“This is not the time for a party” – Germany tightens measures

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the prime ministers of the 16 German states approved on Tuesday, 21.12. in a virtual meeting, stricter measures to restrict contacts.

They will take effect after Christmas, that is, on December 28th. After this date, meetings with more than ten people at a time will no longer be allowed. Clubs and discos will be closed, while football matches and similar activities will be held without the public.

The previous rules are still in force for the unvaccinated.

Experts demand more

Korona does not take Christmas holidays, Scholz said as he presented the measures, in Berlin on Tuesday. Scholz said that Germany is in control of the fourth wave, but the Omikron variant, which can survive even in the vaccinated, is leading us to the new wave, for which we must now prepare. “We should not and are not allowed to close our eyes to this next wave,” he said.

The new measures aim to reduce the number of contacts, especially for New Year’s Eve. They had previously been suggested by the Council of Experts, which was formed by the new government.

The vaccination campaign continues

Scholz also said that, in addition to these measures, the vaccination campaign will continue, even during the holidays and between them. By the end of January the government aims to reach another 30 million new booster vaccines.

Nearly a third of the population (32.6%) have received the third vaccine, over 70% have been vaccinated twice or have received a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson. Scholz is to make compulsory vaccination for all adults, but the Bundestag will decide.

Dissatisfied lands

The measures taken on Tuesday will be reviewed on January 7 next year, when the next conference of the Federation and the Lands convenes. Two states, Baden-Württenberg and Saxony, distanced themselves from the decision, through a protocol note. They, like the Robert Koch Institute, demand immediate and tougher measures.

top channel