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With the increasing number of corona infections, the need for tougher measures against the pandemic is increasing in the population. In a poll conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov on behalf of the German Press Agency, 47 percent were in favor of tightening the existing blockade. In contrast, only 30 percent are in favor of easing or abolishing the restrictions. 17 percent think it should stay the way it is. Two weeks ago, in a comparable YouGov poll, only 30 percent were in favor of the adjustment. There have been no major changes to the restrictions since then.
The desire for stricter measures becomes even clearer when it comes to night-time exit restrictions across the country. 56 percent are in favor, 37 percent against, 7 percent did not provide any information. The older the respondents, the greater the sympathy for exit restrictions. Of young people aged 18 to 24, only 36 percent are in favor, among those over 55 it is 66 percent.
Stiko: Younger people should not receive a second vaccination with Astra Zeneca
Anyone who initially only received one vaccine with the Astra Zeneca vaccine and is under the age of 60 should receive a drug such as Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna for the second. This is communicated by the Permanent Commission on Vaccination (Stiko) in a revised recommendation. There is still no scientific knowledge about vaccinations with different means. However, “one dose of an mRNA vaccine 12 weeks after the first vaccination” is recommended until adequate data are available. This class of vaccines includes those from Pfizer / Biontech and Moderna. The Astra-Zeneca preparation is a so-called vector vaccine.
Stiko President Thomas Mertens said that Spiegel on this in an interview published Thursday night: “Data from animal experiments show that the immune reaction is the same after a (second) heterologous vaccination. We have yet to scientifically clarify how good the protection is in humans. I hope the data will be available soon. “
Mertens also said that one can only speculate on the risk of being vaccinated twice with Astra Zeneca at this time. “From my point of view, the obvious way out is not to try at all, but to give an RNA vaccine as an alternative to be safe.”
The federal and state governments followed a recommendation from Stiko on Tuesday to use the Astra Zeneca remedy only for people over the age of 60. With 2.7 million doses of Astrazeneca administered, 31 suspected cases of so-called cerebral vein thrombosis were reported. Nine cases were fatal. Experts suspect that the already very low risk only affects the young.
RKI reports 21,888 new infections – incidence drops slightly to 134.0
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 21,888 new infections in one day. That’s 315 more than last Friday. The seven-day incidence drops slightly to 134.0 from 134.2 on Thursday. A week ago it was 119.1. The value indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants have contracted the coronavirus in the last seven days. Another 232 people have died in the past 24 hours after being infected with the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 76,775. In total, more than 2.85 million people in Germany have tested positive for the coronavirus so far.
Poll: clear majority of Germans in favor of exit restrictions
NRW introduces mandatory tests in schools
North Rhine-Westphalia introduces compulsory tests for schoolchildren after the Easter holidays. “Mandatory self-tests as added security help to clear the dark field for asymptomatic patients and prevent further spread of the pandemic. They ensure that school operations are safer,” said School Minister Yvonne Gebauer (FDP) in Düsseldorf on Thursday. . explaining the movement. According to her, children and young people in all schools should carry out self-assessments twice a week.
Previously, several other federal states had already decided to make testing in schools mandatory for the period after Easter. The concrete form of the obligation in North Rhine-Westphalia and the legal basis for the measure are currently being finalized in exchange for other countries and announced in time before classes start, Gebauer said.
He stressed that self-assessments were well received in schools and could be carried out largely without problems. Secondary schools in North Rhine-Westphalia received self-assessments even before the holidays. Delivery will also continue into the post-Easter holidays and will be expanded to include elementary and special schools, Gebauer emphasized. These precautions before and during the holidays ensure that when school begins after the Easter holidays, all students are available two self-assessments per week.
The country too Lower saxony He had introduced the mandatory crown test for school attendance after Easter break on Thursday. Schoolchildren and employees should be assessed at home for attendance in the days before lessons begin, Education Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne (SPD) announced in Hannover on Thursday. It is not possible to attend class without a negative test result. “I think we are adding another useful component to increase security,” said Tonne. “The tests help break the chains of infection at an early stage.”
As a general rule, in the future there will be two tests per week, explained the minister. The mandatory test also applies to emergency care in schools. As an exception, tests missed at home can be made up in a separate room at the school. If the test result is positive, those affected inform the school, which the health department turns on.
The country Baden-württemberg Due to the rapid increase in the number of corona infections after the Easter holidays, it initially withdraws the opening steps in schools. In the first week from April 12, primary school pupils as well as fifth and sixth graders will initially return to distance education, as the Ministry of Culture announced to Stuttgart schools on Thursday. The training centers and special educational advice will remain open, and the final classes will also be taught in some cases in person. In the week of April 19, all classes should alternately return to schools, “if the infection allows it,” wrote ministerial director Michael Föll. Then there should also be a mandatory test for all students participating in face-to-face classes.
By the end of April, more than three million doses of vaccines per week in doctors’ offices
Starting next week, GPs will also be included in the coronavirus vaccination campaign. Health Minister Jens Spahn told the federal press conference on Friday: “That will not be a big step yet, but it will be an important one.” Structures should now be built and then significantly increased. By next week, 35,000 general practitioners would have ordered a total of 1.4 million doses of the vaccine. 940,000 would be delivered.
The vaccine passes from the federal government to wholesalers and then through pharmacies to doctor’s offices. It should start with the practice of the general practitioner, then specialists should also participate. By the end of April, more than three million doses a week should be able to go to doctors’ offices. Spahn had said in the past that he expected 80,000 to 100,000 medical practices to be able to administer coronavirus vaccines by late April / early May.
Andreas Gassen, chairman of the board of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, said willingness to vaccinate was “extremely high” among general practitioners. If there were more vaccine, more and more practices could vaccinate. Then I could inoculate several million doses a week. “In addition to the 430 vaccination centers we have so far, 35,000 more will be added after Easter,” said Gassen, referring to general practitioners.
In the first two weeks after Easter, only the Biontech vaccine will be delivered to practices, Spahn said. The Astra Zeneca vaccine was added a week later and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine followed another week later. Moderna’s vaccine will initially only be used in vaccination centers to keep the number of transport routes low. “Every vaccination box should be vaccinated as soon as possible,” Spahn said.
He said that he would be discussing with the federal states whether there would be any change in the Astra Zeneca deliveries based on the events of the last few days. The Standing Commission on Immunization currently only recommends vaccinations with the vaccine for people 60 years of age or older. Spahn requested that the Astra Zeneca strains be inoculated in the practices. The goal is not to throw away a can of vaccine. Gassen said family physicians would follow the commission’s recommendation.
Spahn promised that all citizens who wanted would get full vaccination protection, even those who had already received a first vaccination with the Astra Zeneca vaccine and for whom a second vaccine was not an option. Even if it means that you must start a new vaccination schedule.
According to Spahn, Germany should secure more corona vaccine capacities, if necessary, including itself. “The important thing is the question in 2022,” said the CDU politician: “We still do not know, as of today, how long the protection of vaccination lasts.” No one can rule out the fact that follow-up shots are not necessary for a booster. “For this we must and must ensure capacities like the European Union; if not there quickly, then at the national level.” This also applies to coronavirus mutants, which could make it necessary to adapt approved Covid vaccines, Spahn said.
According to Spahn, Germany expects around 15 million doses of vaccines from Astra Zeneca and around 40 million doses from Mainz-based company Biontech for the second quarter. “That shows: our most important component in our vaccination campaign is actually Biontech.”
