Health ministers relax quarantine rules for schools

The majority of the health ministers of the federal states have spoken out in favor of simpler quarantine rules for corona cases in schools. In principle, quarantine should no longer be ordered for the entire class in a case, according to a decision after consultations with the federal government on Monday. Symptom-free children who are in quarantine as close contacts should be able to end this with a negative test at the earliest after five days. The chairman of the state department heads, Klaus Holetschek (CSU) from Bavaria, said that this should serve as “guard rails” for the health authorities. The decision was adopted with two countries abstaining.

So far, the countries have dealt differently with a quarantine period of 14 days if an infected child is found in a class. Sometimes only people sitting next to you are quarantined, sometimes entire classes. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn also advocated simpler rules, but at the same time insisted on protection concepts. The prerequisite is that basic rules are implemented, namely mask in the classroom, regular tests and ventilation concepts, said the CDU politician before the federal-state consultations.

The resolution available to the German Press Agency states that quarantine orders are generally to be issued “with a sense of proportion” depending on compliance with such concepts. In the interest of the most reliable classroom teaching possible, the quarantine should also be restricted to “as few people as possible”. Vaccinated and recovered people should be excluded as a matter of principle. The local health authority should take the necessary measures.

For other children in the class who are not classified as close contact persons, intensified tests should be carried out “for a certain period of time”, the decision goes on to say. In daycare centers, too, there should be quarantine “only with a sense of proportion, taking into account the concerns of the children and childcare facilities”. Here, too, it should be possible to “free yourself” from a quarantine after five days at the earliest. Before the deliberations, Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU) had campaigned for a large common line of the federal states, which would ensure a lot of acceptance among parents.

Extended range of booster vaccinations

The state health ministers also decided to expand the range of booster vaccinations. “In future, citizens over 60 years of age will be able to have a third-party vaccination after medical advice and an individual decision – but no earlier than six months after the first complete series of vaccinations,” said Holetschek. This should also be offered to care workers in old people’s and nursing homes and other facilities for vulnerable groups. Booster vaccinations are possible for people in need of care, people with immunodeficiency and those aged 80 and over, among others.

The chairman of the education union VBE, Udo Beckmann, told the German Press Agency in Berlin: “Shortening the time for a quarantine and limiting it to five days with a test helps to create transparent regulations. That reduces people’s displeasure and incomprehension. ”The actual task, however, remains to determine in a comprehensible manner and, if possible, nationwide which indicators will be used to decide who should go into quarantine.

Spahn appealed to the elderly to take responsibility

The German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine also spoke out in favor of more targeted quarantine rules in schools. Precondition is a careful control of tests, said President Jörg Dötsch in a press briefing of the Science Media Center. He also called on adults to be vaccinated. School closings have contributed to the fact that there have been less severe courses among adults. “We demand very clearly: Before a school is closed again, all other areas of public, economic and social life must also be closed.”

Spahn also appealed to the elderly to take responsibility. Children and adolescents had given up a lot in the pandemic, now they deserve to be taken into account. This includes curbing the spread of corona through caution – because there is a clear connection between the infections as a whole and the outbreak, for example in daycare centers and schools. In addition, more people should be vaccinated. “In the end, those who are not vaccinated should not bring the under 12-year-olds into a difficult situation,” said Spahn. There is no vaccine for children under 12.

According to the RKI, almost 51 million people or 61.3 percent of the population are fully vaccinated with the second syringe, which is usually necessary. About 54.7 million people or 65.8 percent of all residents have at least one vaccination. The federal government called again to use vaccination offers. “Every vaccination counts for a safe autumn and a safe winter,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert. He referred to a planned nationwide week of action from September 13th to 19th, during which vaccination opportunities are to be offered on site. (dpa)