The federal and state governments will discuss the corona situation and how to proceed in view of the spread of the Omikron variant on Tuesday.
This was agreed by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst as chairman of the Prime Minister's Conference, as both sides announced to the German Press Agency in Berlin on Sunday evening.
The Federal Government's new Corona Expert Council had previously seen a "need for action" for the coming days. "Effective nationwide coordinated countermeasures to control the infection process must be prepared, in particular well-planned and well-communicated contact restrictions," said a statement published on Sunday in Berlin. The ARD capital studio had previously reported on it. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) ruled out a hard lockdown before Christmas on Sunday.
The Expert Council expects “enormous challenges” in the coming weeks and months. The paper says: "The omicron wave hits a population that has been exhausted by a nearly two-year pandemic and its fight and in which massive tensions are evident every day." essential. In this highly dynamic situation, the omicron wave can only be overcome through decisive and sustained political action.
In the fourth and so far strongest wave of infections after almost two years of the corona pandemic, the German health system is currently working under a very high load, it is said. Serious losses in the personnel area of the hospitals had occurred and would continue to increase. “The current falling incidences are perceived by large parts of society and politics as a sign of relaxation. The expected delay in reporting over the coming holidays will further reinforce this impression. ”However, this is not justified.
Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) was basically open to new contact restrictions after the recommendation. “The FDP is a freedom party and a party of proportionality. That means that you always look carefully, how is the situation, how dangerous it is and what measures are appropriate and proportionate in view of this danger, "said Buschmann on Sunday in the" report from Berlin "of the ARD. "However, if we now have data from the UK that Omikron is very, very contagious, that a new wave may roll into the intensive care units, appropriate action will have to be taken."
Buschmann said that his party had repeatedly referred to the instrument of contact restrictions in the past few weeks, including in the fourth wave of the pandemic.
"Of course we are ready, if you need these instruments, to use them, if that helps, for example, to prevent school closings and widespread lockdowns," he said.
The opinion of the Expert Council will now be discussed and evaluated jointly in the Federal Government.
Restrictions only after the holidays?
At the special meeting of the federal and state governments before Christmas, corresponding contact restrictions could be decided, the editorial network Germany (RND) reported on Sunday evening, citing government circles.
It is conceivable that the upper limit for indoor events will be reduced from 50 to 20 to 25 participants and for outdoor events from 200 to 100 participants.
In addition, clubs and discos could be closed.
According to the RND, the restrictions are not expected to come into force until after the Christmas holidays.
Wüst demands a clear timetable
“No, we won't have a lockdown like in the Netherlands before Christmas,” Lauterbach told the ARD's “report from Berlin”.
In the Bild show “The Right Questions”, the SPD politician said after “Bild” information: “A hard lockdown now before Christmas, I would rule it out.
That is clear."