From Monday, 27th April onwards, masks will be compulsory in every federal state in Germany except Schleswig-Holstein, which will start two days later. Wearing breathing masks and scarves is now compulsory in shops, local and long-distance public transport such as buses and trains and also at weekly markets, including in the state of Hamburg, which counted 95 corona deaths last week. However, the chairman of the board of the University Medical Center in Eppendorf is concerned about new infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus, which could reach Hamburg and other German states as a second wave of infection at the end of August or in autumn. Currently, there is sufficient capacity in the Hamburg hospitals, explains Professor Burkhard Göke from the UKE, but the situation could change negatively in the course of the year, fears the UKE CEO. The idea that an influenza A infection could couple with the Covid-19 infection is particularly frightening for the expert. He therefore urges caution and the wearing of masks to protect mouth and nose, just like Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD). Forensic expert Klaus Püschel explains, however, that so far all Covid-19 deaths in Hamburg have had pre-existing conditions. The city senate is certain that the course now taken is the right one to get out of the crisis situation well. Citizens and parliamentary groups would also support the city’s approach with a large measure of consensus. Everyone would pull together to get through the Covid 19 pandemic.
