According to Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, the corona protection rules for autumn should do without closing schools. “There will no longer be the possibility of school closures,” said the SPD politician to the ARD capital studio.
Overall, however, “many further measures” are planned for different scenarios, which the federal states and sometimes also the federal government could use. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) sees no relaxation of the situation in the Corona summer wave for the time being. After two and a half years of school under the influence of the pandemic, educational associations warn of the danger of permanent learning deficits.
Lauterbach said with a view to autumn that high numbers of cases can be expected for many months. In order to prepare protective measures, he is negotiating with Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) about a “very good package” that should be presented soon. “We will have what we need.”
This is about follow-up regulations of the Corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act, which expire on September 23. They are the legal basis for measures taken by the federal states and list possible instruments. In the spring, they were severely reduced under pressure from the FDP. General mask requirements when shopping or for events and access rules such as 2G and 3G were eliminated.
Focus on Long Covid
Lauterbach announced an educational campaign that would focus on Long Covid – i.e. longer-lasting symptoms after infections. Many younger people think that this is only an issue for older people, but this perception of risk is incorrect. “One bad breath can ruin your life.” Vaccinations could reduce the risk of Long Covid.
In younger people, Long Covid shows up with concentration problems and exhaustion, which can also affect the practice of work. Lauterbach appealed to the states to use more air filters in schools.
The RKI now gave the seven-day incidence as 607.0 – after 630.4 reported new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days the day before. However, the incidence only provides a very incomplete picture of the number of infections, if only because not all infected people do PCR tests, which are only included in the statistics. The health authorities have now reported 84,798 new infections in one day. 153 other deaths were also registered within one day.
The RKI continues to expect infections, especially among older people, and more intensive care in clinics, as the weekly report shows. The infection pressure remains high in all age groups. This also puts a strain on the health system. With the nationwide seven-day incidence, “a sideways movement rather than a downward trend can be observed”. The RKI calls for “absolutely” complying with the recommendations for avoiding infection.
Warning of permanent educational deficits
With regard to schools, education experts warn of persistent learning deficits. “The deficits that accumulated among many students due to the cancellation of classes and distance learning in the Corona years are still significant,” said the President of the German Teachers’ Association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, the editorial network Germany. “Politicians are currently glossing over this fact by lowering requirements, facilitating exams and making it difficult or even prohibiting sitting down.”
A regular study (IQB education trend) presented by the Conference of Ministers of Education at the beginning of the month showed, for example, that elementary school children are increasingly having math and German problems and that their skills have fallen significantly in a ten-year comparison. According to the authors, the corona restrictions in schools are “at least partly” responsible for this.
