Filenews 18 November 2021
"We will have a really bad Christmas if we do not take action now," warned in a dramatic tone the head of the German Institute "Robert Koch" Lothar Viller and blamed politicians, who "do not listen to us". At the same time, the first lockdowns began even for vaccinated people.
Plans for a general lockdown within the festive days
On the other hand, ahead of today's conference of state premiers with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Saxony government is planning a three-week general lockdown from 15 December, with restaurants, bars and hotels closed.
In Austria, their decision to lock down even the vaccinated has already been announced by the states of Ano Austria and Salzburg.
"After 21 months of a pandemic I can't stand the fact that what I and many other colleagues are saying may not be recognized," Lotar Viller said in a rather unusually emotional statement, warning of an explosion of cases and deaths in the near future.
"Of the 50,000 people infected every day, 400 may die in the coming weeks. There is nothing that can be done about it," Mr. Viller warned in an online discussion with Saxony Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and stressed that the actual number of cases could be two or even three times higher.
"We are in a state of emergency"
"The situation in the hospitals is getting worse and we have never been more worried. The number of seriously ill people with Covid-19 is increasing and in some areas stroke patients and other seriously ill people have to look for a bed in an Intensive Care Unit for two or three hours. The offer is no longer in line with the rules in all federal states," admitted the head of the Institute.
"The forecast is extremely grim. Really grim. We are in a state of emergency. Anyone who does not see this is making a very big mistake," Mr. Viller continued, recalling that the Robert Koch Institute had made very clear recommendations for action at an early stage in time, warning that the fourth wave would probably be the strongest of all the previous ones if appropriate measures were not taken.
"The measures were not taken and the vaccination rate did not increase significantly," he said, criticising state governments for "opening many sectors prematurely."
He mentioned for example bars and clubs, which he said are coronavirus "hotspots" and should be closed and suggested that major events be cancelled.
At the same time, the German infectious disease specialist called for consistent enforcement of the 2G Rule, which allows access only to vaccinated and sick people.
"We must not give those who are not vaccinated the opportunity to bypass vaccination by doing tests," he noted, and suggested that vaccination against the coronavirus should also be done in pharmacies.
"Every person who can be vaccinated should do it now. Otherwise we will not bring this crisis under control," he added, calling on politicians "to finally act." "We don't have to continue to invent anything new. All the designs and recipes are already there," he concluded.
For his part, Mr. Kretchman, according to the Leipziger Volkszeitung, has already prepared a plan for a general lockdown in his state, Saxony, from December 15 to January 5, with shops, restaurants and hotels closed.
Previously, Saxony hospital coordinator Michael Lambrecht had called for a two-week lockdown to bring the situation in the state's Intensive Care Units under control.
"My proposal would be a universal lockdown for 14 days. Let us breathe, let us see how the cases develop," said Mr. Lambrecht, pointing out that perhaps this is how we could celebrate Christmas with less stringent measures.
The first lockdown in Austria
The Prime Ministers of Upper Austria and Salzburg, the two most severely affected by the pandemic-affected states of Austria, announced a short while ago the imposition of a general lockdown, even for those vaccinated.
Upper Austria Prime Minister Thomas Stellzer, speaking in the local Parliament, said that "there is no more room for manoeuvre" and advocated such measures across the country.
Tomorrow, in consultations between the federation and the states, it is expected to be decided whether, in addition to the lockdown, even stricter measures will be taken for the unvaccinated at national level. In Austria, the rate of cases per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days has now reached a new record, reaching 989.
Source: in.gr
