Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021
Before the Corona summit
Merkel believes that further easing is possible
Chancellor Merkel also pleads for cautious loosening of the lockdown at the meeting of the Union parliamentary group. For this, it would have to be more about local infection values in the future. However, she also calls for an emergency brake if the numbers rise again.
Before the federal and state corona summit on Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced further opening steps from the lockdown. From participants in a meeting of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group, it was said that Merkel thinks even bigger steps are possible – namely when more corona tests are available.
As participants ntv.de further reported, the Chancellor emphasized that the infection process always had to be kept in view: there had to be an "emergency brake" if local case numbers were too high. However, one could not only look at the nationwide incidences, it had to be more about local values. "It takes more regionalization to have more freedom," she said. "It will certainly be complicated in detail," said the CDU politician, referring to the federal-state meeting.
After this information, the Chancellor summarized the strategy with the words: "Vaccinate, test, open, be careful and always have an emergency mechanism that works when the chains of infection can no longer be traced and we grow exponentially again should."
The Chancellor, who was digitally connected to the meeting, said, according to the further information, that people "longingly" want openings. At the same time, she referred on the one hand to the low seven-day incidence in Germany compared to other European countries, and on the other hand to the spread of the British virus mutant. Their share in the current infection rate is now 50 percent. The mutant will soon be the actual virus variant, and the conventional version of the coronavirus will then "disappear".
Merkel: Daycare centers and schools have priority
As participants of the parliamentary group meeting ntv.de reported, daycare centers and schools have priority in the eyes of the Chancellor in the corona tests. However, tests are currently not yet sufficiently available, and 96 applications for rapid tests are currently being examined for approval. For the evening, the Chancellor also announced talks with the "economy" about the extent to which they can be involved and committed to testing.
"We have to counter the opening steps with something stabilizing," said Chancellery Minister Helge Braun, according to participants in the meeting. As a result, he emphasized the importance of regular testing. With their help you can also find people who do not yet know that they are infectious. It is in the hundreds of millions per month when it comes to the cost of adequate tests.
According to the information, the Chancellor also spoke out against starting corona vaccinations in general practitioners' practices. According to participants, there is still a lack of sufficient vaccine for sufficient supplies to the practices. It "makes no sense" to only deliver 100 doses to each practice when the demand is significantly higher. From April, however, family doctors could "be involved," announced Merkel.
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