As of: 08/22/2021 8:15 a.m.
In the live ticker, NDR.de will inform you today – on Sunday, August 22, 2021 – about the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg. For reading: Saturday’s blog.
The essentials in brief:
- Five Spanish holiday regions no longer high-risk areas
- Confirmed new corona infections in the north: 196 in Schleswig-Holstein, 501 in Lower Saxony; nationwide 7,050
Tables and graphics: This is how the vaccination campaign is going in the north
Map: New infections in the northern German districts
07:55 am
Lambrecht considers state restrictions for unvaccinated people to be unconstitutional
Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD) has expressed concerns about plans in individual federal states to allow freedoms only for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered in the fall. “Any interference with civil liberties must be well-founded and proportionate,” she told the “Welt am Sonntag”. “I don’t see how such a severe restriction could be justified with infection control.” It makes a difference whether a restaurateur only wants to serve vaccinated and convalescent people within the scope of his contractual freedom, or whether the state specifies something like that. An employer is also not allowed to fire an employee if he refuses to be vaccinated. “But it is entirely conceivable that the employer could assign these unvaccinated workers other duties,” she added. Another lockdown or the reissue of the federal emergency limit are no longer conceivable, said the Justice Minister of the newspaper. “I cannot imagine a new lockdown. It would hardly be justifiable if a large part of the population is vaccinated.”
07:16 am
Five Spanish holiday regions no longer high-risk areas
Since midnight, five popular holiday regions in Spain have been removed from the list of the federal government as high-risk areas. These include Catalonia with the metropolis of Barcelona, the Canaries, Valencia, Castile-La Mancha and Asturias. In the Canary Islands, the seven-day incidence fell within three weeks from 250 to 98, in Catalonia from 413 to 122, in Valencia from 259 to 106. For those who have not been vaccinated or who have not recovered from these areas, the obligation to return to Germany will initially be quarantined for ten days.
Other Spanish regions that are heavily dependent on tourism, such as the Balearic Islands with the popular island of Mallorca or Andalusia with the Costa del Sol, as well as the capital Madrid, remain high-risk areas.
However, Spain sees all of Germany as a risk area due to the rising number of infections of tomorrow. This reclassification is initially valid for seven days. This means that all immigrants from Germany aged twelve and over must present proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test by midnight on August 29th.
07:11 am
Altmaier does not expect a further lockdown – but with 3G rules
The number of infections is rising again nationwide – nevertheless, Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) rules out that there will be another general lockdown. “After everything we know today, we can avoid a new lockdown for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered. And that also means that restaurants and shops can stay open in winter,” said the CDU politician of the Funke media group. However, he thinks it is realistic that organizers or restaurateurs only grant entry to vaccinated, convalescent or tested people.
07:06 am
Pent-up demand – learner drivers are waiting for exam dates
Learner drivers in Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein often have to wait a long time for an exam. “Due to the Corona, we currently have many full driving schools,” said Dieter Quentin from the Lower Saxony Driving Instructors Association. Since classes were completely canceled for more than two months during the first lockdown, there is now a lot of catching up to do. As a result, exam dates are currently tight. Another reason for the traffic jam is an extension of the test time. “Since the beginning of the year, the practical test has been ten minutes longer. Therefore, of course, a driver examiner can conduct fewer tests per day,” said Quentin. According to TÜV-Nord, the number of tests at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 had decreased by around ten percent. Reasons for this could be financial worries due to short-time work or the fear of being infected during the driving lessons. In the current year it has risen again by around ten percent compared to the previous year. Especially in the regions around Hanover, Lüneburg and Bremen you have to wait a long time for an examination date. An end to the exam backlog is not yet in sight. Quentin cautiously estimates that the situation could ease somewhat towards the end of the year. “Then there are, for example, fewer two-wheeler tests due to the weather.” “TÜV currently has scheduling problems nationwide,” admitted Rainer Camen from the TÜV Nord Group. Reasons include the increased number of people interested in driving licenses, more repeat exams and an extension of the examination times.
6:52 am
Incidence in Lower Saxony rises to 39.5
The authorities have reported 501 new corona cases in Lower Saxony (previous day: 521; previous week: 295). This increases the seven-day incidence to 39.5 (previous day: 37.2; previous week: 35). No other coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded.
6:51 am
Nationwide incidence rises to 54.5
The seven-day incidence continues to rise. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), it is 54.5 – the previous day the value was 51.6, a week ago 35. The health authorities in Germany reported 7,050 new infections to the RKI within one day. A week ago, the value for Germany was 4,728 infections. Three deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. There were also three deaths a week ago. The number of people who died with or with a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 rose to 91,976.
06:50 am
Schleswig-Holstein: Incidence increases from 48.8 to 49.6
The seven-day incidence in Schleswig-Holstein has increased slightly. Currently, the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week is 49.6 – after 48.8 yesterday. Exactly a week ago the number was 48.7. This can be seen from the data from the state registration office. 196 new infections were reported nationwide within one day – yesterday there were 222, today a week ago 177. 63 Covid-19 patients are currently being treated in the hospitals. That’s 23 more than a week ago. 16 of them were in intensive care. Another person died in connection with a corona infection. Neumünster is now the leader in the country’s incidence value – with a value of 94.3. In Dithmarschen the value is 90.8, in Flensburg it is 83.2. The Ostholstein district had the lowest seven-day incidence – at 21.4.
6:45 am
Millions of dollars in damage through fraud in Corona aid funds in Lower Saxony
The public prosecutor’s offices in Lower Saxony took stock: 14 million euros in corona aid for companies were wrongly paid out through fraud. There were more than 1,600 fraud investigations by the end of June, a good third of which ended with a criminal warrant.
VIDEO: Corona compact: Fraud with Corona aid (2 min)
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06:40 am
Service: Determine the incidence value for your place of residence
The seven-day incidence of new corona infections is also on the move in northern Germany. If you want to know what the incidence is in your city or in your county, just type in your zip code here:
06:35 am
NDR.de live ticker starts on Sunday
The editors of NDR.de wish you a good morning and a nice day! We will keep you up to date on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in northern Germany on Sunday, August 22nd. In the ticker you will find all the important news and also content from the NDR radio and television programs.
FAQ, podcast and background
