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WORLD:

Mr. Tschentscher, the Chancellor has canceled the Corona consultations with the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK) planned for Monday.

Right?

Peter Tschentscher:

The federal and state governments jointly set the date in order to decide how to proceed after Easter.

From my point of view, there is still a need for action.

Peter Tschentscher (SPD) has been First Mayor of Hamburg since March 2018

Source: Bertold Fabricius

WORLD:

Which points would you have liked to have decided?

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Tschentscher:

We need a decision on the rapid test offer in the company.

Our strategy for weakening the third wave is based on regularly testing a significant portion of the population.

In addition to schools, daycare centers and municipal test centers, we also need business for this.

There must now be an announcement from the federal government: Is the self-commitment sufficient, or is there a regulatory requirement, an obligation to test?

I also hope for confirmation that the MPK resolutions will be implemented in all countries.

Comprehensive.

In certain areas such as retail, contact and exit restrictions, we also need uniform rules that apply everywhere.

WORLD:

Doesn't it make sense - because of the regionally very different development of infection - that districts take different measures according to the local incidence?

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Tschentscher:

In this phase of the pandemic, it is necessary to proceed as uniformly as possible in all countries and also within each individual federal state.

Different regulations, for example for retail and services, cause additional mobility, through which infections are carried from one region to another.

WORLD:

So the same restrictions in the district of North Friesland, incidence 18, as in the city of Hof, incidence 486?

Tschentscher:

Many citizens expect more clarity and uniformity.

Many of them no longer even know which rules currently apply in their city or district.

All shops are closed here, there is “Click and Meet”;

elsewhere, only those who have a negative rapid test are allowed to shop.

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This patchwork quilt results in people failing to see a strategy.

The acceptance and thus the effect of our measures then also suffer as a result.

But we need them, especially in this phase.

WORLD:

So far, you have repeatedly been disappointed with this desire for a uniform line.

What gives you hope that things will be different now?

Tschentscher:

The British mutation has now arrived everywhere.

It is more contagious and, according to the Robert Koch Institute, leads to more serious illnesses.

We can only cope with this if we implement the containment measures more strictly and avoid opening steps too early.

In early March, some were still hoping that retailers could be fully opened and the incidence could still be kept below 50 or even below 35.

That has proven to be an illusion.

In view of the number of infections and the tense situation in the intensive care units, the willingness for a consistent and uniform approach should now be greater.

WORLD:

Could it also be that the development of the pandemic is currently not as dramatic as you fear?

The incidence appears stable and the number of corona deaths is falling sharply.

Doesn't that matter to you?

Tschentscher:

The experience from the first and second waves shows that we can not only look at the current situation, but also at what may still come.

Science and intensive care medicine urgently warn us of a significant increase in the number of inpatient Covid-19 patients and, as a result, intensive care patients.

The number of intensive care patients in Hamburg is already as large as it was at the height of the second wave.

Waiting for further developments would be dangerous.

We have to act early in the fight against the pandemic.

This reduces the risk for each individual - and generally helps us to overcome the crisis more quickly.

The opening steps in March did not make things any easier for us and prolonged the crisis.

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WELT:

You yourself imposed exit restrictions for Hamburg before Easter.

How are the first experiences?

Do people stick to the guidelines?

Tschentscher:

Yes, they do.

The exit restriction is very effective.

There are only a few people out in the evening.

We also have indications that the corona violations in the private sector have decreased.

It is now a matter of maintaining discipline until the infection dynamics have slowed down sufficiently.

WORLD:

Are you sure that an exit restriction is a proportionate measure?

Your colleague from Bremen and fellow party member Andreas Bovenschulte definitely has doubts.

Tschentscher: Exit

restrictions are actually a drastic measure with regard to fundamental rights.

That is why we only use them after the milder means have been exhausted.

We have now decided on it because it was necessary to slow down the infection dynamics sufficiently.

The first judgments of the administrative courts confirm the legality of this procedure.

WORLD:

What has to happen in order for you to lift the exit restrictions again?

Tschentscher:

The seven-day incidence must be stable below 100 again.

This means that we cannot lift the exit restrictions on the first day after falling below this limit, but it will certainly be one of the first measures to be taken back.

WORLD:

How is the vaccination campaign going in Hamburg?

Tschentscher:

The limiting factor is still the lack of vaccine.

We start every delivery in Hamburg immediately.

Over the Easter days, we passed the 7,000 vaccination mark per day and thus for the first time exhausted the planned capacity of our vaccination center.

We can expand them at any time by extending the opening times.

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At the moment, however, it has been agreed that an additional vaccine will be given to general practitioners.

Later, other vaccination centers, for example in hospitals or large companies, can be integrated.

WORLD:

Can you imagine that soon different rules will apply to those who have been vaccinated than to people who have not yet been vaccinated?

Tschentscher:

If it is clear that fully vaccinated people will no longer pass the infections on, I can imagine it.

It is important that we can then offer everyone else a vaccination.

WORLD:

Really only when everyone could be vaccinated?

What happens if 700,000 people in Hamburg are vaccinated and the others are not?

Can you then be responsible for keeping restaurants or theaters closed?

Tschentscher:

In such a situation it would be important, for example, that people who have not yet been vaccinated can also go to the restaurant or the theater with a rapid test.

It has to be fair even in a pandemic.

WORLD:

That also applies to the quality of the vaccines.

As a medical professional, how do you see the debate about AstraZeneca?

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Tschentscher:

The vaccine took several detours.

Every turn was plausible in the respective situation based on the available data.

Nevertheless, this has led to uncertainty.

The bottom line today is that the vaccine is safe and very effective for people over the age of 60.

After the vaccine has been used millions of times, the data situation is even better today than at the beginning of the vaccination.

WORLD:

Many people would still like to choose for themselves which vaccine they get.

Tschentscher:

That is also possible if enough vaccine is available for everyone.

At the moment, however, this is not the case and we have to ensure that those can be vaccinated who have their turn according to the prioritization of the Standing Vaccination Committee.

The federal-state summit canceled on Monday

The federal-state summit planned for Monday will not take place.

Instead, work is being done on a law for a nationwide emergency brake.

The deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer announces this here.

Source: WORLD