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Berlin court allows anti-coronavirus measures demo to go ahead

The Berlin administrative court has overturned the ban placed on the demonstration against coronavirus regulations planned for this weekend.

Published: 28 August 2020 15:19 CEST
Berlin court allows anti-coronavirus measures demo to go ahead
20,000 people attended the protest against coronavirus measures on August 1st. Photo: DPA

Berlin city authorities earlier decided not to allow the Saturday demo to go ahead, fearing that the estimated 22,000 protesters would not stay the recommended 1.5 metres apart or comply with regulations on face masks.

READ ALSO: Berlin bans weekend demos against coronavirus measures

A court spokesman said that the protest will now be allowed to go ahead on Saturday, albeit under strict conditions.

Organisers were required to adjust the location of the main stage to ensure enough space for demonstrators. Regular loudspeaker announcements and stewards would also have to be used to enforce social distancing. 

A minimum distance of 300 meters between video walls was also required, yet without an obligation to wear a mask.

Since the controversial ban was announced earlier this week, thousands of new requests for new rallies had been submitted to authorities – these too were banned, however, on the grounds that they are intended as Ersatzdemonstrationen (replacement demonstrations).

The organisers, known as the “Querdenken 711” (Lateral Thinkers 711), also quickly appealed the decision, dubbing it as a violation of their freedom of assembly. 

The hashtag #SturmaufBerlin (Storm on Berlin) was trending on Twitter on Thursday, with many opponents of the ban encouraging protesters to mobilise by travelling to the capital, and some even calling for violence. 

State officials had originally justified the ban by arguing that demonstrators were likely to violate coronavirus rules, as they did at a previous demonstration earlier this month.

On August 1st, 20,000 protesters descended upon the capital to call for an end to coronavirus restrictions, with many deliberately ignoring social distancing regulations and refusing to wear face masks.  

The demonstration was eventually broken up by Berlin police after several warnings were issued. 

The decision to overturn the ban is not yet legally binding. It remains to be seen whether the city-state of Berlin or the organisers of the demonstration will now appeal the verdict.

Shortly before the announcement, Berlin Chief of Police Barbara Slowika confirmed that they would appeal to the Higher Administrative Court in the instance of a legal defeat. 

Berlin has seen 11,010 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, and 226 deaths as a result of the virus, according to local health authorities.

READ ALSO: Berlin protest against coronavirus measures draws 20,000

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HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Published: 20 September 2023 12:05 CEST
Updated: 20 September 2023 22:22 CEST
Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

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