From Hildburg Bruns
Is the mask coming back or not?
In a week, the Senate will pass a new corona regulation that will apply from October 29th. But for days there has been criticism of the responsible senator’s unauthorized advance
“We agree that masks are a very effective tool. But we have to take people with us and justify the measures,” demands Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz (57, independent).
Health Senator Ulrike Gote (57, Greens) has not yet done this homework.
Nevertheless, she is pushing for the 2nd stage of her three-stage action plan to be declared: Masks must be worn in certain areas that are open to the public – in shops, universities, VHS, museums, libraries, as well as on city tours and boat trips.
► When should this mask requirement be declared? When many corona patients are in clinics and high levels of sick leave and staff shortages collide.
► The fact is: at least the number of available intensive care beds has shrunk. Instead of 1400 at the peak in 2020, there are now only 1000.
The number of corona patients in hospitals has doubled in just 16 days. If the pace stays the same, 1,340 Covid-19 cases in hospital beds can be expected by the end of October – exceeding the peak of December 29, 2020. A spokesman for the health administration: “Now it is particularly important to protect the people who protect us.”
FDP parliamentary group leader Sebastian Czaja (39): “We need to deal with the situation responsibly and not scaremongering.”