Robert Koch Institute: Dramatic warning for ‘very bad’ Christmas – Lockdown plans

“We will have a really bad Christmas if we do not take action now,” Lothar Wheeler, head of the Robert Koch Institute, warned in a dramatic tone, blaming politicians who “do not listen to us”. On the other hand, in view of today’s meeting of the Prime Ministers of the states with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the government of Saxony is planning a general lockdown of three weeks from December 15, with closed restaurants, bars and hotels. In Austria, the states of Upper Austria and Salzburg have already announced their decision to lockdown even those vaccinated.

“After 21 months of pandemics, I can not stand the fact that what I and many other colleagues are saying may not be recognized,” Lothar Wheeler said in a rather unusual emotional statement, warning of an explosion and death in the near future. “Of the 50,000 people infected every day, 400 could die in the coming weeks. There is nothing that can be done about it,” Wheeler warned in an online conversation with Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretsmer. the actual number of cases can be two or even three times greater. “The situation in the hospitals is deteriorating and we have never been more worried. The number of seriously ill people with Covid-19 is increasing and in some areas patients with stroke and others seriously ill have to look for a bed in an Intensive Care Unit for two or three hours. “It no longer complies with the rules in all the federal states,” the head of the institute admitted.

“The forecast is extremely bleak. It is really bleak. We are in a state of emergency. Anyone who does not see this is making a very big mistake,” Mr Wheeler said. at an early stage, warning that the fourth wave would probably be the strongest of all the previous ones if the appropriate measures were not taken. “Measures have not been taken and the vaccination rate has not increased significantly,” he said, criticizing state governments for “opening up many areas prematurely”. He pointed out the bars and clubs, which, as he said, are “hotspots” of coronavirus and should be closed and suggested that the big events be canceled. At the same time, the German infectious disease specialist called for consistent enforcement of the 2G Rule, which allows access only to vaccinated and sick people. “We should not give those who are not vaccinated the opportunity to bypass the vaccine by doing a test”, he noted and suggested that the vaccination against Covid-19 be done in pharmacies as well. “Anyone who can be vaccinated must do so now. Otherwise we will not bring this crisis under control,” he said, urging politicians to “finally act.” “We do not need to keep inventing something new. All the designs and recipes already exist,” he concluded.

For his part, Mr. Kretzmann, according to the Leipziger Volkszeitung, has already prepared a plan for a general lockdown in his state, Saxony, from December 15 to January 5, with closed shops, restaurants and hotels. Earlier, Saxony Hospital Coordinator Michael Lambrecht had called for a two-week lockdown to bring the situation in the state’s Intensive Care Units under control. “My suggestion would be a universal lockdown for 14 days. Let us breathe, let us see how the cases develop,” said Mr Lambrecht, noting that perhaps this way we could celebrate Christmas with less stringent measures. .

The first lockdown in Austria

The prime ministers of Upper Austria and Salzburg, Austria’s two worst-hit pandemic states, recently announced a general lockdown – even for those vaccinated. Upper Austrian Prime Minister Thomas Steltser, speaking in the local parliament, said “there is no room for maneuver anymore” and called for similar measures across the country. Tomorrow, in consultation between the federation and the states, it is expected to decide whether, in addition to the lockdown, even stricter measures will be taken for the unvaccinated at the national level. In Austria, the incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days reached a new record today, reaching 989.

Source: AMPE