The Chalice Passed Once

Because of Corona in Freiburg, Kieser gym still drives auf Sicht, i.e., at a distance where you can clearly see the road ahead.

Falling or stabilizing?

In Freiburg on Saturday, April 24, the corona incidence rate of 103.8 infections per 100,000 people exceeded 100, followed by 102.5 the next day; Red Baron feared the Bundesnotbremse would come into force, and Kieser gym would shut down.

But on April 26, when the incidence rate was only 98.2, the condition of three consecutive days above 100 was not met. 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 now know that Covid-19 is transmitted via aerosols through prolonged or intense exposure in poorly ventilated rooms.

At Kieser's gym, people keep distance, wear masks, and keep windows wide open. Every time I exercise, I fear that I will catch a cold instead of the coronavirus. But this feeling is unfounded, for people's increased attention to hygiene rules has kept seasonal flu-like infections to a minimum.


Another topic is 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 she is pleased the government is giving recovered and fully vaccinated people more freedom, 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.

**