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According to Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD), the significant expansion of test capacities does not currently allow any further relaxation of the corona measures.

Experiences elsewhere made that clear, he said on Sunday during a visit to a corona test center in Ottensen.

“That is a flawed concept, the one in Tübingen, which has already failed in Saarland.” The tests are “very helpful in breaking the third wave, but in this phase of the pandemic they are not suitable for us to be careless “, He warned.

Tschentscher presented a new standardized certificate in Ottensen that in the future all of the currently 150 test sites in the city are to issue free so-called "citizen tests".

A certificate with a negative result can enable those tested to make use of services - in Hamburg this is the case, for example, when visiting the hairdresser.

In an interview with WELT, Tschentscher recently explained how, after the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, the rapid tests could also be used to take opening steps.

When asked about a situation with a high vaccination quota of around 50 percent in Hamburg and the associated possible freedoms, he said: “In such a situation it would be important, for example, that people who have not yet been vaccinated can also go to a restaurant or theater with a rapid test.

It has to be fair even in a pandemic. "

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Hamburg's mayor, who has been following a cautious course in his pandemic policy for months, is also urging a quick revision of the Infection Protection Act.

Although the draft sent by the federal government to the federal states "unfortunately still shows many gaps," he said on Sunday.

Nevertheless: "We need decisions very quickly (...) and the sooner uniformity is established in Germany, the better it is."

Basically, it is about the implementation of the resolutions already passed by the Prime Ministers at their conferences in an infection protection law, which everyone would then have to adhere to.

The federal government has been “in these considerations for two weeks,” he said.

"And I am assuming that the considerations have now matured to the point where it will be possible in the near future."

He does not see the risk of a shift in competencies from the federal states to the federal government.

In view of the third wave, it is important "that we in Germany very soon apply the strict standards that we have already introduced in Hamburg," said the mayor.

“This must also include exit restrictions.” It should not happen that the federal regulation makes measures less effective.

Fegebank wants to end the yo-yo effect

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Hamburg's Second Mayor Katharina Fegebank (Greens) made a similar statement.

She expects a new version of the Infection Protection Act to put an end to the "corona-yo-yo effect".

The "down with the numbers, up with the numbers" must finally be broken, said the green science senator on Sunday.

The draft for a new version of the law submitted by the federal government is "a good first step towards greater uniformity".

But more is needed for effective pandemic control, especially with regard to the world of work, she said.

"We need a home office and test obligation for companies, a strategy for a sustainable reduction in the number of infections and a comprehensive test strategy that is bindingly implemented in all federal states."

Age group over 70 can be vaccinated

In Hamburg, people aged 70 and over have been able to get vaccinated since Sunday, and numerous new appointments have been activated.

Meanwhile, the corona incidence in the city is rising significantly again just under a week after the Easter holidays.

340 new cases were added on Sunday.

That is 158 cases less than on Saturday, but 132 more than on Sunday a week ago.

The seven-day incidence, i.e. the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within 7 days, rose from 132.9 to 139.9.

The institute stated the number of people who died in Hamburg from or with the corona virus as 1411, 2 more than the day before.