The nationwide seven-day incidence of new corona infections has reached another high.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the value was 1543.0 on Monday morning.
The previous day it was 1526.8, on Monday last week it was 1259.2.
The value quantifies the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over a period of seven days.
As the RKI further reported, citing data from the health authorities, the number of new infections reported within 24 hours was 92,378.
Around 146,607 new infections had been reported the day before, compared to 62,349 a week ago.
The total number of registered cases of infection in Germany since the beginning of the corona pandemic has increased to 17,233,729.
According to the RKI, 19 further deaths related to the corona virus were registered within 24 hours.
The total number of corona deaths recorded in Germany rose to 125,590.
The consequences are hardly noticeable at first
While the incidence of infection continues to increase, the corona vaccination requirement for nursing and health workers is approaching.
But it may take a while before unvaccinated employees feel the consequences.
Employees must present the relevant evidence by Tuesday – or a certificate that they cannot be vaccinated.
From Wednesday, the health authorities can take action in the event of violations.
In practice, however, it can take a long time before unvaccinated employees have to pay fines or are banned from entering or working.
According to a survey by the German Press Agency in the federal states, the offices rely on multi-stage procedures with sometimes multiple deadlines, individual reviews and discretionary powers.
There is no risk of the immediate loss of a job because the corona vaccination is missing.
In some regions of Germany, the health authorities should check carefully whether people in homes and hospitals can still be cared for if unvaccinated employees are banned from entering.
In the state of Berlin, for example, it is said that the facility-related vaccination requirement will be implemented taking into account the security of supply.
This means that the health authorities assess how much health care could be at risk and can suspend a procedure on this basis if necessary.
Warning against excessive loosening
A few days before most corona restrictions expire, there is continued criticism of the federal government's pandemic policy.
"The position of the Federal Minister of Health is deeply contradictory," said the head of the Patient Protection Foundation, Eugen Brysch, the editorial network Germany (RND / Monday).
"If the law is passed as it was introduced by the federal cabinet, it will make all the work of the last two years obsolete," said Brysch about the planned change to the Infection Protection Act.
On Wednesday, changes to the Infection Protection Act are to be discussed in the Bundestag for the first time;
most of the nationwide corona requirements are to be lifted by March 20th.
Just two days later, the plenum is to decide on the controversial draft by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP).
Lauterbach and Buschmann propose significantly reduced basic protection for all of Germany.
Nationwide, only mask requirements in nursing homes, clinics and local transport should be possible - and test requirements in homes and schools.
The mask requirement on trains and planes should also remain nationwide.
However, the federal states should be able to decide on further corona requirements for hotspots to be declared.
The Green health politician Janosch Dahmen now wants to campaign for a change in the government draft.
"I am very much in favor of adapting the draft law for the reform of the Infection Protection Act again and maintaining the obligation to wear masks indoors as a basic protective measure," said Dahmen to the editorial network Germany (RND / Monday).
Brysch also spoke out in favor of improving the mask requirement, but also for a legal right to regular corona tests for those in need of care outside of inpatient facilities and their relatives.
The FDP, on the other hand, defended the approach.
The abolition of most corona restrictions on March 20 is a great success after two years of the pandemic, said the designated FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai of the "Rheinische Post" (Monday).
At the same time, the countries remained able to act should the corona situation deteriorate drastically again.
"This combination of responsible action and the end of restrictions on freedom is exactly right," he emphasized.
The federal states want to discuss the situation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Thursday in a prime ministerial conference.
Also on that day, applications for a general obligation to vaccinate will be discussed in the Bundestag for the first time.