Almost 30,000 infected, 857 dead – still rampant Corona in NRW and makes a return to normal impossible.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel: measures to contain the global pandemic are taking effect. Since Monday are the strict rules to combat Corona in NRW somewhat relaxed.
Corona in NRW: All news, developments and figures here in the live blog
What’s next? Can the number of infections be reduced further despite open business? Where can i shop Is there still a mouth protection obligation?
Many questions about the dangerous virus are still unanswered. Here in the live blog we keep you up to date on all developments regarding Corona in NRW. Case numbers, news, backgrounds – you won’t miss anything here.
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Everything you need to know about Corona in NRW and Germany:
>> All developments regarding the corona virus in You can find out about Germany and worldwide HERE.
>> You suspect Corona? You should do that now!
>> What does the ban on contact mean for me? What is allowed and what is prohibited?
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Latest news about Corona in NRW in the live blog
+++ Update live blog here +++
Monday April 20th
9:20 pm: Bochum relaxes rules for funerals
The city of Bochum has relaxed the rules for funerals. Provided that the hygiene rules and the minimum distance of 1.5 meters are observed, more than ten people are now allowed to be buried and given dead. However, the municipal mourning hall is still closed, so funerals can only be held outdoors. The city announced this on Monday.
So far, a total of 408 citizens in Bochum have tested positive for the corona virus. Of these, 299 have recovered, 94 are still infected. 15 people died as a result of the virus.
8.30 p.m .: Survey: 70 percent satisfied with state government
Many citizens consider the black and yellow state government to be competent in the Corona crisis. According to a survey by infratest dimap for the WDR, 70 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with the work of the CDU / FDP government. This is the best value a state government has ever achieved in 20 years. Prime Minister Armin Laschet is also popular with the population.
6.45 p.m .: Police: fewer violations of corona requirements
The police in NRW registered fewer violations of the corona requirements at the weekend. According to the NRW Interior Ministry, the officials had to intervene less than on Easter weekend. There were 1,213 administrative offenses and 38 crimes from Friday to Sunday. On the other hand, 1,734 administrative offenses were reported and 68 criminal complaints were filed over Easter
5:30 p.m .: NRW Ministry of Health: almost 30,000 infected, over 850 dead
According to the Ministry of Health, 28,935 people in North Rhine-Westphalia have been infected with the coronavirus. 857 of them died from the disease. 18,234 are considered recovered. However, there is no obligation to register.
5:00 p.m .: State government does not want to introduce a mask requirement
According to Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia will not impose a protective mask requirement. Laumann in the “Rheinische Post”: “North Rhine-Westphalia follows the decision made by the federal and state governments last week: We strongly recommend that people – especially in local public transport and when shopping in retail stores – use everyday or community masks.” However, a recommendation is not an order.
4.35 p.m .: Warning of bankruptcy! IHK NRW sounds the alarm
The IHK NRW, the union of all 16 chambers of industry and commerce in NRW, warns of an unprecedented wave of bankruptcies. The travel and catering trade and the retail trade in particular are in a situation threatening their very existence. Ralf Mittelstädt, Managing Director of IHK NRW: “The feedback from the travel and hospitality industry as well as the retail trade is more than alarming. Because despite the lack of sales, fixed costs such as rents and salaries still have to be paid. ”
The drop in sales will not be caught up in the short term. The partial openings would not change that much either. Mittelstädt continues: “A short-term reopening is not so easy for every company. For example, new goods first have to be purchased and personnel requirements planned. Added to this are the necessary protective and hygienic measures. “
In view of the fact that sales are still missing for many companies, they are once again dependent on direct support. Because without a prospect of restarting, loans and guarantees only increase debts. Mittelstädt: “We are very concerned about the companies. These companies, as well as the dealers, who are still not allowed to open today, now need a uniform, fair and implementable exit plan while complying with the necessary protection and hygiene measures. “
4:00 p.m .: Centro Oberhausen: shops open – manager amazed: “Hadn’t expected that”
For weeks now, there has been a ghostly atmosphere in the Centro Oberhausen. With a few exceptions, all stores were closed to contain the coronavirus. With the relaxation of the corona measures, new rules apply. Since then, shops with an area of up to 800 square meters have been allowed to open again – with some surprising effects. >> HERE YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE STORY!
3.30 p.m .: 780,000 students start in the summer semester
In NRW, just under 780,000 students at 70 universities started the 2020 summer semester. Matthias Jaroch from the German University Association to the German Press Agency: “Both teachers and students need great flexibility and creativity. The face-to-face classes are completely canceled, but we are confident that digital operations will go well. ”
2:50 p.m .: Münster announces details on mask duty
Now there are also details about the mask requirement in Münster. The crisis team decided to take this measure because more people have been walking in the city center since the reopening of smaller shops. “But it can also be a scarf or a scarf over your mouth,” said the spokeswoman for the city.
Anyone who violates the obligation to wear a mask may be expelled from shops or buses. Fines were initially not planned. So far, the citizens have complied with the applicable distance rules. It is assumed that they are now also fulfilling the obligation to cover their mouths and noses when shopping or driving a bus.
From next week on, in Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as in Saxony, a mask will be mandatory. Several cities in other federal states now also stipulate the wearing of everyday masks.
1.30 p.m .: Münster also introduces a mask requirement
After Dorsten, Münster has now announced that it will introduce a mask requirement. The head of the city crisis team confirmed the “Westphalian News” on Monday afternoon. The mask requirement is to come into force next Monday (April 27), details will be announced later today.
12.45 p.m .: New pandemic law invalid?
The SPD believes that the pandemic law for NRW passed a few days ago is invalid. In the promulgated legal text, a passage that the CDU, FDP, SPD and Greens had decided in the state parliament had been dropped. “As a result, all official orders and measures that were instigated in the past week in trust in this law have been carried out without a legal reason,” said a letter from SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Kutschaty to the state parliament president.
“I can’t predict the consequences. However, they can be serious, ”according to information from the German Press Agency in Kutschaty’s letter of Monday. On Sunday, he urged Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) “to completely redraft and announce the law as soon as possible”.
10.45 a.m .: City of Dorsten introduces a mandatory mask
Dorsten is the first NRW city to introduce a mask requirement! This initially applies in municipal administration buildings and at the recycling center, from Thursday then also in all day care centers in the city, but only for adults. From Tuesday, the approximately 1200 employees of the city administration would basically only enter the buildings with a mouth-and-nose protection (MNS) until further notice, the city said. The regulation also applies to citizens. Citizens without their own mouth and nose protection can buy a disposable MNS for the price of one euro at the entrance to the respective administration building.
“We have to realize that the corona crisis is not over yet. Therefore, it is still important to do everything possible to break possible chains of infection. And mouth-nose protection is a suitable means of doing this, ”the mayor explained.
10 a.m .: Laschet defends easing after criticism of Merkel
NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet has defended the further easing in his state after the sharp criticism from Chancellor Angela Merkel. North Rhine-Westphalia is the country of kitchen builders, Laschet said on Monday, according to participants in a switching conference of the CDU Presidium on Monday. Other participants also said that Laschet fundamentally supported Merkel.
The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia had announced, among other things, that furniture stores and baby specialty stores were to be opened in the first step. Merkel had previously criticized the discussions on further easing of restrictions in the fight against the coronavirus exceptionally sharply in the CDU Presidium. According to DPA information from participants, Merkel made it clear how dissatisfied she was that the message of cautious easing in some countries had led to “opening discussions”. This greatly increases the risk of relapse.
9.15 a.m .: Universities start the summer semester
The summer semester starts for hundreds of thousands of students at the universities in North Rhine-Westphalia – due to the corona pandemic, however, only online. Until face-to-face events at the 70 North Rhine-Westphalian universities are possible again, many students in the state will largely sit in front of the screen in the video chat instead of in the lecture hall.
8.40 a.m .: Greens call for rescue parachutes for municipalities
The Greens in NRW have called for a rescue package for cities and municipalities in crisis. In a conversation with the “Neue Westfälische”, the state chair of the Greens, Mona Neubaur, said that the municipalities would be “hit hard” by the crisis and would require “at least eight billion euros in fresh money”. The black and yellow state government should “now give them security and, in addition to the rescue umbrella for the economy, one for the cities and municipalities.”
7.40 a.m .: Vortex around mask requirement at NRW school
As of today, school operations in NRW will be gradually reactivated, and schools should be made corona-fit by the first lesson on Thursday. Sufficient wash basins, disinfectants and seating arrangements with distance maintenance are not enough for a rector in Hürth.
The head of the Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium now informed the parents via email about a mask requirement. The mouthguard should therefore be distributed at the entrance before washable masks are to be used the following week. The “Express” reports.
6.20 a.m .: First easing from today
Good Morning! From today, the first easing of the strict anti-corona measures is taking effect in Germany. Many shops are allowed to open again, and the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia went one step further than the states had decided at the conference. Where you can shop again from today you can find out here >>
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Sunday April 19th
10:50 p.m .: Illegal demonstration in Cologne
Around 20 people gathered for a demonstration in Cologne on Sunday afternoon. This was directed against the overriding of basic laws as a result of the Infection Act, which allows the government to restrict the right of assembly, for example.
As the “picture“Reported, the chairwoman of the meeting received a violation of the right to hold meetings, and 20 others received fines. In recent days there have been demonstrations across Germany against the far-reaching restrictions. Some media, such as “Belltower news“Imputed to be close to conspiracy theorists. The term “transverse front” also comes up because people from the left and right spectrum gathered.
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(red / dpa)
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