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Corona incidence in Baden-Württemberg (©ntv)
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Corona infections in Germany are reaching new record highs every day. Today's
7-days incidence is 420. That's why I went to Freiburg's Christmas market late
this afternoon before it will be closed down. All Christmas markets are canceled in other states like Bavaria and Thürigen, with a higher incidence of Corona cases than in Baden-Württemberg.
Germany, like many countries, has an Infection Protection Act
(
Infektionsschutzgesetz). When our federal government recognized the
Corona pandemic's scope in early spring 2020, it enacted the provided epidemic
emergency.
This
epidemische Notlage involves severe
restrictions on the fundamental rights of every citizen. The government
prohibited public assemblies and imposed contact bans, curfews, and lockdowns.
Parliament (
Bundestag) was not consulted on these urgent measures and
could only approve with the necessary two-thirds majority after the fact.
With
the adverse developments of the Corona pandemic, the time-limited
epidemische Notlage was not only frequently prolonged, but the
restrictions were tightened, sometimes significantly.
Currently,
Germany is in a dramatic situation. While the old government that
was voted out of office is just managing its official business,
Olaf Scholz, the candidate for chancellor of
the traffic light coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and Liberals, wants to present
himself to parliament for the chancellor election only before
Nikolausabend (St. Nicholas Eve). What a present!
This
pending situation has to be seen against the dramatic increase
in the Corona incidence. In addition, at the beginning of September,
Jens Spahn, Minister of Public Health, had sounded, "The epidemic emergency will expire
on November 25."
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©Der Spiegel |
There was a need for urgent mending. The potential traffic light government hastily cobbled a new
Infection Protection Act, primarily giving the states more authority in
epidemiological emergencies. Since Germany, like the United States, is a
federal state, this bill indeed represents a significant step forward. On the
other hand, the Christian Democrats, now in opposition, complained that the
toolbox of possible actions against epidemics did not go far enough.
A heated debate ensued in the
Bundestag, during which the
new coalition partners finally pushed through their bill.
Yesterday was the vote in the Senate (
Bundesrat). And here, national
cohesion took precedence over party interests. Thus, although
grudgingly, the Christian-democrat-governed states voted for the new law
under one condition: On December 9, a conference of the state governors on
the epidemic situation will advise on further actions and, if necessary,
tighten the law.
This preface was quite long, but the last word for
Baden-Württemberg hasn't even been spoken. After yesterday's Senate meeting,
Governor
Winfried Kretschmann
considered the Corona situation in
The Länd dramatic. He holds out the prospect of more stringent countermeasures.
"The situation is as serious as ever in this pandemic," he said.
He announced that there would be further restrictions
beyond the Alarm level measures if the situation did not improve. These measures could be a
restricted number of people at events and confinement for the unvaccinated in
hotspots. In bars, clubs, and discos, the 2G plus rule would apply, meaning
that those who have been vaccinated or recovered will have to show the negative result of a recent Corona rapid test in addition.
A feeling of
panic is settling in Germany. Red Baron was mistaken. He didn't expect many visitors at Freiburg's Christmas market.
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I approached the Kaiser-Josef-Straße from the north. The view on
the Siegesdenkmal from the south is hidden by the Friburg's
highest Christmas tree. Note the tent for a Corona testing
station on the left. It's twilight time.
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People are standing in line on Franziskanerstrasse to getting
the
infamous wristband at the entrance to the Christmas market.
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The Rathauspaltz is crowded. Impossible to keep distances. It
is dark by now.
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Somewhat less traffic on Turmstraße.
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The Colombi-Park and the illuminated -Schlössle
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To cheer my readers up, here you may read the satirical essay in today's
Badische Zeitung:
Florian Kech's Newsreel
Despite advance warnings and in contrast to many other cities, Freiburg has
opened its Christmas market. Many guests will enter the Flaniermeile
(promenade) with an uneasy feeling in their stomachs. Before Corona, it was
different: Stomach complaints appeared only afterward.
But now, a "famous aerosol researcher" is exuding confidence and
says that it's good to get people outside.
Now we're just
waiting for the famous alcohol researcher to finally prove that the viral
load in the throat drops with every sip of mulled wine.Red Baron says, Prost! And keeps his fingers crossed.
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