Monday, December 20, 2021
“Consistent measures necessary”
Scholz and Lindner: New restrictions are coming
Once again, the federal and state governments have agreed to consult about the corona situation. The heads of the federal government are now making it clear that there will be contact restrictions and some closings. Chancellor Scholz does not expect any disagreement with the federal states.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner agree that Germany will restrict personal contacts. In view of the contagious Corona variant Omikron, further restrictions have to be made to protect people’s health. These would also affect vaccinated people. In addition to the debate about boosting and maintaining the critical infrastructure, the federal-state consultations on tomorrow, Tuesday, would also focus on personal contacts.
“It will certainly summarize the private contacts of those who have been vaccinated a little more,” said Scholz in Rome. This is being done so that Germany is well prepared when the new variant of the virus spreads across Europe. It is also important to prepare Germany’s critical infrastructure for the expected high levels of infection so that it can be maintained despite high sickness rates.
FDP boss Lindner said: “I assume that we will see changes at events and at private events indoors in the short term.” He also reckons that “club events will not be able to take place”. One will also have to “look appropriately at the situation, whether further contact restrictions are necessary”.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Scholz did not expect disagreement between the federal states. “The result will be that, I believe, we can establish a consensual approach. That is important right now at this time.”
“Consistent measures are required precisely because of the appearance of Omikron,” said Lindner in Berlin. General closings of schools or shops should “always only remain the last resort”. Many people feared another lockdown. The FDP will therefore continue to work to “combine effective health protection with as much social life as possible on the one hand,” he announced.
One must be able to react flexibly to the changing situation, “but always with the aim of preserving as much social life as possible and avoiding lockdowns”. Lindner said it was “visible” that the FDP was involved in the national crisis management. If the current consistent course in vaccination and boosting is continued, masks are worn and the rules are adhered to, “then we can continue to keep social life open and avert a lockdown,” he said. With a view to the lockdown in the Netherlands, the FDP chairman emphasized that the situation there was “not comparable to Germany”.
Scholz and the Prime Ministers of the federal states will discuss how to proceed with the corona pandemic on Tuesday afternoon. An expert council of the federal government recently recommended further contact restrictions. The Chancellor was in the Italian capital on Monday for consultations with the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.