Mayor Gerlitz calls on the state to make greater efforts to contain the pandemic

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I and the entire crisis team of the city of Jena are extremely concerned about the acutely worsening infection situation in Thuringia. While in most federal states there has at least been some stabilization of the infection rate since the start of the lockdown on November 2, the situation is escalating in large parts of the Free State. In no other federal state have the number of cases risen as rapidly since November as in Thuringia. At the same time, however, it is also Thuringia that has repeatedly irritated with special approaches in the agreements between the Minister Presidents and the Federal Chancellor on containment measures. To date, Thuringia has not introduced any state-wide mandatory contact restrictions in private spaces, which is why the prospect of "no easing" over the Christmas holidays is completely inadequate.

Discussions with other crisis teams from Thuringian cities and districts have shown that the additional containment measures recommended by the state in areas with higher incidences are often not applied by general decree. This also results in a patchwork that is incomprehensible to citizens and cannot be justified epidemiologically, as the incidence of infection in Thuringia is far too high across the board. The highest mortality rate of coronavirus infections in Germany also suggests that either communal facilities such as nursing homes are not adequately protected in Thuringia or that the number of unreported infections is significantly higher here than in the rest of Germany. Furthermore, Thuringia's refusal to join the nationwide extension of the Christmas vacations is in no way comprehensible and the reference to parents' childcare problems is far too short-sighted. If the vacations are extended as planned, it is still possible for schools to organize emergency childcare - an opportunity that is increasingly dwindling due to the escalating number of infections, including among teaching staff at schools.

Over this weekend alone, a further 5 schools and 3 daycare centers in Jena have been added, some with multiple infections. The more than 500 contacts of children and educational staff to be tracked are no longer possible at the necessary speed, even for the well-positioned Jena health department with the support of the German Armed Forces. This in turn not only worsens the future incidence of infection in the facilities themselves, but also creates new secondary infections outside the facilities from these uncontrollable situations.

For this reason, I am calling on the state government to make a comprehensive and energetic effort to get to grips with the situation, which is currently deteriorating at a galloping pace. The declaration of a state of emergency, as in the Free State of Bavaria, could also be a suitable way to sensitize people in Thuringia to the new situation as quickly as possible after the state's not always clear communication on the infection situation. It must be made clear that it is not just a matter of regulations, but that each individual must now do their bit to protect their loved ones. The necessary restrictions will only become more drastic if action is not taken quickly and consistently.

It will by no means be enough to finally agree on the path described in all federal states after weeks of loose regulations. Rather, a dramatic situation with an imminent collapse of containment efforts by the regional health authorities and an overload of hospitals by the end of the year can only be averted if the state government immediately introduces much more far-reaching restrictions on public life and is able to convince the people of Thuringia of this path.

Yours sincerely

Christian Gerlitz
Mayor