Despite the high number of infections with the corona virus, the Prime Minister's Conference, which met on Thursday evening together with the new federal government, initially did not decide on any general contact restrictions over Christmas.

However, one will take a close look at the data on the development of the pandemic, especially with regard to the new Omikron variant, and also seek advice from experts, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the evening.

Then “if necessary, further decisions would be on the agenda at short notice”.

Markus Wehner

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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The Prime Ministers agreed to meet again next week, affirmed North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD).

The federal government and the heads of government of the federal states want to make whether such a meeting is necessary depending on the vote of the expert council at the chancellery.

It will meet for the first time in the coming week and, according to Scholz, will give politicians advice by consensus.

Scholz said that the omicron variant now makes it all the more urgent that all vaccinated "quickly get a booster vaccination".

In order to achieve the goal of 30 million first and booster vaccinations by the end of the year, the crisis team formed in the Chancellery will hold a first meeting with the representatives of the federal states in the coming week.

Scholz said that citizens would in all likelihood have to be vaccinated for a longer period of time, which is why it is good to open more vaccination centers and to involve pharmacists in the vaccination.

"We have to be prepared for the fact that we always need a prick to be well protected," said the Chancellor.

Infection situation "dramatic in some parts"

Wüst said the infection situation in Germany was serious and "in some parts dramatic". There are doubts as to whether the existing legislation is sufficient in view of the Omikron variant. But it is good that the Ampel-Coalition was ready to improve the Infection Protection Act. When fighting the pandemic, it is important not only to be careful but also to be foresight. "We have to use the high beam and not just drive on sight." Wüst campaigned for a "drug strategy" agreed between the federal and state governments so that a good effect can be achieved through the early use of drugs in the event of a corona infection. This could then also relieve the intensive care units of the hospitals.

Wüst also said that the compulsory vaccination for staff in nursing homes must now come quickly.

Scholz named March 15 as the date for this.

This is necessary so that everyone can be vaccinated twice in good time before the mandatory vaccination comes into force.

The same will be done with the general compulsory vaccination.

Wüst indicated that he would have wished that nursing homes would have been vaccinated as early as February.

The general compulsory vaccination should not be delayed either.

Müller said: "The vaccination will be compulsory." This fact alone now offers anyone who has not yet been vaccinated "the chance to deal with the subject again".

Special praise for Lauterbach

All participants praised the talks between the Prime Minister and the members of the new federal government. During the crisis, the federal states wanted to join forces with the new federal government in a “trustworthy and factual manner”, said Wüst. The new Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) received special praise from Wüst and Müller. He had "a deep knowledge of the subject" and was therefore able to provide detailed answers to many questions, said Müller.

The Prime Minister's Conference also decided to go beyond the existing legislation to take action against hate speech on the Internet, especially on the communication platforms of messenger services.

One was "dismayed by the extent of hatred" that was spread there, said Wüst.

That is why there is agreement to examine how crimes could be punished there.

It is about platforms that specifically spread hate speech and stir up fear, said Müller.