Germany considers a full Covid lockdown and mandatory vaccines
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Thomas Marx, a senior doctor in Freising (South Germany), puts on his protective gear (PPE), before entering the room of Covid-19-infected patient at an ICU in Freising.
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Germany will decide whether to increase Covid-19 restrictions. It could also opt for full lockdown, despite record-breaking daily infections and increasing pressure on hospitals.
Jens Spahn is the country’s Health Minister. He has warned Germans that they will all be “vaccinated, recuperated, or dead” by this winter. Angela Merkel, the outgoing Chancellor of Germany has asked that Germany’s 16 Federal States (which have been largely free to set their own Covid policies) adopt stricter regulations by Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Spahn reiterated that request, adding that more public spaces should be restricted to the vaccinated, the recently recovered, or those that have had a negative test — otherwise known as the “3G rule.” 3G rules are now in effect for all Germans entering the workplace and accessing public transport.
Many states in Germany have already restricted access to public spaces like bars, restaurants, movie theaters and museums under “2G rules,” restricting access to only those who are vaccinated — “geimpft” in German — or recovered, “genesen.” Many major German Christmas markets have adopted the 2G rule, which has not been cancelled this year.
The 2G sign can be seen at the Christmas Market in Cologne on November 22, 2021, as Coronavirus cases have reached a peak in Germany.
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This week the federal government and the federal states reached an agreement to expand their cooperation. nationwide restrictions Based on the federal hospitalization rates, the new law would take effect.
Hospitals, vaccines
Spahn warned of rising pressures on German hospitals, noting that “we have to move patients around because intensive care units full, and that doesn’t just affect Covid-19,” he said to Germany’s Deutschlandfunk radio. According to Reuters translation, he also spoke out about the increasing demand for hospital beds in Germany.
This warning came as Covid infection cases rose to a record high on Wednesday. There were 66,884 cases, a huge increase from Tuesday’s 45,326 cases. The Robert Koch Institute reported that the 7-day incidence rate has passed 400, the highest level since the outbreak. To date, nearly 100,000 people have died in Germany from this virus.
German officials also believe they are considering mandatory vaccinations. They have already urged people not currently vaccinated for them to do so. With 68% of its citizens fully vaccinated, the country is one of Europe’s lowest-ranking countries.
Germany, like other European nations, has struggled to increase Covid vaccines and deploy booster shots in the winter. However, vaccine hesitancy as well as the widespread of the extremely infectious Delta Covid variant which is more dangerous than other strains make it difficult.
While the notion of obligatory vaccinations in Europe has always been controversial, it has become more popular due to the Covid landscape. Some officials feel that mandatory vaccines are the only way for the virus to be stopped.
Covid vaccinations can greatly lower the chance of serious infection and hospitalization. But, vaccine immunity diminishes after about six months. We also know that transmission is not completely controlled by vaccines.
Experts agree that there are many ethical concerns to address regarding vaccine mandates. However, some countries seem to have moved on from these issues in favour of the general benefit that vaccination provides.
Learn more Are Covid vaccine mandates ethical? Here’s what medical experts think
Austria already made it clear that Covid vaccinations will be mandatory starting February 1, 2019. It has just instituted a complete lockdown and several other countries, such as France and Italy have also mandated Covid vaccines for health professionals. The U.K. is expected to follow the U.K.’s lead in spring 2022.
German state governments have demanded mandatory vaccinations of health workers in Germany. The federal government is currently considering the proposal, having previously rejected compulsory vaccination.
The fact that some legislators are calling for mandatory vaccination proves the level of German concern about the Covid crisis.
Tilman Kuban (head of Merkel’s youth wing, Christian Democratic Union), stated that “We have reached a point where we have to clearly state that de facto mandatory vaccination is required and there must be a lockdown of unvaccinated persons.” wrote in Die Welt newspaper on SundayWe were shocked to learn that German ICU beds have a 90% coronavirus rate.
Kuban claimed that Germany’s unvaccinated were “bringing it to the brink” and that Germany cannot continue being locked up every winter.
The backdrop of Germany’s Covid crisis has prompted ongoing political negotiations for a coalition government to continue. Negotiations between the Social Democratic Party and the Greens are likely to end anytime now, and a deal for forming a new coalition government is expected to be announced on Wednesday.
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