In Germany, new restrictions have been decided on the fight against the Omicron variant. Those who have not been vaccinated for the third dose are required to be tested at the entrance to restaurants and cafes, while wearing an FFP2 mask, working from home and limiting social contacts significantly. Prime Minister Scholz, who said that the most effective protection against Omicron can only be achieved with the 3rd dose of vaccine, warned that the new variant is spreading rapidly, and said, “Go to get vaccinated, but also run.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the claims that the Omicron variant is not dangerous do not reflect the truth, and called “Go to get vaccinated, but also go running”.
Discussing the measures to be taken against the rapidly spreading variant with the state prime ministers, Scholz announced the decisions taken at the press conference he held afterwards.
Stating that they have tightened the restrictions against those who do not get vaccinated, and that they have decided on measures to limit social contacts to a large extent, Scholz emphasized that they will “try to overcome the crisis” with these measures.
The Prime Minister stated that due to the Omicron variant, there will be an increase in the number of cases in the coming weeks and that there may be a density in hospitals, and that everyone should be prepared for this.
“The most effective protection is the 3rd dose”
Underlining that the most effective protection against the Omicron variant can be achieved with the 3rd dose of vaccine, Scholz said that they were successful in their target of making 30 million doses of vaccine until Christmas; He said that now they aim to give 30 million more reminder doses of vaccines by the end of January.
Emphasizing that the Moderna vaccine is as effective as the BioNTech vaccine and that it is of great importance to have this vaccine, whichever vaccine is available, Scholz pointed out that Omicron is a rapidly spreading variant and said “go to get vaccinated, but also run.”
Prime Minister Scholz also made the following appeal to those who have never been vaccinated:
“Those who have not been vaccinated are putting themselves in danger because we know that those who have not been vaccinated are at great risk of getting infected. The new variant is spreading much faster, everyone who has not been vaccinated has to know that the infection will reach them soon. The new variant is not so dangerous. “The allegations are not true. Therefore, we have to ensure that as many people as possible can be vaccinated so that they can protect themselves.”
What do the new resolutions foresee?
The resolutions announced after the meeting aim to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and those who have been vaccinated to get their third dose of vaccine.
Those who have never been vaccinated and those who have not survived the disease will not be able to enter cafes and restaurants, nor participate in cultural or sporting events in closed environments.
According to the new decisions, recovering from Covid-19 or having two doses of the vaccine will no longer be enough to enter cafes and restaurants. These customers will now be required to take a coronavirus test and submit a negative test result.
Those who have had the third dose of vaccines will be exempted from this application; will be able to enter cafes and restaurants without submitting the test result.
Quarantine rules have changed
The new decisions also envisage the relaxation of quarantine rules for those who have had their third dose of vaccines.
Anyone who has been in contact and is suspected of being infected will, in principle, be required to quarantine for 10 days. Those who have had their third dose of vaccines will not need to go into quarantine even if they have been in contact.
Quarantine will end if those in critical missions in public services have a PCR test or certified antigen test after 7 days and it is negative.
A different arrangement is envisaged for healthcare workers. In order to protect those treated or cared for in hospitals and nursing homes, isolation is expected to be lifted after 7 days only if a PCR test is negative. In addition, it is emphasized that the healthcare worker should not show symptoms for 48 hours before starting the task.
For contact students, the quarantine can be ended after 5 days with a negative PCR or antigen test.
‘Work from home’ call
In the decisions, employers and employees were called to work from home as much as possible in the coming weeks, and it was emphasized that the increase in the number of cases could be prevented.
Citizens were also advised to wear an FFP2 mask.
While it was noted that the Omicron variant is much more easily transmitted, it was requested that the more protective FFP2 mask be preferred both indoors and in close-range meetings. The importance of wearing these masks especially during shopping and public transportation was emphasized.
Nightclubs will remain closed
Concerned that Omicron cases will increase rapidly in the coming days, the federal government and states have decided that nightclubs and discotheques will remain closed. Dance events will also not be allowed.
In addition, it was decided to continue to implement the decisions that limit social contacts in December.
People who have been vaccinated and recovered are allowed to meet with up to 10 people who meet the same conditions. For those who have not had the disease and have not been vaccinated, it is possible to meet with a maximum of 2 people from another household.
Vaccination obligation deadlocked?
In the meantime, it was aimed that the legal regulation regarding the vaccination obligation to be applied throughout Germany was put on the agenda in the Bundestag next week, and then put to a vote and enacted into law.
At today’s press conference, Scholz announced that his view on the introduction of a general vaccination obligation with a legal regulation has not changed, and that he hopes that the regulation will be discussed and accepted in the parliament.
Olaf Scholz said, “The prime ministers of all 16 states have expressed their views today in favor of a general vaccination obligation. I feel that I have very strong support on this issue.”
However, it is stated that negotiations between political parties are continuing in order to reach a sufficient majority to ensure the adoption of the vaccine obligation regulation in the parliament, therefore, there is a delay in the calendar.
According to the information leaked from the parliament’s backstage, the vaccination obligation will only be discussed at the general assembly in the last week of January, and the draft laws will be brought to the parliament’s agenda in mid-February. It is claimed that the regulation may take effect in March. It is not yet known whether Scholz’s statements today will lead to the resumption of discussions on legal regulation.
The medical world is the scene of heated debate
Vaccination obligation continues to be discussed in the German public.
Thomas Fischbach, President of the German Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ), called for the necessary arrangements to be made so that the obligation to vaccinate adults comes into effect as soon as possible.
Speaking to the Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung, Fischbach criticized the politics for not taking the necessary steps in this regard, saying that in case of further delays, children and young people will again have to pay the price. “Further delays have dire consequences, because children and young people have to suffer from restrictions longer,” Fischbach said.
Andreas Gassen, President of the Health Insurance Contracted Physicians Association (KBV), announced that vaccines are an effective tool in the fight against the epidemic, but against a general vaccination obligation.
Making a statement to the Rheinische Post, Gassen pointed out that there are questions that need to be answered both legally and logistically, and that the danger of coronavirus may have passed before the vaccination obligation is implemented.
In addition, Gassen pointed out that he had hesitations due to the fact that the effectiveness of the vaccine lasted only a few months, and noted that he did not see the vaccination obligation under these conditions, and that campaigns to encourage vaccination and restrictions to be imposed on those who were not vaccinated should be emphasized.
A similar statement came from Thomas Preis, President of the German Pharmacists Association.
Preis said, “As long as a vaccine does not provide protection for the virus for a longer period of time, there is no point in imposing a vaccination obligation. Controlling the necessary reminder doses brings a heavy burden to both the state and the citizens.”
Steinmeier to host citizens’ meeting
Pointing out that the vaccination obligation is a very sensitive issue for the society, experts argue that the obligations brought in extraordinary times such as the epidemic should be explained to the public through campaigns, and doubts and concerns should be eliminated.
Attention is drawn to the importance of holding adequate public discussions, listening to objections and concerns, and finding solutions that can address them before such arrangements.
The citizens’ meeting, which President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host next week at Bellevue Palace, is an example of this.
Steinmeier will listen to the views, expectations and criticisms of the citizens with whom he will meet on Wednesday on the vaccination obligation.
In the statement made by the Presidency, it was stated that “pros and cons” about the vaccination obligation will be discussed at this meeting.