At a joint press conference, Minister of Health Jens Spahn and the President of the Robert Koch Institute Lothar Wieler expressed their concern for pandemic development in Germany. "Pandemic is anything but over," said the CDU politician in Berlin on Wednesday with a view to the rapidly increasing incidence. It is now important to prevent the healthcare system from overloading. Test concepts in all nursing homes are necessary. Where the incidence is particularly high, the 2G control must be used. However, the managing minister excluded contact restrictions or even a general lockdown for vaccinated and genesis.
Spahn and RKI boss Lothar Wieler pointed out that even a complete vaccination or survived infection could not protect 100 percent against a corona infection, especially in older people, who are already more threatened by the disease. That is why it is important to increase the pace of booster vaccination. All countries should write to people aged 60 and over and point out the possibility of booster vaccination. With a view to the practices, the Minister said: "Too many people willing to vaccinate are currently unable to find a doctor who vaccinates them." He therefore wants to talk to medical representatives about solutions. Public booster offers are also important. The large vaccination centres, many of which have already been closed, would therefore not necessarily have to be reopened, as some had already demanded.
It is now important to create the impression of unity in politics and to set common standards for all regions. That is why Spahn again campaigned for a federal-state leader. In addition to the health ministers, it is important to take the prime ministers on board and to make decisions on the broadest possible basis.
The President of the Robert Koch Institute also warned at the press conference against a further aggravation of the corona situation in Germany. "If we don't take countermeasures now, this fourth wave will bring a lot of suffering again. Many people will become seriously ill and die, and the health care system will again be heavily burdened." The fourth wave is developing exactly as feared, as not enough people are vaccinated and behavioral instructions to protect against infections as well as the 2 and 3G rules are no longer sufficiently implemented. "These are frightening figures," said Wieler with a view to the recorded deaths in Germany. (jad)
