New tightening of restrictive measures and mandatory vaccination against covid-19 on the horizon: Germany will decide today on additional measures to deal with the fourth wave of the coronavirus epidemic, including the possible closure of bars and other public places.
After a first round of talks on Tuesday, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel, Olaf Solz’s successor and the prime ministers of the 16 German states are meeting again today to decide on new measures to be taken.
Although the health situation in the country has improved slightly in recent days, overall it is worrying, with tens of thousands of new cases of covid-19 being recorded daily and the seven-day incidence rate exceeding 440 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, while many hospitals are on the verge of saturation.
The situation is complicated by the current transitional period in Germany, as Merkel is leaving the chancellery and Olaf Solz is expected to be elected new chancellor by the Bundestag next week.
There is no “power vacuum”
Today’s meeting and the new restrictions put forward by the new governing coalition aim to show, as Solz hopes, that “there is no power vacuum, as some say at the moment.”
The most important measure to treat covid-19 is of course the vaccination, which may become mandatory from February or March.
Soltz, who has been criticized for not revealing who will take over the health ministry in the new government, was surprised to call for this radical measure, which has already been announced by Austria.
A relevant bill is expected to be submitted to parliament for a vote by the end of the year.
After all, public opinion in Germany seems to be changing.
In the summer about two-thirds of respondents were against compulsory vaccination for covid-19. But now 64% of Germans support compulsion, according to opinion polls on RTL and NTV.
The measure is backed by, in addition to the Social Democrats (SDP), the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP), as well as Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU), which is now in opposition.
Only the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is opposed and a poster campaign has been launched: “Compulsory vaccination? No, thank you”, copying the slogan of the opponents of nuclear energy.
Awaiting mandatory vaccination in the coming months, Germany will take further steps to stem the spread of covid-19.
The states have already significantly restricted access to many areas for the unvaccinated. Another step is expected to be taken today, with the ban on entering unnecessary stores.
The closure of bars and clubs for all is also being considered, while football matches will also be held behind closed doors.
“In terms of intensive care and emergency medicine, the pandemic situation has never been more threatening and serious than it is today,” warned the German Association of Intensive Care Physicians (DIVI), which is calling for a partial lockdown.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
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Source From: Capital
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