How to deal with the Corona rules will continue to be discussed. The obligation to isolate infected people is passé in the first federal states, mask rules on buses and trains are crumbling. Thuringia's Prime Minister sees fundamental problems.
Erfurt (dpa/th) - Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) is calling for corrections to be made to the German Infection Protection Act. In the past few months, it has been shown that the responsibilities of the federal states and municipalities must be regulated more clearly and their scope increased, Ramelow told the German Press Agency in Erfurt. "The federal government lets us act, but doesn't give us the tools we need." He considers the positions of Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschman (FDP) to be particularly problematic.
"The law must be opened," said the left-wing politician. It is not practicable that the federal states first have to bring about parliamentary resolutions in order to make regulations in the event of danger. It is important that the municipal health authorities can develop local strategies. "There must be a level of action and not wait for a state parliament decision." In his opinion, the health ministers of the federal states should above all keep an eye on the situation in the hospitals and the risk of the health system being overloaded.
As long as this is not regulated, he will not complain about deadlines for wearing a mask on buses and trains or isolation requirements, said Ramelow. He had not approved the Infection Protection Act in the Bundesrat. Among other things, Ramelow was of the opinion that with the failure of a general corona vaccination obligation in Germany, there should also be no institution-related vaccination obligation.
In the opinion of the Thuringian head of government, passages of the Infection Protection Act must not only be checked with a view to Corona, but also possible other massive health risks. "This is a permanent construction site."
The federal states are currently acting differently despite the high number of infections and deaths. The obligation to isolate infected people is a thing of the past in the first federal states, mask rules on buses and trains are crumbling, free quick tests are being reduced.
Thuringia has already extended its corona rules in the Free State until February 3 - including the obligation to wear masks in local public transport and the obligation to isolate people infected with corona. According to the Ministry of Health, there could be possible easing in March.
