In schools, recreational facilities and vaccination centers: vaccination of children should start in Berlin on December 15th – Berlin
The managing Senator for Health Dilek Kalayci (SPD) is cautiously optimistic about the corona situation in Berlin. After the Senate meeting on Tuesday, she said the seven-day incidence in Berlin was 337 per 100,000 inhabitants, well below the national average. This applies to all age groups.
22.3 percent of the intensive care beds are occupied by corona patients. 230 intensive care patients “mean a doubling in the last four weeks”. Three quarters of intensive care patients are unvaccinated. The weekly death rate was long in double digits and recently low to a single digit.
As a major city, Berlin is structurally a hotspot for infection. In this respect, the relatively low incidence shows that the right measures have been taken – for example by massively promoting booster vaccinations. In the past week, almost 250,000 people were vaccinated – an increase of 22 percent compared to the week.
“Thank you very much,” Kalayci said not only to the partner in the vaccination campaign, but also to all Berliners who accepted the state’s offers. The staff for vaccination management has already been increased significantly, but more helpers are needed. New vaccination points are to open in the Spandau-Arkaden and near the Hotel Estrel in Neukölln.
However, Berlin recently received significantly less Biontech vaccine than ordered from the federal government. According to Kalayci, 30,600 cans had been ordered for the last two weeks. 14,640 cans were delivered for the past week and 6510 cans for the current one. The Biontech vaccine is needed for those under 30 and for pregnant women. Moderna vaccine is enough.
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Also from December 15th Children aged five to eleven be vaccinated – both in schools and leisure facilities as well as in the vaccination centers, in which booths are to be installed for this purpose. For Thursday, the Senate expects a decision by the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) on whether vaccinations are recommended for four to eleven year olds.
Restaurants should not be closed
The restaurants in Berlin should remain open unless the situation worsens dramatically. Before the closure would be necessary, according to Kalayci, “further escalation levels” such as compulsory testing are also possible for vaccinated and convalescent people, as well as the arrangement of distance rules. This also applies to bars and clubs if they open “under catering conditions” – that is, without dancing.
In general, however, the recommendation still applies to reduce contacts to a minimum. Around Christmas time, due to the upcoming celebrations, an increase in the number of infections can be expected anyway, which will be delayed and also noticeable in the symptoms. Therefore, they urgently ask people to avoid big celebrations at Christmas and New Year’s Eve, said Kalayci. “Please use the time to slow down.”
According to the Senator, there have been three confirmed cases and one suspicion of the omicron variant of the virus in Berlin. The three confirmed cases concern two returnees from South Africa and a contact person.