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| Germany New Covid Rules |
New rules are coming into force as Germany continues its battle against the coronavirus. Infection rates remain stable and many are ready to reopen — but 3 million remain unvaccinated, and health experts are still wary.
Among people over the age of 60, 3 million remain unvaccinated. Pressure to change that is mounting, yet falling just short of implementing an actual vaccine requirement. Much of public life in Germany now requires proof of test, vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. In some places, only the latter two will do.
As of Monday, the cost of rapid antigen tests is no longer covered by the state. That means unvaccinated people may be out €10 to €25 ($11 to $29) every time they want to join public life, for example to go a restaurant or get a haircut.
Starting November 1, unvaccinated people will not receive compensation for lost pay if coronavirus measures force them to quarantine.
The loss of earnings for all citizens who have to quarantine and cannot work because of a suspected or actual coronavirus infection has, until now, been covered by the state.
Despite fears over a potential spike in COVID-19, Health Minister Jens Spahn has defended the move. "Why should others pay for the fact that someone has decided not to be vaccinated?" he said.
He did stress, however, that it is still the right of every citizen to choose not to get vaccinated. His center-right Christian Democrat party (CDU) has staunchly opposed compulsory vaccinations across the board.
"It is not about pressure, it is about fairness," said Spahn.
Getting the unvaccinated to change their tune "makes a lot of epidemiological sense," Berit Lange, an epidemiologist at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, told DW. "We'll have to see if it works."
Targeted efforts are key, she added, to find out why people still have not gotten their shotand what can be done to encourage them.
"It's very difficult to say where exactly we are in this pandemic. Globally, we can assume it will go on another two to four years," said Lange. "What we do know is that there is not enough immunity in Germany to avoid serious outbreaks that burden hospitals."
