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The mask requirement, regional closures, and pandemic behavior within society are the night’s themes in “Anne Will.” One guest was particularly critical.
Is Germany on the right track to cope with the pandemic? In the current edition of her talk show, Anne Will tried to sort out the applicable regulations with her guests and look to the future.
The guests
- Melanie Brinkmann, Professor of Virology at the Technical University of Braunschweig
- Alena Buyx, President of the German Ethics Council
- Olaf Scholz (SPD), Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance
- Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP), Vice President of the Bundestag
- Andreas Gassen, President of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
The positions
When Will asked the freedom-loving lawyer Kubicki how threatening restrictive measures can be reconciled with people’s rights, he could only reply: “You can do without these measures.” The requirement for masks in public places or the registration requirement for private events with more than 50 people in rented event rooms in North Rhine-Westphalia were just two examples. But Kubicki immediately added that it was necessary to decide in individual cases whether the measures were above all proportionate.
People, however, have learned to live with the virus. Brinkmann agreed with him: “Follow the rules: Germans do quite well,” said the virologist. These just have to be meaningful and understandable. This could also apply to a mask requirement in crowded places in city centers.
Melanie Brinkmann: The virologist expects the pandemic situation to become more difficult in the fall. (Source: Jürgen Heinrich / imago images)
Everyone should be aware that “it will be more difficult towards the fall,” says Brinkmann, if everyone spends more time indoors. Therefore, the AHA (Remote Daily Hygiene Mask) rule should include the “L” for vent. The Gassen medical representatives, for their part, warned that society has to “get out of the tactics of fear.” You have to see the big picture with meaningful action and people’s personal responsibility. However, you can also feel the tiredness of people. The less transparent a measure is, the less it is followed.
The date of the night
Will tried to at least get Scholz out from behind the stove. Isn’t Tuesday’s federal-state summit expected to toughen up the measures, if, for example, the German Association of Cities and Municipalities is already calling for a tightening of the mask requirement and restricting 50 people for private celebrations? The vice-rector remained calm: “I think that is what characterizes our country, that neither one nor one sets the course, but we discussed it very carefully.” Federalism has proven its worth, you have to look at the situation in a regionally differentiated way. He rejected national regulations on his own.
Alena Buyx: The head of the Ethics Council considers the regionally limited crown regulations correct. (Source: Jürgen Heinrich / imago images)
Buyx agreed with him. Regionalization is important to be critical of comprehensive regulations. However, regional restrictions on private celebrations could be helpful. These have become new access points. Restrictions of this kind would definitely not affect people as strongly as a new closure or school closings would affect society as a whole if the number of infections were to increase exponentially again.
The thrill of the night
Will didn’t have to tame a wild horde of debaters that night. Quite the opposite: the moderator struggled to get her guests out of the reservation. For example, by asking Scholz if the correct conclusions from the pandemic were drawn too late. For example, nursing homes could have been fitted with FFP-2 masks before. But: “I had, I had, a bicycle chain.” Even Kubicki didn’t want to bring Scholz to the show here when he said the measures are still being carefully considered. Especially since there cannot be a correct way. Unity everywhere.
Andreas Gassen: The director of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians is against the alarmism of Corona. (Source: Jürgen Heinrich / imago images)
Also in the scientific group of the fair, for example on the subject of rapid antigen tests. Brinkmann emphasized that these could be a nice addition to existing PCR tests because they gave a quick result. However, they would need a certain amount of virus to determine positivity and are therefore less sure of the result. It was similar to Gassen. But even if the result was false negative in ten percent of cases, users would still have to make the decision to take this risk. All measures are not a panacea. Citizens know how to weigh a risk.
Fact checking
What measures exist in other European countries? A brief summary: in Spain, for example, all the country’s nightclubs are closed, there are restrictions on opening restaurants and smoking outdoors is prohibited if you cannot keep a distance of two meters. In addition, regional governments can adopt new measures. In some regions, gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. Additionally, people across the country are required to wear face and nose masks in all public places in and out of locked rooms and on public transportation. Even in Italy, nothing works without a mask. In public places where many people gather, it is mandatory to wear it between 6 pm and 6 am Also, fever measurements are carried out in many authorities, museums and shops. If the temperature is too high, entry will be denied. The distance requirements also apply here. Regions and municipalities can issue their own regulations based on the infection rate. In France, the government has classified the outbreak of the virus in many departments as very active. The authorities can thus restrict public life in certain areas.
The French government has also established a new multi-stage alarm system. Consequently, restaurants can be closed at the maximum alert level, currently in Marseille and Guadeloupe. Concert halls are not yet operational again across the country. The celebration of large national events with more than 5,000 people is not allowed. In addition, the French government is focusing on increasing testing capabilities and accelerating test results.
In addition, all persons over the age of eleven are required to cover their mouth and nose in all closed public access rooms and on public transport. In many cities, authorities are beginning to expand this to include outdoor venues with high levels of public traffic. In Austria there is a national mask requirement in public transport, shops, authorities and schools. In addition, the rules for gastronomy and events have recently been tightened.
