German politicians on both the federal and state levels have been restrategising
on how best to tackle the fifth wave of the Coronavirus and the Omicron variant.
The politicians said this ahead of a meeting of federal and state ministers on Tuesday.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said he expected tightening of COVID-19 restrictions in the New Year.
“I am sure that clubs and discotheques will close, that we will reduce indoor contacts for vaccinated people too,’’ he told Deutschlandfunk radio on Monday morning.
North Rhine Westphalia Premier Hendrik Wuest warned Germans against having big New Year’s Eve parties this year.
Stricter contact restrictions for private gatherings would be on the table at tomorrow’s conference, he told public broadcaster ARD.
Wuest, who will chair the conference, said the federal and state governments must draw up emergency plans to ensure that the police, fire brigade, as well as electricity and water supplies continue to function even when infection levels are high.
“We will have to talk about how to keep our country running when more people are infected or quarantined,’’ he said.
In its first statement, Germany’s Coronavirus Expert Council warned that Omicron was a threat to fully vaccinated people as well as those who have recovered from COVID-19.
“This can lead to an explosive spread,’’ it said, adding that it was expecting hospitals to reach capacity in some places.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has categorically ruled out a lockdown before Christmas, however.
“On the subject of which further restrictions are conceivable, the federal and state governments will now exchange views,’’ said deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner.
“In Germany we also have a problem with Omicron because the number of people vaccinated is not high enough,’’ Buechner said.
However, he said, the booster campaign was progressing well among those vaccinated and the target of 30 million vaccinations by Christmas is within reach, he said.
According to official figures released on Monday, at least 70.3 per cent of Germany’s total population had now been fully vaccinated.
At least 26.2 million which is 31.5 per cent in total have also received a booster vaccination.
Germany’s infection rates rose slightly on Monday, after weeks of falling figures.
The seven-day incidence rate of infection had reached 316, compared to 315.4 the previous day, and 389.2 earlier.
Some 116 people have died in the past 24 hours with COVID-19, the health authorities said. (dpa/NAN)
