In the fight against the worsening pandemic, the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder has spoken out in favor of a general compulsory vaccination.

"I believe that in the end we will not be able to avoid compulsory vaccination," he said on Friday following a meeting of the coalition committee with coalition partner Free Voters.

In the short term, it is now a matter of breaking the wave again.

"But we also need a long-term concept." That is linked to vaccination.

Timo Frasch

Political correspondent in Munich.

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The federal and state governments would have to carefully consider “whether a partial compulsory vaccination could ultimately be the only solution for next year”.

Because if nobody gets vaccinated again, everyone who is now infected could be infected again in a year, possibly with a new mutation.

None of this is a long-term solution.

Söder: Make yourself honest about mandatory vaccinations

One does not want to “rush ahead” with the question of the general compulsory vaccination. "But we urgently urge you to be honest." At the Prime Minister's Conference there were also "one or two colleagues" who see it similarly. The discussion is "not for now, but for spring". But then you have to face it. “I don't think we can do without it. Otherwise it will be an endless loop with this Corona crap, "said Söder.

Meanwhile, the state government agreed on a new lockdown. This particularly affects the hotspot districts, currently there are eight, in southern Bavaria with incidences beyond 800. For these there will be a "hard emergency brake", said Söder. From Tuesday, when the state parliament has approved the new measures, large areas of public life in the hotspots should then be closed. This applies to gastronomy and the hotel industry as well as sports and cultural events. The only exceptions are schools and kindergartens, as well as trade, for which, however, new restrictions are being introduced. For example, only one customer should be allowed to move around the twenty square meters in the hotspots.

For all of Bavaria, Söder spoke of a “de facto lockdown for unvaccinated people”. Accordingly, only a maximum of five unvaccinated people from two households are allowed to meet. Children under 12 are not included. The areas to which the unvaccinated will no longer have access until at least December 15 are also being expanded throughout the Free State. This applies to hairdressers, beauticians and universities, for example. A curfew from 10 p.m. will apply to the entire catering trade.

For public events, for example in the field of culture, the 2G plus rule applies (recovered or vaccinated including mask and negative rapid test).

In addition, such events may only be used to 25 percent.

Bundesliga games will also be affected.

Discos, clubs and bars will remain closed throughout Bavaria until further notice.

Christmas markets will not take place either.