Friday, January 07, 2022
“A significant improvement”
Lauterbach welcomes the 2G-plus scheme
Sitting in an inn for hours without a mask – in view of Omikron, it is very dangerous, says Health Minister Lauterbach. He therefore welcomes the federal-state resolution on 2G plus. Even if Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt are not yet participating, the minister ultimately expects uniform rules.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach considers the planned stricter access rules for the catering trade to be a central instrument in the fight against the Corona variant Omikron. “That is a significant improvement because it was an important source of infections,” said the SPD politician on the program “ZDF Spezial”. Sitting in an inn for hours without a mask is very dangerous given the rapid spread of omicron.
The federal and state governments have passed a 2G-plus regulation for restaurants, cafés and pubs. This means that only those who have been boosted or have been vaccinated twice with a daily test should have access. This already applies in a number of federal states. Saxony-Anhalt has already announced that it will not implement this regulation, and Bavaria still wants to examine the plans.
Minister expects uniform nationwide rules
According to Lauterbach, in the long term, however, it expects uniform requirements across countries, for example for the catering trade. “I think we will have a nationwide regulation at the end,” he said in the ARD. “The citizens expect this uniformity and that is how I understood today’s decisions.”
Lauterbach said on ZDF that there was currently a race between the campaign for booster vaccinations and the spread of the Omikron variant in Germany. He is betting that the booster campaign will still be able to reach a large number of people before the number of cases rose too much.
Projections have shown that the number of Omikron infected people is currently doubling every five and a half days, Lauterbach said. Not only booster, but also first vaccinations are important. This could at least avert a severe course of the disease and sometimes even death.
NGG demands minimum short-time work allowance
The food, enjoyment, and restaurants union (NGG) also welcomed the stricter rules for the catering trade, which were tightened by the federal and state governments, but also called for a minimum short-time work allowance for employees of 1200 euros per month. “It is good that there is a uniform regulation. The 2G-plus regulation also brings more security for guests and employees,” said NGG chairman Guido Zeitler to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
The affected companies, “but especially the affected employees,” would have to be supported vigorously by the state, Zeitler said. The short-time work allowance and the increase to 80 percent from the seventh month would have to be continued beyond the end of March. Since this is not enough for many employees in the hospitality industry because of the low income, the minimum short-time work allowance is necessary. “That means at least 1200 euros per month.”
Sharp criticism came from the AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel, who described the decisions as “panic-driven”. These are irresponsible, she said after the Prime Minister’s Conference. Again, the seven-day incidence will be looked at, “instead of primarily making the utilization of the hospitals and especially the intensive care units the basis for decision-making”. The nationwide 2G-plus regulation will have dramatic consequences for the already badly damaged gastronomy. “Without adequate financial compensation, 2G plus would be the ultimate coffin nail for the industry.”