Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) spoke out in favor of quicker agreements on consistent corona countermeasures after the latest federal-state meeting. “I regret that it sometimes goes a little too slowly,” said Merkel on Tuesday at an event of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “Now every day counts”. It is about “prevention of the worst, that is, the overloading of our health system”.
The corona pandemic is a challenge of the century for the whole world and for each individual and “the situation remains serious,” said Merkel. The current restrictions are unreasonable, but inevitable. They were “among the most difficult decisions of my term in office,” admitted Merkel.
The containment of the pandemic will not be as quick as hoped and many health authorities are at or above their limit, warned Merkel. There are areas in which “we are very concerned” and the infection process is not under control, said the Chancellor. “For me, the capital is one of them.”
If an exponential growth in the number of cases becomes apparent, action must be taken quickly. “If we waited until the intensive care beds were fully occupied, it would be too late,” said Merkel.
At the deliberations of the federal and state governments on Monday, specific decisions on how to further combat corona were postponed until next week. “Some want more clarity,” said Merkel, referring to the prime ministers of the federal states. “I will continue to be the impatient part in this matter – and I look forward to any support I get,” added the Chancellor.
CSU supports Merkel’s course
The CSU jumped at the Chancellor and spoke out clearly in favor of further measures in schools. “Everyone in the CSU agrees that further measures are needed,” said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt on Tuesday before a meeting of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag. There are also infections in schools, which is why one should act there to get the overall infection process under control.
He expressly does not advertise school closings, said Dobrindt. But schools should be able to take measures to reduce contacts there. This can also be achieved with a mix of measures. The CSU wants to act in concert with the other countries. You have to talk about individual measures at schools such as mask compulsory, alternating or hybrid lessons. This should also be prepared in a public discussion.
[Wenn Sie aktuelle Nachrichten aus Berlin, Deutschland und der Welt live auf Ihr Handy haben wollen, empfehlen wir Ihnen unsere App, die Sie hier für Apple- und Android-Geräte herunterladen können .]
Dobrindt expressed disappointment with the negotiations on Monday. The CSU supported Merkel’s approach to discuss further measures in schools.
During Merkel’s consultations with the federal states, the Chancellery had submitted proposals to protect schools from infection. However, a majority of the countries rejected a decision in this area and wanted to wait for the further development of the number of infections. Now, on November 25, there will be another discussion on whether the partial lockdown, which is limited to the end of the month, must be extended and even tightened. The Chancellery does not expect that any easing can be decided by then.
Waiting is met with approval and criticism
The association of towns and municipalities approved the federal-state course, which was initially waiting. “It is correct that the Chancellor and the Prime Ministers have not yet made a decision on whether the lockdown light must continue beyond the end of November,” said the chief executive of the Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, the RND newspapers.
The German Teachers Association, on the other hand, criticizes the lack of new resolutions. “That could still take bitter revenge,” said President Heinz-Peter Meidinger to the news portal watson. Above all, Meidinger denounces the fact that no general mask requirement has been introduced in school lessons: “Why it has not even been possible to include a nationwide mask requirement at least for pupils in secondary schools, in our opinion also for primary school pupils, in the catalog of measures of the federal and state governments is completely inexplicable and downright irresponsible. ” (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
