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With the currently applicable partial lockdown, a Germany-wide significant reduction in new corona infections cannot be achieved by Christmas from the point of view of the virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit.

"I don't think that's realistic," he said on Thursday.

However, other regions could well have a 7-day incidence below 50.

This value indicates the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week and is still the goal of political measures.

In northern Germany in particular, the numbers are falling towards this mark or, as in Schleswig-Holstein, are already below it.

On Wednesday evening, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the state premiers had decided that the partial lockdown would be extended until January 10th.

The 7-day incidence rose rapidly in October and has been relatively stable at a high level for several weeks.

Hamburg's mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) then stated that Hamburg, too, is very likely to maintain the measures until January 10th.

However, the Hamburg virologist Schmidt-Chanasit does not see a long-term strategy in hard lockdowns to sustainably reduce the number of new infections.

"This only postpones the problem by a few weeks." The situation in the summer has shown that this does not keep the numbers permanently low - despite intensive follow-up by the health authorities.

The goal should not be a sequence of lockdowns, but consistently low numbers of infections.

This would require long-term strategies for the whole of next year.

In addition to vaccinations and tests, one element could be to better involve the population on a broad front.

The virologist could imagine that a large number of trusted persons would go door to door and, among other things, explain rules, offer help, organize tests or masks.

"Participation succeeds not only through appeals but also through offers," said Schmidt-Chanasit.

In this way, ways can be found to better reach certain population groups such as young people.

The incidence in Hamburg continues to fall

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The number of confirmed new corona infections rose by 306 on Thursday in Hamburg.

The day before, the health authority had reported 326 new cases.

In the past seven days, 90.9 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants were counted in Hamburg.

The day before, the health authority had given the value as 93.8.

According to the RKI, which uses a different calculation basis, the so-called seven-day incidence on Thursday was 69. 327 Covid-19 patients were in Hamburg's hospitals on Wednesday.

That was two less than the day before.

85 people were treated in intensive care units, also two fewer than on Tuesday.

The health authority gave the number of people who died of Covid-19 unchanged at 340 (as of December 1).

The RKI counted 387 deaths on Thursday, two more than the previous day.

The Hamburg health authority has all dead corona patients autopsied.

The Institute of Forensic Medicine then counts all cases in which someone has died of Covid-19 on this basis.

The RKI records all people who have died in connection with a corona infection.

1000 euros in emergency aid for gastro employees?

After the renewed extension of the partial lockdown until January 10th, the NGG union has asked the federal government to provide emergency aid of 1000 euros per employee in the hotel and restaurant industry.

"Cooks, waiters and hotel employees have been struggling with massive financial losses due to short-time work since the spring," said the NGG managing director for the Hamburg-Elmshorn region, Silke Kettner, on Thursday.

Due to mostly low wages and a lack of tips, the last reserves have now been used up.

"The money is barely enough for the rent - not to mention Christmas presents."

According to NGG information, almost 4,000 companies in the hotel and restaurant industry and 52,000 employees are affected in Hamburg alone.

Politicians are helping companies in the hospitality industry with 17 billion euros in December alone to prevent a wave of bankruptcies.

"Now it mustn't leave the employees out in the rain," emphasized Kettner.

According to NGG estimates, emergency aid to employees in December would cost around 600 million euros.

The union also called for the payment of company aid to be linked to the preservation of jobs.

"It must not be that innkeepers and hoteliers can now have 75 percent of the previous year's turnover reimbursed and a little later put their employees in front of the door," said Kettner.