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The number of infections is higher than expected, deaths are increasing, no federal state is below the hotspot threshold: a nationwide withdrawal of easing during Christmas and the tightening of measures to contain the corona epidemic they are getting closer and closer.
And with him a debate on whether the interventions decided by the federal and state governments at the end of October and in November were too weak. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) now wants to quickly consult with the prime minister whether stricter precautions should be taken before Christmas.
“It will be a very difficult situation,” Merkel told the Union parliamentary group on Monday. With the decided measures and the principle of hope “we will not spend the winter”.
This could override the relaxed vacation rule – private gatherings of up to ten people over the age of 14 by January 1 at the latest – nationwide. In Berlin, the Senate had already stipulated that the pre and post restriction to five people from two households would also apply during the holidays.
Will there be an anticipated federal-state round?
Berlin Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) said he noticed that “many are joining the Berlin road.” As head of the Prime Minister’s Conference, he now also wants to probe whether a federal-state first round will be agreed.
However, Müller also pointed out that the current resolution situation in places and regions with a very high number of cases already makes drastic measures possible. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) and Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) called for a quick meeting.
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In North Rhine-Westphalia, opposition leader Thomas Kutschaty (SPD) called for an alignment with Bavaria’s toughest line. The German Hospital Society demanded that Christmas relaxations be withdrawn, at least in places with a very high incidence.
In view of the development, the Chancellery has seen more and more confirmation recently. “The federal government has been saying all the time: we want to do more,” emphasized Chancellor Helge Braun (CDU).
Push new infections below critical value
If contacts were strictly limited, as in France and Belgium, the goal is to reduce the number of new infections below the critical value of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, “within three weeks,” Braun said.
Currently there are 156 cases nationwide. This would mean that the current partial lockdown on the economy would be extended, that there would be more public restrictions, including curfews, and that stricter measures would also be taken in schools. Braun called for distance learning and an extension of the vacation if this was not used for travel.
The Permanent Commission on Vaccination recommends that, once vaccines are approved, priority be given to three population groups: residents of nursing homes, people over 80 years of age and health workers who are particularly at risk. The latter are mainly employees of emergency rooms and staff who are in close contact with especially vulnerable groups. In total, about 8.6 million people fall into the three categories of this primary vaccination.
