Coronavirus News on Friday: The most important developments regarding Sars-CoV-2 and Covid-19

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Huge increase in the budget deficit in Spain

12.08 p.m .: The budget deficit in Spain will soar this year to the highest level since the height of the euro crisis. Due to falling tax revenues and higher government spending, a decrease of just under € 116 billion or 10.34 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) is expected, the government said. That would be the highest deficit since 2012, when 10.7 percent was recorded. Last year the deficit was 2.8 percent.

How summer holidays in Germany work

12.05 p.m .: From the dream of the trip? Does summer have to happen in Germany? Don’t worry, there are also great vacation spots on your doorstep. Here are the best planning tips and aids.

Czech Republic prefers relaxation hours

12 p.m.: The Czech government is once again speeding up its relaxation program. Starting May 11, the country’s cultural institutions can reopen if they admit a maximum of 100 people at a time. In museums, galleries, theaters, cinemas and concert halls, minimum distances must be observed between visitors. Starting May 11, events such as weddings, sporting events, and religious services can be held with up to 100 participants. Hairdressing salons can be opened if employees not only wear a face mask, but also a protective visor.

The government has high hopes for the so-called smart quarantine project, which has been available across the country since Friday. With the help of cell phones and bank details, health authorities can trace the contacts of an infected person. Prerequisite is the consent of the interested person. In the Czech Republic there were 7689 confirmed infections as of Friday, 237 people died.

Tennis is back: the tournament begins in Höhr-Grenzhausen

11.40 a.m.: Tennis is played again. The “Tennis Exhibition” started on an ashes court at Höhr-Grenzhausen in Westerwald. It is the first tennis tournament since the suspension of all game operations in early March and one of the first non-virtual sporting events in the crown crisis. It is played in a group format in two shortened winning sets and four games per set, with 3: 3 in the tiebreaker. Only German players are at the start.

The precautions are strict. Florian Broska and Jan Choinski, for example, came to the field for their morning game with mouth and nose protection. In addition to the two players, only the referee can be present in his high chair, there is no audience or children with the ball.

George Soros: “The EU must unite, or it will fall apart”

11.33 a.m.: In the crown crisis, the EU needs at least a trillion euros, and a common financial instrument. The solution would be an “everlasting loan” that must never be repaid. A guest post by George Soros.

Protesters besiege Michigan Parliament

11:13 am: Armed protesters stormed the parliament building in capital Lansing on Thursday during a demonstration against the crown measures in Michigan. According to the US media, several hundred people gathered in the entrance area of ​​Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s headquarters. Partly armed and waving posters and flags, they called for an end to the state of emergency.

Michigan, like other US states. The US has imposed far-reaching exit restrictions in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. However, Democrat Whitmer must enforce provisions against the increasingly bitter opposition of the Republican majority in Parliament. The curfew was initially established until the end of April, but had already been extended until mid-May last week. On Friday, Whitmer signed an executive order to extend the emergency until May 28.

The greens and the crown crisis: in the search phase

10:59 a.m. The corona virus has hit the Greens hard. The sky is over for now, the Union walked away in the polls. The party is just coming, it has not yet found its role in the crisis.

Nursing employers warn of loosening access restrictions for nursing homes

10.41 a.m.: The nursing employers association warned against the partial relaxation of strict access restrictions for nursing homes and nursing homes. Nursing home visiting regulations “should not be a game of life and death,” the association said. The former residents, mostly elderly, belonged to the high-risk group and needed special protection.

Friedhelm Fiedler, vice president of the Association of Nursing Employers, criticized the “poorly thought-out relaxation exercises on visiting ban”, as now announced in Bavaria, Hesse or Lower Saxony, as irresponsible: “Nursing homes They are very safe places for seniors and people with multiple illnesses. That should be it. ” The residents of the house, but also the staff, must be protected in the best possible way.

Amazon chief warns of losses

10.35 a.m.: Business is doing well for Amazon in the crisis, online shopping and cloud services are booming. However, CEO Jeff Bezos warns of possible losses, and he is getting richer.

After the pandemic, Verdi wants to impose better wages if necessary with strikes

10 a.m.: After the peak of the crown pandemic, the Verdi services union wants to impose better working conditions and better wages, especially in professions relevant to the system, with strikes if necessary.

“We will apply for collective agreements for collective agreements and we will accept everyone who is currently demanding greater social recognition for these professions in which large numbers of women work,” Verdi President Frank Werneke said on Labor Day. At the same time, it is a “social task to strive for the preservation of every job that is at risk, be it in the tourism industry, in aviation, in cultural institutions, or in commerce.”

Werneke saw the legal increase in short-term job benefits as a success for unions. “But it is also true that the increase is too late for many employees in service industries with low incomes and a high proportion of part-time work through the fourth month.”

Verdi’s boss also criticized companies that received government support funds during the Corona crisis and at the same time tried to destroy jobs. Tax money should not be used to finance downsizing or dividends paid to shareholders and bonuses paid to managers. Therefore, it is important that “the state is actively involved in companies that save on tax money and remains responsible for what happens with tax money.”

Positive balance after a week of compulsory masking in local Bavarian transport

9.45 a.m.: After almost a week wearing a mask on Bavarian public transport, the Ministry of Transport has struck a positive balance. “The obligation to wear a mask is very well accepted,” said Bavarian Transport Minister Kerstin Schreyer (CSU).

Starting Monday, passengers on public transport, at train stations, stops and in service centers must cover their mouths and nose with a mask, cloth or scarf. “Comments from transportation associations show that the vast majority of passengers wear a nose and throat cover, in many places 98 or even 99 percent,” said Schreyer. “There are hardly any deliberate violations.”

More than 1600 new cases in Germany.

9.26 a.m.: In Germany, the number of infections found increased in 1639 to 160,758, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The number of Covid 19 deaths increased in 193 to 6,481.

Boeing is raising $ 25 billion from investors

9:21 am: The American aircraft maker wants to survive without government subsidies. That seems to be working. However, some projects may be on the way, at least for now.

Japan emperor worries about other humans for crown pandemic

8:29 am: Japanese Emperor Naruhito is also concerned about the current crown pandemic. On his way to his palace, the 60-year-old monarch greeted individual passers-by from his limousine on Friday, the first anniversary of his rise to the throne, wearing a protective mask. The spread of the new lung disease is a “great challenge” for humanity, the emperor was quoted by the Kyodo news agency after a meeting with a government adviser. He was deeply concerned that many people were in a difficult situation.

Despite the decline in new coronavirus infections, Japan is considering extending the emergency that has been in place for two weeks to a month. The emergency, which was initially applied until May 6, does not mean a curfew as in Europe. Citizens of the country are only asked to stay home if possible. To date, around 15,000 infections and 460 deaths have been officially registered in Japan. Meanwhile, the trend of new daily infections shows a downward trend, the government said.

Forbidden City and Great Wall reopened

7:59 a.m. The Beijing Imperial Palace and the Great Wall were reopened to visitors more than three months after closing. Parks and museums also opened their doors on Friday. Tickets had to be ordered online. The number of visitors was very limited. The Imperial Palace, also called the Forbidden City, allows 5,000 visitors a day, previously 80,000 were allowed. Urban parks allow only 30 percent of the usual number of visitors.

Fever was measured at the entrances. Visitors had to wear face masks and code green on a cell phone app that is now widely used in China to demonstrate that they are not sick or have had contact with infected people. They also had to keep their distance.

The Health Commission announced only twelve new infections across the country on Friday, six of which were for Chinese returning home. No deaths have been reported for more than two weeks. Officially, 4,633 deaths and 83,000 infections have been reported in China since the outbreak of lung disease. However, observers assume that many cases have not been counted in the statistics. 599 patients continue to be treated in hospitals.

Tourism official brings into play the rescue fund for the travel industry

07.50 a.m.: Federal government tourism commissioner Thomas Bareiß has put in place a bailout fund for the travel industry and troubled consumers if a coupon solution for canceled trips doesn’t work. The CDU politician told the German press agency: “The pressure in the travel industry is growing day by day. The situation is more than tense. Tour operators and travel agencies now need reliability.”

Bareiß said in view of the ongoing debate with the EU Commission on a voucher solution: “This more than annoying hangover is slowly putting companies and employees at risk.” In his opinion, a secured coupon solution would be a viable option in this exceptional situation. “However, if there is no majority in Europe and the federal government, a comprehensive rescue fund will be needed quickly to help consumers and employees get through this difficult dry period.”

In Thursday’s consultations, the federal and state governments commissioned the responsible ministers to prepare proposals for framework conditions for the gradual opening of restaurants and tourism. This will be done until the next conference of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) with the prime ministers: the next talks are scheduled for May 6.

Report: More Workers Report Sick

7.30 a.m.: According to a media report, the number of sick leave workers in the crown crisis has increased dramatically. Legal health insurance (GKV) registered 43 percent more sick leave in April than in March, as reported by the “Augsburger Allgemeine”, referring to a report by the umbrella association GKV. Accordingly, the number of people insured under the legal health insurance system who were unable to work in April increased to 2.13 million. In March there were still 1.49 million.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, workers with minor respiratory illnesses are currently allowed to take sick leave over the phone. The exception applies until May 18.

Cities demand aid for climate protection.

07.14 p.m .: In view of the crown crisis, the German Association of Cities demands the help of the federal and state governments for climate protection. “The consequences of the crown pandemic are also having a massive impact on urban households,” said Helmut Dedy, executive director of the German Association of Cities. Municipalities could only successfully continue their climate protection measures if they received adequate support. “Cities must continue to be able to act and need a municipal rescue fund due to the collapse of tax revenues and increased spending.”

First cities in Brazil close completely

6:59 a.m. In view of the increasing number of infections, a judge in Brazil ordered the closure of several cities for the first time. In Sao Luís, the capital of the northern state of Maranhao, and in three other cities in the area, all non-essential activities will be suspended for 10 days from May 5, according to a statement from the Sao Luís judiciary on Thursday.

According to the prosecutors who filed the request, the move was necessary because the 112 public intensive care beds for Covid-19 patients were occupied. In an interview with the portal “G1”, Judge Douglas de Melo Martins justified the decision saying that “people are fun and others die”. The state governor, Flávio Dino, said on Twitter that he would accept the court decision.

Investigation into a New York funeral home on bodies in trucks

4.43 a.m.: New York authorities opened an investigation Thursday after finding dozens of decomposing bodies in pickup trucks outside a funeral home. According to media reports, more than 60 bodies were found in a rented van and an articulated truck.

So far, there have been no complaints about the funeral home, the health authority said. The company owner told the New York Times that, like other city colleagues, he was overwhelmed by the numerous deaths. Since there were already more than 100 bodies in his room, he used the transporters to store the dead.

In New York City, nearly 18,000 people died in less than two months after becoming infected with the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. Across the city, mortuaries, cemeteries, and crematoriums are struggling to cope with the many deaths. There are refrigerated vehicles in front of many hospitals, where the crown dead are initially kept.

Exit restrictions in Austria end

04.07 a.m .: For weeks there was an exit restriction in Austria. Starting today, people no longer need a special reason to leave the house. However, they must remain at least a meter away in public from people who do not live in their own homes. The number of people who can gather in public space will initially be limited to ten.

Health Minister Rudolf Anschober warned citizens ahead of time that careless behavior would necessitate renewed crown restrictions. Austria had taken comprehensive measures against the spread of the new corona virus. So far, more than 15,000 corona infections have been detected in the country, 580 infected have died. Schools are due to reopen in Austria starting Monday, the first restaurants in mid-May and hotels, swimming pools and leisure facilities on May 29.

Hospital ship “USNS Comfort” docks in New York

02:21 am: The USNS hospital ship “Comfort”, which was sent to New York to relieve hospitals, has left the port of the metropolis to return to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia. The 1,000-bed, twelve-room ship had docked on the west side of Manhattan on March 30.

Actually, it was only supposed to take uninfected people to relieve hospitals. Then it was reused; In the end, about 180 patients were treated with the virus. Because the situation in New York hospitals has now been alleviated, the USNS “Comfort” has now been able to leave the city’s port, where it was recently moored after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Unions and parent representatives: Schools continue waiting for the concept to open

1:43 am: Unions and parent representatives are disappointed with the results of consultations between the federal government and the state on how to proceed in the crown pandemic. Although the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) did its homework and came up with a concept for the gradual opening of schools, the council on this concept was postponed to May 6, the Union of Education and Science (GEW) , the Association for Education and Education (VBE)) and the Federal Parent Council on Thursday night.

The concept, which has not yet been published, should only be discussed with a specific schedule next Wednesday, but schools are still due to open on Monday for students in the final classes and, with the exception of Hesse, for the last elementary school class. . This requires security, especially with regard to hygiene standards and protection against infection.

“The politicians refused to do so by postponing the decision on the KMK concept,” they accused the two unions and the Federal Council of Parents of the Federal Government and the Prime Minister of the federal states. Now each country continues to determine how to proceed.