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“Time is running”: Berlin Health Senator calls for alcohol ban
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Federal government declares parts of the Netherlands and Scotland risk zones
There is more and more: the federal government has declared all of Scotland, parts of England and much of the Netherlands to be corona risk areas.
Is the pandemic in Berlin spiraling out of control? In view of the growing numbers, Health Senator Kalayci is “very concerned” and calls for an alcohol ban. The criticism comes from the FDP.
AIn view of the rapid increase in the number of corona infections, Berlin Health Senator Dilek Kalayci is calling for a ban on serving and selling alcohol from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. This should apply to restaurants, bars, clubs and outlets. night sales (Spätis), the SPD politician told the dpa news agency on Saturday.
At the same time, he renewed his request a few days ago for more extensive contact restrictions. According to the senator’s ideas, meeting opportunities should be limited to two households or five people to slow the spread of the pandemic.
“The time factor is important now,” Kalayci warned. “We saw at the beginning of the pandemic in spring that we had to act early in a city like Berlin.” To prevent worse things from happening, now is the time to act quickly. “We don’t have time to say, let’s see. The clock is ticking. “
There are different restrictions on the sale of alcohol in some other cities like Munich. It was discussed over and over again in Berlin. In the red-red-green Senate, however, the left and the green are against ever-new and far-reaching restrictions.
Criticisms of Kalayci’s approach come from the FDP parliamentary group. Since the police and law enforcement office do not monitor compliance with hygiene or distance rules across the board, prohibiting alcohol does not help, said health policy spokesman Florian Kluckert. In his opinion, such a ban would also punish restaurateurs who behave responsibly and in accordance with the law.
FDP: “Finally, enforce the rules”
“The Berlin Senate must finally enforce the rules,” Kluckert demanded. It’s no wonder the growing number of cases: “Wild parties, crowded bars, unsaved contact lists in restaurants – all of this promotes the spread of Corona.”
According to official figures, the new type of coronavirus recently spread strongly in Berlin. There were 339 new infections on Friday, the largest increase since the pandemic began in spring. Fewer testing was done at that time, so the increase may be due, at least in part, to increased testing. But: According to Kalayci, the proportion of positive results, about two in 100, is significantly higher today than it was then.
The number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days was 34.5. In five of the twelve districts, the value is greater than 40. The favorite is Mitte (Friday: 59.6), and in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Neukölln the value was greater than 50. And: In the age group 20 to 29, this alleged incidence is 66. Fort Robert Koch Institute, Berlin’s five boroughs are among the 15 largest crown access points in the country. In addition to cities and districts, the RKI identifies Berlin’s districts individually.
“All of this worries me very much,” Kalayci said. The infection process is no longer spreading only in the city center and is increasingly difficult to assess. With only 20 percent of corona infections, the outbreak can be clearly located. In such a case, the Prime Minister’s Conference on September 29 agreed on consistent local restrictions. “We have to implement that in Berlin now. Citizens expect the state to act in the pandemic. “
The authorities see illegal parties and private celebrations with a lot of alcohol as sources of contagion. At a celebration with hundreds of guests in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, a good 30 people infected with the corona virus, according to the health administration. The celebration took place on September 21, but has only now been announced. As it was almost 14 days ago, the quarantine period has almost expired. “Alcohol has a disinhibiting effect and the rules of distance are not followed when we are together,” Kalayci said. That is why it is important to do more here.
New restrictions have been in place in Berlin since Saturday, which the red-red-green Senate decided a few days ago. Private outdoor celebrations with more than 50 participants are prohibited. In closed rooms there is a maximum limit of 25 participants. If there are ten or more participants, their details should be documented at the celebrations to ensure that contacts can be traced in the event of infection. The requirement for masks in office buildings is also new.
