As of: 01/24/2022 6:54 p.m
The previous restrictions in the fight against Corona remain in place. Chancellor Scholz said after consultations with the prime ministers. In the future, PCR tests will only be used for certain groups.
The federal and state governments have agreed to stick to the previous measures to combat the corona pandemic. That’s what Chancellor Olaf Scholz said after consultations with the federal and state governments.
So there should continue to be strict contact restrictions, “wherever many people come together”. “We don’t yet know how the number of infections will develop,” said Scholz, whether there would be “a more dramatic development” or whether Germany would get through this period relatively well. It is therefore important “that we have to remain cautious”. “Overall, the following applies: stay the course,” said the Federal Chancellor.
Anja Martini, ARD Berlin, with information about the federal and state press conference
Tagesschau 6:11 p.m., 24.1.2022
Prioritization in PCR tests
The decision of the federal-state group is also about testing. In view of the scarcity of PCR tests, it says: “When bottlenecks occur, it is therefore essential to prioritize.” The Federal Minister of Health will work out a modified test regime in consultation with his colleagues from the federal states and adapt the national test strategy and the coronavirus test ordinance. “At the same time, every effort must be made to increase PCR testing capacities,” the paper says.
The particularly reliable PCR test for detecting a coronavirus infection should only be used for particularly vulnerable groups and the staff in clinics and nursing homes. In the future, all other people should only use a second quick test to check whether they are infected and have to be isolated, even after a positive quick test.
Continue the vaccination campaign
Scholz also announced that he wanted to step up the vaccination campaign. In addition to posters with the motto “Vaccination helps”, there should now also be more calls on the radio and on social media platforms. The aim is to convince as many people as possible of the vaccination in the next few days and weeks – above all of the first vaccination and the third booster vaccination.
Here, after the 30 million vaccinations that Germany had received by the end of December, “the pace slowed down,” said Scholz. “The following applies: Vaccination helps. Even the first vaccination helps against difficult courses.” In Germany, just over 75 percent of the population has now been vaccinated for the first time. “It has to be a lot more. And we’re worse there than can be recorded in other countries.” But Germany is very good when it comes to boosters, explained Scholz. This path must be continued.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst emphasized a two-pronged approach to combating the corona pandemic. “We have to look in both directions in the next few weeks,” says the CDU politician. The federal and state governments would examine possible tightening, but also take care of opening prospects.