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by Paolo Cappelli
15 September 2021
Health on the one hand, the economy on the other.
On the one hand the infections, on the other the work.
Is a new lockdown in the fall politically sustainable?
It is time for governments to ask themselves, and once again there are no easy answers.
Daily Telegraph
The specter of the winter lockdown is back.
Boris Johnson last night alerted the public that a new wave of Covid-19 restrictions, which could also include a new blockade, could be reintroduced in the fall.
The prime minister has warned that the country is facing a "turning point" in the pandemic and that he will take all necessary actions.
The Times
Act decisively, act soon 'to avoid a winter crisis, Johnson is told.
The prime minister was warned by his chief science advisor that he should "act strong and soon" with coronavirus restrictions this winter if there is an increase in cases, writes The Times citing Sir Patrick Vallance: Britain is at a tipping point, if the cases continue to increase "we cannot wait until it is too late because then there will be more to do".
The Independent
Thousands a day in hospital with no restrictions.
Experts ask the prime minister to now take measures to contain the infections despite the prime minister's reluctance.
In the United Kingdom yesterday 26 thousand infections, 185 deaths, in total more than 134 thousand since the beginning of the pandemic. The percentage that received the double dose of the vaccine is 66% of the population
The Guardian
Act now or we will have 7,000 hospitalizations a day, scientists tell the prime minister.
Between 2,000 and 7,000 people a day could be hospitalized for Covid in England next month, unless the government urgently implements a "basket of measures," government science advisers warned as Boris Johnson made it clear he hopes to avoid. new restrictions. The prime minister yesterday confirmed that Covid passports, the return of the mandatory use of the mask and the invitation to work from home are backup solutions as the government's "plan B", to be introduced if the NHS risks being overwhelmed.
But the models just released by experts from the scientific advisory committee warn the government not to wait too long, with cases, hospitalizations and deaths all exceeding a year ago, despite the success of the vaccination program. Speaking with Johnson at a Downing Street press conference, the government's chief science advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, said experience fighting the virus has shown that "we have to act sooner than you think, we have to do it more forcefully than how much we think ". He said the UK is now at a "tipping point" where, if the situation gets worse, it could do so quickly.
In the graph the various eight-week scenarios for daily hospital admissions in England over a range of RT values reflecting the possible impact of the increase in contacts since 6 September.
The i
The prime minister's plan B to avoid a new lockdown.
Plan A: third dose of vaccine for 30 million Britons over 50 to keep immunization levels high; vaccines for children between 12 and 15 years old; lockdowns limited to municipalities and neighborhoods in the event of outbreaks; invitations to socialize only outdoors in autumn and winter; masks indoors and in crowded places
Plan B: stricter rules for masks, for example on public transport; return of anti-contagion bubbles in schools; green pass requested in stadiums, at
Piano C
concerts
: also a new national lockdown, the fourth, should variants appear that pierce the protection of the vaccine and any action necessary to protect the national health service
Telegraaf (Netherlands)
The application does not work.
From 25 September, companies and organizations will have to check the green pass of customers and visitors. The cabinet is making funds available to mutual funds to hire more supervisors for operations. Security Council President Hubert Bruls says this subsidy makes little sense: "There are too few short-term executors available." Bruls points out that law enforcement will not continuously monitor theaters, cinemas and restaurants. "We will pay particular attention to excesses, and not for every single visitor it will be verified if he has the green pass". The president of the Dutch Association for Intensive Care, Diederik Gommers, speaks. "Rutte says he aims to keep health care manageable,but opted for the highest risk scenario, loosening the restrictions a lot. It is a contradiction of terms ". Health workers, says Gommers, are already under pressure, because" they see that outside people are starting to party again. "
Le Soir
Closure of the classes, the debate becomes communal.
Class quarantines multiply after returning to school. Flanders want to relax restrictions, the covid crisis becomes a national debate
With this email we wish to inform you of the health quarantine of the fifth grade of our school. We were in fact informed last night of the existence of a second case of positive pupil in this class. Since the two cases are less than fourteen days apart, we are obliged to quarantine the whole class. "This letter was addressed yesterday afternoon to about twenty families in Hainaut. Fifteen days before the beginning of the school year, the case is far from isolated. There are also in Liège, Namur, Bastogne and, of course, in Brussels. A disaster? Certainly not. With the return to face-to-face lessons, the experts expected this phenomenon. But it is not simple to manage for families
SZ
It becomes more difficult for the unvaccinated.
Bavaria Decides Mandatory Tests for Unvaccinated Day Care Nursery
Workers who have not been vaccinated or cured will have to prove that the tests are negative three times a week. Lollipop tests for children will also be introduced. Hundreds of initiatives are taking place in Bavaria this week to increase vaccination rates before autumn, including in shopping malls and restaurants. AfD in the Bavarian parliament wants to take legal action against the exclusion of unvaccinated people in a public event decided by the Ministry of the Interior. A spokesman for the parliamentary group announced this yesterday in Munich.
The Region
La Giunta will examine the use of the Green Pass after the green light of the Supreme Court.
Contrary to expectations, the high court has given the health ministry a free hand to impose the green pass in the hotel sector, even before the protocol agreed with the sector enters into force
FAZ
Many landers grant benefits to vaccinated citizens.
The Green Services Workers' Union has criticized the plans of many landers to suspend the wages of unvaccinated people who have been quarantined. From the union's point of view, it is wrong to try to "introduce mandatory vaccinations through the back door," said union president Frank Werneke. "The policy has said that vaccination should remain voluntary." The Bavarian Health Minister, Klaus Holetschek, objects: failure to vaccinate is not based on solidarity and should be punished.
Tagesspiegel
New benefits for the vaccinated.
Power games for the worst case scenario. Union again above 20% in the polls.
Everyone in the CDU still officially hopes for victory. But behind the scenes, several in the Union are already planning their careers after a defeat, writes Robert Birnbaum. If Armin Laschet loses the elections, power in the Union will be redistributed by one afternoon at the latest. Because without the chancellery and perhaps without ministries, the presidency of the parliamentary group would suddenly become the only valuable post.
TAZ
The leader of the liberals, rising in the polls, Lindner, speaks: we must free the defense of the climate from a single thought.
FDP President Christian Lindner relies on the market and new technologies for climate protection. A conversation about individual freedom in times of global warming.
Lindner says: the central message is: "More joy in inventing than prohibiting" and "Freedom has allies". The FDP wants to address the major issues of digitization, decarbonisation and demography without neglecting the importance of freedom.
Die Presse
An emergency brake against global warming.
The fight against climate change is paralyzed. Instead of continuing to focus on CO2 alone, Europe and the United States are now targeting methane, the forgotten greenhouse gas, and hoping for faster success.
TAZ
Offer perspective.
With Chancellor Merkel, the Western Balkans are losing an important supporter. EU membership must be maintained as a perspective for these countries.
The fact that he travels to the region shortly before his departure is also intended as a warning gesture for the next time: look at this region! Because the EU has looked the other way for too long, it was too busy with itself - and then the pandemic came. The enlargement of the EU meanwhile has not only stammered, but has stopped.
But the EU cannot afford this lack of interest. Not just because powers like Russia and China are constantly expanding their influence. The Balkans are continually seething and authoritarianism is on the rise everywhere. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, nationalist agitators are fueling tensions between population groups. Serbia's recognition of Kosovo, for which Merkel campaigned, is stagnant. Corruption is rampant, young people are looking for a better future in Western Europe or the United States.
So there would be enough construction sites. But if Merkel leaves - and who knows who will succeed her as Chancellor - the brakes on eastward expansion could gain the upper hand in the EU, especially in France. Then the EU perspective recedes even further and the danger that the powder keg in the Balkans will be rekindled. This was seen recently in Montenegro, when the consecration of the new head of the church caused violence in the streets just over a week ago.
Critics say Merkel's permanent dialogue strategy has failed. But they don't give viable alternatives.