Germany will lock down 14 million citizens who are not vaccinated to fight rising coronavirus cases. It is mirroring an Austrian health apartheid.
On Tuesday the country saw 32,048 infections, an increase of 47% compared with a week earlier and 265 deaths.
Unvaccinated individuals will no longer be permitted to go to work or travel by public transport under the Social Democrat (SDP). This warning was issued today by the incoming Social Democrat government.
Dirk Wiese said that this is a lockdown meant for those who are not vaccinated.
New government also suggests that all employees should be able to work remotely unless there is a compelling business reason.
A nurse cares for a Covid-19-infected patient at the University Hospital of Aachen in western Germany on November 10.
On Thursday, the SDP and its coalition partners will present to parliament their coronavirus plans for approval.
Germany has a low 67% population jab, which means it is behind many European countries like the UK (68%), France (79%), Italy (72%), and Spain (88%).
Bavaria as well as the eastern German states of Thuringia or Saxony is in critical shape. Warnings have also been issued that the capacity of hospitals throughout the country could be reached within two weeks.
Rejected vaccine-rejectors could have their travel ban lifted by Friday in Saxony.
The rule, which is based on existing regulations, will automatically come into effect when Covid patients fill more than 1300 beds at a hospital in the area for three consecutive days.
On Monday it exceeded that limit and the rule could become effective by Friday if they do not fall.
Bavaria, Saxony, and Bavaria are just a few of many countries that require proof to enter bars, restaurants, and clubs.
Berlin is being urged by the Bavarian government to enforce the same rules throughout the country.
Since it was the first European country to place a ban on unvaccinated people, Austria faced strong protests. This means more than 20% of the country’s population are locked up
Police patrols have been cracking down with fines of up to 1,450 euros (£1,237) if the un-jabbed leave their homes.
In Germany, the former Communist east remains a bastion of support for the far-right AfD, vaccination sceptics. A poll conducted by Forsa found that half of those unvaccinated voted for the party during the September general election.
German ministers are likely to be cautious about the possible opposition when they roll out federal mandates for the unvaccinated.
Also scheduled Thursday is a crisis meeting between Germany’s government and 16 head of state from the region. This will help to coordinate the coronavirus response of the country.
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, remains as a temporary role. The SDP is negotiating power sharing deals with Greens (FDP) and Free Democrats to create a new government.
Confusing situations have resulted from the vacuum that was created when a transition government took power.
After announcing a vaccine requirement for doctors on Monday, the leading Green legislator was forced to backtrack.
It is currently being discussed between her party, the Social Democrats, and the Liberal Free Democrats. This contract will define Germany’s policy priorities for the next 4 years.
Olaf Scholz (centre-left Social Democrats), who is a candidate for the role of chancellor from 2020, was accused of remaining in the background during the Covid crisis. However, Scholz said it was “right to have a conversation” about mandates regarding vaccines for specific professions.
Der Spiegel weekly immediately criticised him for his vagueness and accused Merkel of imitating Merkel by staying on the fence till the very last moment.
It said, “Merkel couldn’t possibly have put it better and more precisely,”
Before the coalition has ever signed a contract, the growing wave of infection in the country that has seen over 5 million cases during the pandemic will be a test.
Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel stated on Saturday that “We have tough weeks ahead of us,”
Karl Lauterbach (Social Democrat) said that due to the sheer volume of current cases, all hospitals will be able meet their capacity within the first two weeks in December.
According to AFP’s draft text, only people with a positive test or who are vaccinated will have access to public transportation, including ‘to school’ and ‘to taxis’.
States may also be allowed to place new restrictions on public or private areas, including Germany’s beloved Christmas markets.
Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder welcomed the extra measures, stating that they were in the “right direction”.
Dirk Wiese, deputy head of SPD’s parliamentary group in Berlin, said that ‘This is really a lockdown to the unvaccinated’.
Munich, Germany’s largest city cancelled its Christmas market Tuesday. (file photo: 2016) The annual event attracts around three million tourists.
Angela Merkel is still in the Bundestag, November 11, as a caretaker while the SDP works out power sharing deals with the Greens (FDP) and Free Democrats to create a new government
But, the new coalition parties have ruled out any return to lockdown by deciding to not prolong Germany’s health emergency beyond November 25, and thereby excluding the possibility of a return to locking down.
Conservatives have criticised the decision and will soon find themselves in opposition. They are already preparing attacks against the coalition.
Although the reasons behind the rapidly declining situation are numerous, they include a low vaccination rate at 67.5 percent, which is considerably lower than what Merkel wanted.
Nearly 14 million Germans who are eligible for vaccination have yet to accept the offer. Only 59.6 percent have received the vaccination in Saxony (where the wave is strongest).
Bavaria, Saxony and other border regions have been affected by the increasing number of cases in Austria and Czech Republic. Vienna has this week placed the unvaccinated under lockdown.
Germany’s former Communist East is also home to the AfD and vaccination sceptics. A poll conducted by Forsa found that half of those unvaccinated voters supported the party during the September general election.
Austrian police began this week to crack down on routine checks in an effort to prevent two million people unvaccinated from fleeing their country.
This move was implemented Monday. It applies to over 20% of the population.
Police patrols have been stepped up and unvaccinated people can be fined up to 1,450 euros (£1,237) if they violate the lockdown.
Two million people were not vaccinated when police began routine inspections to prevent them from going outside their houses. The lockdown was criticized for “dividing the society in half”
A police officer in Austria gestures to car drivers as part of a Monday traffic control check for people traveling through Austria.
After the official announcement, hundreds descended on Ballhausplatz, Vienna, during an anti-vaccination protest.
At today’s Vienna protest, a demonstrator shows support for compulsory vaccination by holding a placard.
These restrictions were made amid rising coronavirus infections in Austria. On Sunday, 9,936 cases of infection were recorded – which is the most since the outbreak.
However, the restriction on unvaccinated people has led to accusations that Austria is creating a “two-class system,” said Nikolaus Unterguggenberger (a Carinthia provincial teacher), whose family isn’t vaccinated.
He said that his two children and one of his daughters had to quit their music clubs due to lockdown rules.
“Our freedoms are being stripped away from us… “I was afraid that it would be this. But that Austria so easily passed this, that surprised me,” he added, adding that the measure had been illegalized and that he would still go out to make friends.
Yesterday’s protests were held in Vienna, with anti-lockdown activists launching a furious attack on the restrictions.
Burgenland’s 61-year old anti-vaxxer said that he could not approve of the splitting of society in two. This is definitely not good for our country. You will suffer the consequences. That is what I believe.
Markus, an anti-vaxxer of 40 years, stated that “Before Covid fundamental rights were unconditional.”