Coronavirus: New measures in Germany, but no lockdown

The positivity index in Germany has exceeded all previous limits. According to the Robert Koch State Epidemiological Institute, an average of 201.1 people per 100,000 inhabitants have been infected with Covid-19 in the last seven days. Within a day, 33 people have died from coronavirus. So far the number of deaths related to the virus is 96,558. The number of people who have been tested during the pandemic and have been found positive exceeds 4.78 million. Medical organizations expect a significant increase in coronavirus patients in intensive care units in the near future. The consequence of this development will be the postponement of non-emergency surgeries.

New measures to combat the pandemic

However, the “national epidemiological situation” declared in March, which allowed, among other things, the imposition of a strict lockdown, will not be extended beyond November 25, following a proposal by Health Minister Jens Spann. Bavarian Prime Minister Marcus Zeder called the initiative “utterly absurd.” amending the law on epidemiology with new measures to combat the pandemic It is expected that with accelerated procedures the amendments will enter into force by the end of next week.

From what has become known so far, the three parties will propose, among other things, the return to the free Covid-19 tests. Then, in areas with a large number of cases, the rule of vaccination or recovery certificate can be imposed for access to specific places, such as restaurants, hotels and stadiums. In addition, it may be established for workplaces that employees should at least have been tested. Stricter measures for schools are likely to be proposed. However, teachers’ organizations warn of a loss of control over the spread of the pandemic in schools. The growing number of children and adolescents with coronavirus is “particularly worrying,” the Teachers’ Union said.

Panagiotis Kouparanis, Berlin

Source: Deutsche Welle