Courtesy Translation: Minister of Health presents measures to combat the coronavirus in the Hessen state parliament

Courtesy Photo | Icon to accompany courtesy translations from the state of Hessen  

WIESBADEN, HESSEN, GERMANY

11.15.2021

Story by Nadine Bower 

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden   

Press Release from the Hessen State Government from 10 NOV 2021
Courtesy Translation: Nadine Bower, Public Affairs Specialist

Minister of Health presents measures to combat the coronavirus in the Hessen state parliament

"Increased protective measures are necessary to avoid overloading the health system."

Health Minister Kai Klose informed the Hessen state parliament on Wednesday about the measures taken by the state government to combat the coronavirus. He referred to the situation in the hospitals and the sharp increase in the number of patients who have to be treated for COVID-19 illness in Hessen intensive care units: "Today, this number is at 210. The vast majority of them are unvaccinated. Vaccination protects almost 90 percent against the COVID-19 illness to become so serious that one ends up in intensive care," said Klose in his speech.

In view of these figures and the steep rise in seven-day incidence values, the minister said that the state government's most important goal was preventing the overload of the health system: "Increased protective measures are necessary for this. Each time, the state government weighs up very carefully how we can balance the conflicting interests as well as possible – the protection of the people and the health system as well as social and economic activity. The fact that the measures taken are criticized is a natural part of the democratic discourse. However, it is obvious that all governments of the federal states – regardless of their political orientation – achieved largely similar results in their efforts to protect the population.

Special protection for children and young people

The state government continues to pay particular attention to enabling the school education of children and adolescents and the protection of particularly vulnerable groups, such as people who are treated in hospitals or live in old people's and nursing homes: "Here, the unvaccinated staff must be tested daily for infections, which started last Monday."

Klose mentioned that tests in other areas of life also remain an important tool in the fight against the pandemic: "In some areas, such as indoor events and leisure activities, where the 3-G rule already applies, we will in future rely on the more reliable PCR tests, which are evaluated in the laboratory in the sense of a 3-G-Plus rule." The obligation to test is also being tightened at the workplace – especially in activities with many external contacts: "All employees who have not been vaccinated or recovered and have contact with external entities at work, i.e. especially in areas with public traffic, are obliged to take advantage of the employer's test offer or otherwise test themselves at least twice a week. In this way, we also create additional safety in the workplace," said the minister.

In addition, the Minister of Health again made an appeal to the still unvaccinated Hessen citizens: "The most effective protective measure is and remains the vaccination against COVID-19. Despite a very wide range of vaccinations – many thanks to the many doctors in private practice, the company doctors, the public health service and the municipalities and many initiatives – we have still not achieved a sufficient vaccination rate. We are continuing and we are stepping up our efforts once again – but we must also take note of the fact that there are people who refuse to get vaccinated. In my view, this is unfounded and it is unfortunate, especially because these people are exposing themselves to a considerable danger. However, it is an individual decision. What not only worries me, but also annoys me, is that fears of vaccination are being exploited politically. Those who do so show that they are not up to the challenges of this serious crisis," Klose concluded.

Source: https://www.hessen.de/Presse/Gesundheitsminister-stellt-im-Hessischen-Landtag-Massnahmen-zur-Bekaempfung-des-Coronavirus-vor

• Date Taken: 11.15.2021
• Date Posted: 11.15.2021 08:02
• Story ID: 409288
• Location: WIESBADEN, HESSEN, DE