ministry of Health, according to the groups of participants. There will likely be a task force to handle the order, according to the participants. Chancellor Angela Merkel has calculated that the monthly requirement could amount to up to 150 million rapid tests, depending on how many people allow themselves to be tested and what opening steps are associated with the tests. Manufacturers stated in discussions that they would deliver up to 40 million pieces per week, he said. In March, however, rapid tests could still be in short supply.
In Brandenburg now also vaccines in medical practices
The first medical practices in Brandenburg began vaccinations against the coronavirus on Wednesday, initially as a model project. In the Senftenberg district of Hosena (Oberspreewald-Lausitz), one of the four initial practices in the state was opened for vaccination. Vaccination is based on prioritization. First, two nurses from the group practice were vaccinated with the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
For regular vaccinations in practices and for home visits, the federal corona vaccination ordinance must be changed. The plan is for doctors to make appointments for their patients themselves in the future. With the participation of doctors, the state government wants to vaccinate significantly more people after a slow start to vaccination. When it comes to the proportion of the first vaccines in the population, the state lags behind the national average.
Vaccines in doctors’ offices have been going on for decades, this is the most normal thing in the world: it is finally time for the vaccination ordinance to be amended accordingly by Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU), said the president of the Brandenburg Association. of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVBB), Peter Noack Begin. “This will bring us closer to the citizens.” Vaccination must be brought to the area to achieve high vaccination rates.
Germany extends border controls until March 17
Germany is extending its stationary controls on the border with the Czech Republic and the Austrian state of Tyrol until March 17. This was announced by the parliamentary Secretary of State Stephan Mayer (CSU) in the Bundestag’s Home Affairs Committee, according to participants in a non-public meeting.
Germany declared the Czech Republic, Slovakia and much of Tyrol as so-called virus variant areas in mid-February. From there and from other areas where more contagious variants are widespread and, according to initial studies, of the coronavirus that cause severe courses, currently only Germans and foreigners with residence permits and residence in Germany can enter. There are exceptions, for example, for truck drivers and cross-border travelers with systemically important professions. You must submit a negative corona test that is no older than 48 hours.
