German Cities Want New Measures Against Coronavirus

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German cities want new measures against the coronavirus to contain the current outbreak as quickly as possible. The association of German cities says that action from the national government is needed before the summer holidays.

“It is clear that the current measures are not enough. The pandemic cannot continue to surprise us,” said Markus Lewe of the Association of German Cities, who is also mayor of Münster. He advocates extending free testing opportunities for Germans and maintaining the many vaccination centres. Lewe wants it to be possible for regional administrators to reintroduce the mask obligation, just like showing a corona pass for access to certain buildings.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach will meet on Friday with an expert from the Robert Koch Institut (RKI), the German National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). According to Lauterbach, there is already a rapidly increasing number of infections, he called it a summer wave.

Lauterbach said Friday that there will be no new attempt to pass a mandatory vaccination against the coronavirus in parliament. That proposal was rejected earlier this year.

The current corona rules in Germany are in effect until September 23 and are very loose. There are no limitations in everyday life.