By Thorsten Koch
GermanPolicy.com

The Federal Government and representatives of the Federal States decided this week that persons not vaccinated against Covid-19 will have to pay for rapid concerning the disease out of their own pocket from October 11. Only this way will they be allowed to participate in public life. Unvaccinated people who want to visit hairdressers or restaurants are affected, for example. Exceptions should apply to children and persons affected by illnesses not permitting them to get vaccinated. Chancellor Angela Merkel announced this after a video conference on Tuesday.

For indoor events, unvaccinated people must show a negative Covis-19 test from 23 August when an incidence of 35 or more is reached. In addition, the Bundestag is asked to prolong the epidemic situation of national scope. So far, it is valid until September 11th. Merkel said that vaccinations should be promoted more widely.

The FDP chairman Lindner deplored it was not useful if young people switched to the private space. Other opposition politicians criticized the lack of an overview of the infection process without tests continuing to be free for everyone. However, SPD candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had campaigned for an end of generally free tests on the grounds that the public should not pay for unvaccinated people on the long term. “There shouldn’t be another lockdown,” he hoped.

The first to have called for an end to tests free to everyone was candidate for Chancellor Armin Laschet (CDU). “People who have been vaccinated must not have any disadvantages just because others are perhaps too comfortable to get vaccinated,” he emphasized. “The state must not exclude those who have been vaccinated, recovered or tested from participating in social life,” he added. CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak asked the population: “Please get vaccinated.”