From next week people who have not been fully vaccinated will be excluded from many entertainment venues in Berlin, the city’s senate announced on Wednesday, as it expanded so-called “2G” rules that allow people to prevent entry. Two shots without stopping.
Officials said outdoor events with more than 2,000 visitors would also be off-limits to unaffiliated adults.
The move comes amid rhetoric against the illiterate from national ministers in Germany, where the vaccination rollout has fallen behind many European neighbors in the west.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a video message posted to the country’s government website late Wednesday that “in Germany, I must say unfortunately that our vaccination rate is not sufficient to prevent the rapid spread of the virus,” nationally. But urged to promote the rollout. Level.
Germany has fully vaccinated 66.7% of its population, making one in three people vulnerable.
Infections have skyrocketed in recent days; The country’s seven-day incidence rate reached 249.1 cases per 100,000 people on Thursday, up from 154.5 cases a week earlier.
Hospitalizations and deaths are at much lower levels than previous peaks, but there is growing concern about gaps in the country’s vaccination coverage as it moves into the winter months.
Health Minister Jens Spahn said the country was facing a “massive” pandemic without vaccination, an early sign that the government is directly targeting vulnerable people to join the vaccine programme.
Merkel on Wednesday called a meeting between the heads of the country’s 16 federal states “as soon as possible” to ensure “harmonious” measures at the national level. Germany’s federal state premiers are primarily responsible for imposing and lifting restrictions, but on Thursday the country’s new parliament is debating whether to move coronavirus measures from national to regional leaders.
In a hindrance to its efforts to expand the rollout, Germany’s Vaccine Committee recommended only vaccinating people under 30 with the Pfizer/Biontech COVID-19 shot, as it allowed young people to get Moderna instead of Pfizer. Gave the permission to. more cases of inflammation of the heart were observed in
In a news release Wednesday, STIKO said its recommendation applies to both initial vaccination and any potential booster jabs. “Even if another vaccine was used previously, further vaccination with Komirnati should be given [Pfizer/BioNTech],” it said.
CNN’s Martin Goilando contributed reporting.