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German lawmakers approve stricter COVID measures | DW News

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Lawmakers in Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, voted on Friday in favor of updating Germany's infection protection law in a bid to curb the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in the country. Among the measures is Germany's first coronavirus vaccine mandate — currently limited to health workers. A few hours later, the new measures were given the green light from the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's newly inaugurated government has made combating the pandemic a priority, as concerns over a new spike in cases grow as the Christmas holidays draw closer. The changes include measures aimed at getting people vaccinated and speeding up the booster shot campaign — and are initially valid until March 15, 2022. Medical workers in hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' offices, facilities for people with disabilities and other health facilities will now be asked to show proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. Only health workers who can provide a medical reason for not getting the jab will be exempt from the mandate.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is an epidemiologist, said it was unacceptable that some people at hospitals and care homes are still not vaccinated. "This vaccine mandate is necessary because it's completely unacceptable that, after two years of pandemic, people who have entrusted their care to us are dying unnecessarily in institutions because unvaccinated people work there,'' he said. "We cannot accept this." Andrew Ullmann, an MP with the Free Democrats (FDP) who are part of the new governing coalition, emphasized that while personal freedom is paramount, "freedom always comes with responsibility." "We have to be aware that we have a responsibility that comes with the freedom and that responsibility is for other people to be sure that they are safe," Ullmann, who is a physician, told DW. "This means that our hospitals are not overwhelmed by the cases of COVID-19." German lawmakers are set to debate another, likely more contentious bill in the coming weeks on a vaccine mandate that would apply to everyone.

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Europe
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DW News, covid germany, coronavirus
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