The Chalice Passed Once

Due to Corona at Freiburg, Kieser gym still drives auf Sicht, i.e., within a sufficient distance or an assured clear vision.

Falling or stabilizing?

When in Freiburg on Saturday, April 24, the corona incidence rate of 103,8 infections per 100,000 people exceeded 100, followed by a value of 102.5 the following day, Red Baron feared that the Bundesnotbremse would come into force and Kieser gym would shut down.

But when on April 26, the incidence rate was only 98.2, the condition of three consecutive days above 100 was not fulfilled. The counter was reset, or the chalice had passed for the first and hopefully last time.

Red Baron is frustrated, for the Bundesnotbremse measures everything by the same yardstick. As I wrote before, Kieser gym is no source of infection. We know by now that the transmission of Covid-19 goes via aerosols with prolonged or intense exposures in ill-ventilated rooms.

At Kieser's gym, distances are kept, masks are worn, and windows are wide open. Every time I exercise, I fear that I will catch a cold instead of the coronavirus. But this feeling is untrue, for the peoples' increased observation of hygiene rules made that seasonal flu-like infections were at a minimum.


There is another topic presently raising tempers in Germany. The government hesitates to issue a decree with the nice, prosaic title in German: "Verordnung zur Regelung von Erleichterungen und Ausnahmen von Schutzmaßnahmen zur Verhinderung der Verbreitung von Covid-19 or short Covid-19-Schutzmaßnahmen-Ausnahmenverordnung – SchAusnahmV (Ordinance on the Regulation of Facilitations and Exemptions from Safeguards to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19, i.e., Covid-19 Safeguards Exemptions Ordinance)."

This Safeguard Ordinance states in glorious detail that vaccinated and recovered persons will be able "to enter stores, visit zoos and botanical gardens, or use the services of hairdressers and chiropodists, e.g., without prior testing."

In addition, contact restrictions are to be relaxed, and exit restrictions will be lifted. However, the obligation to wear a mask in certain places and the distance requirement in public spaces will continue to apply to everyone.

Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said that she is pleased that the government gives more freedom to recovered and fully vaccinated people liberating them from "far-reaching restrictions on fundamental rights."

Suppose there is no longer any reason for the restrictions, i.e., protection against infection. In that case, Christine affirmed, "Constitutional principles must apply, especially in times of crisis and pandemic."

If parliament (Bundestag) and the Senate (Bundesrat) agree, the Ordinance could come into force next weekend.

N.B. This is my 800th blog.

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