Omicron: Germany imposes severe new restrictions on unvaccinated people
A poster indicates the so-called 2G rule (only those vaccinated or cured of Covid-19), for the Christmas market in the city of Dortmund, in western Germany, on December 1, 2021. AFP - INA FASSBENDER
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Faced with a fourth significant wave of Covid-19 which is leading to the saturation of certain hospitals, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor Olaf Scholz met on Thursday, December 2.
They decided on new restrictions for the unvaccinated.
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With our correspondent in Berlin,
Pascal Thibaut
“
An act of national solidarity.
For Angela Merkel who in recent weeks has continued to plead for stricter measures, the situation is very serious and the unvaccinated will have to restrict their activities to limit the number of infections and a saturation of hospitals.
Apart from essential shops, these people - nearly a third of the population - will no longer have access to non-essential shops, restaurants, cultural or leisure places.
The extent of private meetings in which unvaccinated people participate will be limited.
And apart from the vaccination obligation already approved for medical and nursing staff, an obligation for the entire population must be adopted.
A major turning point, as the future Chancellor Olaf Scholz recognizes: “
The current situation is explained first of all by an insufficient number of people vaccinated.
That's why many, including myself, have changed their minds.
"
►
To read also: Covid-19 in Germany: Olaf Scholz breaks the taboo of the vaccine obligation
An ambitious goal
The decision will rest with the deputies who must vote in their soul and conscience.
Angela Merkel, who had ruled out any vaccine obligation since spring 2020, has also changed her position.
"
Given the current situation, this is an adequate measure,
" she said.
If I were still a member of Parliament, I would vote for.
"
To improve the insufficient vaccination rate, but also the protection of people already vaccinated with a third dose, Olaf Scholz has set an ambitious goal of thirty million new vaccinations by Christmas.
A crisis unit headed by a general in the chancellery must coordinate these efforts.
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To read also: Covid-19: the Germans "vaccinated, cured or dead" at the end of winter
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