The North Rhine-Westphalian Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) assumes that despite the likely increase in corona numbers, shops will remain open and events can take place in autumn. “With the previously known Omikron variants, mask requirements indoors and general hygiene rules are likely to play a central role,” said the minister on Thursday, according to a statement. “On the other hand, I don’t see any capacity limitations or even complete closures of offers at the moment.”
The clear goal of the state government is to avoid business closures and event bans, said Laumann. Many scientists expected the number of infections to increase again in autumn. “We have to prepare for this together with trade unions and companies,” said the minister.
The latter are already concerned about a functioning protection against infection out of self-interest, after all, a high number of infections inevitably leads to staff and production losses. Laumann hopes that the company doctors will get involved in the vaccination campaign. He also called on the federal government to clarify the revision of the Infection Protection Act as soon as possible.
Anja Weber, chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation of North Rhine-Westphalia, said according to the statement from the Ministry of Health: “It has been shown that companies with a works council have come through the current pandemic well.” (dpa)