Index – Foreign – German Chancellor: the epidemic will last at least until the end of the year



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In an interview with Deutschlandfunk’s national public service radio, Chancellor Helge Braun noted that the first wave of the epidemic had slowed down with slight restrictions compared to many other countries because the German population had “led by example.”

The number of new confirmed infections is decreasing “very well”, allowing Germany to “afford” more relaxation. However, “we are not in the middle of a pandemic, but in the right environment”, so for a long time, the rule of social distancing will continue to be part of everyday life, which can be called “normal”, and the need to keep the encounters as direct as possible. Number of contacts.

Continuous learning

By alleviating the first wave, the defense system can also be transformed, instead of restricting the entire country, outbreaks can be suppressed at the local, district and city levels, the minister explained.

When asked if, in the absence of a new type of coronavirus vaccine (SARS-CoV-2) and a drug for the disease caused by the virus (Covid-19), there would be no “political attempt” after the phase of protection based on national restrictions, he emphasized. it’s more about continuous learning and adaptation.

Encounters, moderation, and social abstinence have proven to be very effective, so they are retained in all walks of life, Helge Braun said, adding that in the first phase of defense, everyone learned new things, as shown For example, “shopping in a different way. in a supermarket than six weeks ago.”

In areas of the economy where there is no direct contact with consumers, unlike retail, work has not stopped, but the number of new infections has been reduced because infection hygiene rules have been introduced in all companies and facilities, the minister said.

Can be relieved in summer and strengthened again in fall

In the new phase, which begins with an agreement between the federal and provincial governments on Wednesday, the inevitable increase in the frequency of meetings and travel is the biggest threat, Helge Braun said. Where there is a lot of social life, the virus also spreads a lot and spreads through travel, so instead of local outbreaks, there may be a national outbreak, he explained.

In this regard, RKI Vice President Lars Schaade said at a briefing in Berlin on Thursday that the research data to date suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may have some seasonal effects, so the epidemic may decrease in summer and intensify again in autumn, but it can also be Another wave will form before autumn, as the spread of the virus will accelerate again easing the restrictions that slow the epidemic.

In the absence of vaccines and drugs, only human behavior influences the development of the epidemic, so it remains important that everyone adapt their behavior to changing conditions through the appearance of the virus, the expert stressed.

Emergency Mechanism

By agreement between the federal government and provincial governments, basic infectious hygiene rules must be followed in all situations, but people in different households can once again organize a joint program, open all stores, and provincial governments can restart hospitality and tourism at a local pace. .

In addition to relaxation, an “emergency mechanism” is introduced, according to which if the number of people registered in a district or city for every 50,000 inhabitants exceeds 50 in the last seven days, the restrictions should be reintroduced in the area and only they can be reintroduced if the number of new infections remains below the limit. District-wide or city-wide restrictions can be avoided if the increase in the number of infections can be linked to a definable location, a specific institution, such as a nursing home or hospital.

According to the RKI, 166,091 people in Germany had the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their bodies on Thursday, which is 1,284 more cases than the day before. The number of infected people who have been cured, that is, those who have already been infected, has increased by 2,500 to 139,900. 7,119 confirmed infections died of Covid-19 disease, 123 more than a day earlier.

(MTI)



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