On 27 January 2020, the first case in Germany was confirmed near Munich, Bavaria. Resistance is growing among German teachers and pupils against this irresponsible policy, which threatens to turn schools into new hotspots of COVID-19. No matter where they are, Germans are still being encouraged to keep 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) away from people they don't live with. Germany recorded another 20,200 new Covid cases over the past 24 hours, reaching a total of 1,320,716 cases, according to data published Sunday. Berlin police said dozens of officers were injured — and three were hospitalized — while dispersing some 20,000 people protesting anti-pandemic measures. The figure is under 1 percent in Germany, as it is in a handful of other nations and in New York State. "We must distinguish between what makes sense locally and what needs to be applied statewide," says school principal Langner. 70 cases of COVID-19 at French schools days after re-opening. This week some students were allowed back to school. This is why the states and the federal government have agreed to move primary school teachers and nursery school and primary school employees into a higher priority group for vaccinations. Germany is the only major country in Europe in which the number of people dying of or with Covid-19 has been steadily climbing since November, surpassing the peak seen in the spring. RKI president Lothar Wieler said it was important to keep certain groups together and others apart to minimize the risk of infection and improve tracing capabilities in the event of one. The COVID-19 pandemic in Germany is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Its state governments would like to start reopening them, but Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to wait until covid … Schools are considered lower-risk. Most of them were happy to go. Most areas of Germany are targeting May 4 as the day to open schools more widely, but Bavaria, one of the hardest hit states, will wait until May 11. Read more: Germany to get tough on COVID-19 rule breakers. Classes are being scheduled on a staggered basis. Schoolchildren participate in a lesson at Gustav-Falke elementary school, after it reopened according to first measures to lift the Covid-19 lockdown in … Germany has coronavirus testing in schools. Contact That leads to a range of different responses to the coronavirus crisis. "We have made quite a few preparations," school principal Frank Langner told DW. Pediatricians observe deteriorating health conditions and a dramatic increase in behavioral disorders. Nice to see you again.". We use cookies to improve our service for you. Germany closed its schools from December 16th until at least February 15th. The individual courses have also been spread over two classrooms. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. Some 152,700 students at 563 schools are to return to normal school life for the first time since schools and day care centers were closed nationwide in mid-March owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online classes for homeschooling, dubbed "distance learning" by the relevant authorities, is to be avoided in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Schools Will Close in Germany as Cases Surge Even in a country once seen as a success story, the second wave is taking a toll on education By Amelia Nierenberg and Adam Pasick In these and other states people will be able to visit museums again. And fewer than 20 of those tested had antibodies in their blood, which usually indicates an infection in the past. There are also €10 million ($11.7 million) from the federal government's so-called Digital Pact to be spent. Summer holidays are staggered in Germany, so not all 16 federal states go on vacation at the same time, clogging the nation's airports and famed autobahns. Some federal states have already drawn up concrete plans to inoculate teachers. That means the risk of infection hangs over every hour at the school. Germany: COVID-19 cases rise as schools reopen. The 16 individual states are responsible for lifting their lockdowns. Kiess says children are not especially prone to getting or passing on infections and that this is why he is against large-scale closures to deal with isolated outbreaks. School holidays accounted for up to half of the increase in Covid-19 infections in Germany over the summer Thomas Plümper, Eric Neumayer 16 November 2020 Exploiting the staggered nature of school holidays in Germany, this column estimates the effect of school holidays on growth in infections across the country Germany. Around 400 of the state's 13,000 teachers are considered at high risk for COVID-19 and will, therefore, work from home. At least 41 schools in Berlin have reported students or teachers are infected with the coronavirus — not even two weeks after they reopened in the German capital. All of Germany is looking toward the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the coming days. ); No kindergarten or school, no play dates or sports — the corona crisis has dramatic consequences for children. Animals have had a month off as zoos and safari parks were closed by Germany's lockdown. on the threshold of a third wave of infections. AstraZeneca is indeed a potential solution to the dilemma. Each year has been split up into two groups called cohorts, each with 70 to 75 students. After a month of life under lockdown, Germans are regaining a few freedoms. But they are doing so in patchwork fashion. AstraZeneca jabs will soon be available to all adults, after German officials lifted … A lifestyle store in Ludwigsburg, Saxony-Anhalt, put up a banner reading, "We are back! ", © 2021 Deutsche Welle | In some regions, such as the state of Thuringia, schools are reopening despite a seven-day incidence of 100 new infections per 100,000 members of the population. Two weeks after the new school year started in the capital Berlin, 38 schools have sent some students and teachers home because of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The eastern German state of Saxony … Cyclists looking for a new purchase were already lining up outside a bike shop in Dinslaken, NRW, after it reopened on Monday. Under pressure to ease Germany's virus restrictions, officials last month agreed to gradually reopen schools. Privacy Policy | He said the Teachers' Association did not make its demands until it was clear that the AstraZeneca vaccine would not be administered to senior citizens. Stores that are reopening are marking this distance in various ways to help customers keep clear of one another. As a result, many people don't show up for their appointments to be given the AstraZeneca vaccine. But some states are ready to allow visitors to return. A study of 2,000 children and teachers at a school in the German state of Saxony has found very few coronavirus antibodies among them, suggesting that schools and young people do … The authorities want a return to "normal" school life. Politicians are agreed on the need to avoid large-scale closures. A school in Rostock has stuck signs on the floor to remind students to keep a distance. There is no nationwide requirement to wear them, but some states are introducing one. In 2020, the sparsely populated region in northeastern Germany is the first to start the school year this time. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. BERLIN. The authorities say 2,000 teachers have taken part in online training courses on "digital didactics"  in recent weeks. NRW has also gone a baby-step further than other states, allowing large stores specializing in maternity products to open up. They've been back at school for real since Monday, preparing for their graduation or intermediate exams. Many doctors favor a return to as "normal" a school day as possible. In Bonn, some classes are attending school on alternating days. Teens at home under coronavirus lockdown are dealing with unprecedented uncertainty about their future. Germany is notorious for lagging behind in digitalization. Until now, they could not expect to be inoculated before early summer – and the school year would practically be over by then. In most cases, however, the schools … In the process, the ministry has called for an "increase in 'self-organized' learning, in accordance with individual progress," at the state's primary and secondary schools. This is a classic case of putting the cart before the horse," said association president Heinz-Peter Meidinger in an interview with DW. Germany is ready to hold talks on a US-backed proposal to waive patents on Covid-19 … The "cohorts" are advised to stay apart, but social distancing rules are being done away with within each group. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Education Minister Anja Karliczek held a coronavirus summit Thursday with state education ministers to discuss a spike in cases at schools, days into the start of a new academic year. "That way, we can ensure that any infections that happen are limited to one cohort. Legal notice | But there are differences from federal state to federal state. Store owners were just as delighted to welcome back customers, with some launching spring sales to try and tempt a few more inside. But it can have quite severe side-effects and is viewed with suspicion by some people. Legal notice | The authorities want a return to "normal" school life. And when Kiess says that a new lockdown would have negative psychological and physical repercussions for young people, he is speaking for many. The states of Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony are permitting older students to return on Monday for classes to prepare them for their school-leaving exams, as well as the tests themselves. Read more: Coronavirus — Children suffer most from being locked down. {} Now, students have technical troubles as schools remain closed. States have pledged to offer vaccinations to them as soon as enough doses become available. Schools throughout Germany are welcoming students back to in-person classes with measures like these since Monday. Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), was one of the states to allow stores to open right away. He said the plan had already taken infection risks into account. Very few of 2,000 schoolchildren and teachers tested in the German state of Saxony showed antibodies to Covid-19, a study has found, suggesting schools may not play as … Government press spokesman Henning Lipski said it was hoped that the class schedules would also provide a skeleton plan in the event of rising infection numbers. Germany is also working to develop a vaccine against COVID-19. Mar 13, 2020. Those back at school belong to the classes doing state exams this year. The 7-day incidence of Covid-19 infections among young people has spiked to nearly 700 in some areas of Saxony. "Some teachers are skeptical of vaccinations, too," said Meidinger. Most German schools to close over coronavirus: officials. As Germany’s first children returned to school on Monday amid rising Covid-19 infection numbers, new studies suggest it is unlikely classrooms will become new virus hotspots. This year's return to school can best be described as a large-scale experiment. The hope is that if there is an infection, only the respective "cohort" will have to be quarantined, rather than the entire school. There have been calls for teachers to be given a higher priority for vaccination. This week some students were allowed back to school. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Rhineland-Palatinate are all permitting zoos to open to some extent. As the state education ministry's decree put it: "Complementary distance learning usually takes the form of digital learning and is to be used mainly for exercises and repetition.". Calls for teachers and other school workers to be given a higher priority for vaccination have been growing louder for weeks. Contact While schools take different approaches to the reopening, there are also differences over whether it should be happening at all. News Coronavirus: Germany opens up AstraZeneca COVID vaccines for all adults. Germany 'open' to discuss waiving Covid-19 jab patents: minister. Under pressure to ease Germany's virus restrictions, officials last month agreed to gradually reopen schools. In the event of new infections, it is not the schools that decide the next course of action, but the local health authorities. Others, such as his own, are dividing classes up and assigning them different rooms. FILE -- Students arrive at the 'Friedensburg Oberschule' school for the first day at school after the summer vacations during the new coronavirus outbreak in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. The German Teachers' Association is also critical of the decision to prioritize primary school teachers, saying high-school students spread the virus in ways similar to adults, and therefore teachers giving classes in secondary schools are also exposed to a higher risk. "But there is a large number of people in favor of vaccination.". The Paul Ehrlich Institute approved the first clinical trial of a vaccine in April and anticipates that further clinical trials of vaccines against COVID-19 will be approved in the coming months. Calls for teachers and other school workers to be given a higher priority for vaccination. The German Teachers' Association has been pushing for it too, "We would have liked it to have been done before the schools reopened. But this plan will only work if millions of people accept the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Infection numbers are still not stable and the British variant is spreading in some parts of Germany. The social affairs minister of Lower Saxony, Carola Reimann, said her state had been "calling for this measure for some time" at meetings with the federal government. Meidinger said teachers were not pushing their way past senior citizens in the pecking order for vaccinations. 'promio-pym-container', One-way arrows on the floors of the corridors, calls over the intercom to maintain distance, smaller class groups: That's the new normal in the corona pandemic for students of the Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium in the western German city of Bonn. May 18, 2020. Pupils are slowly being allowed back in through school gates. To start with, only primary schools and classes due to take state exams are reopening. Germany has entered a hard lockdown, closing schools and non-essential businesses in an attempt to stop a sharp rise in Covid-19 infections. Some states are planning regular testing for teachers and students, others aren't. 'https://system.promio-connect.com/register/16401/default/en/newsletter-form', Shoppers in Bonn appeared to take full advantage. Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin. There have been widespread concerns that poorer students would fall behind because their families could not afford the kit required for the new approach. In May and June, 2,600 students and teachers were tested as part of a pilot project. Langer said that thanks to the smaller class sizes, distancing and masks, the risk of infection during class was quite low anyway. What won't change are social distancing guidelines. Germany is resisting momentum to lift patent protection for Covid-19 vaccines, saying Thursday that a US decision to support such waivers "has significant implications for vaccine production." Germany COVID: Was it premature to open German schools? One big area of concern is the safety of teachers. Even music and sports are back on the curriculum. The measures will be in place until 10 January. In Saarland, for example, classes due to sit exams are all returning together, while other states, such as Baden-Württemberg, are rotating them in smaller groups. var pymParent = new pym.Parent( August 13, 2020. Classes have been reorganized, creating so-called "cohorts" groups of several hundred students. If regular classes Monday through Friday can't be done, the authorities want students to get at least four to five hours' schooling every week. "If certain professions get moved up, it will cost lives," said Brysch before the decision. Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin. And even if the students have everything they need, what about the teachers, many of whom are a long way from being "digital natives?" The school holidays are coming to an end in parts of Germany. Germans confront new Covid lockdown rules that could last until June Published Mon, Apr 26 2021 6:33 AM EDT Updated Mon, Apr 26 2021 7:44 AM EDT Holly Ellyatt @HollyEllyatt German pupils return to schools despite rising Covid-19 infections. We use cookies to improve our service for you. But it is still a far cry from "normal.". There are never more than 15 students in one room. But that's easier said than done. By FRANK JORDANS March 22, 2021 BERLIN (AP) — Under pressure to ease Germany’s virus restrictions, officials last month agreed to gradually reopen schools. Many participants dismissed the coronavirus as a "false alarm. By mid February, the arising cluster of cases had been fully contained. Wieland Kiess, head of the University Clinic in Leipzig, says not a single acute infection was found. Masks are not obligatory and teachers can avail of free testing for the coronavirus. That means even siblings can experience different approaches to dealing with the Corona crisis. Each cohort has its own area in the school grounds, cloakrooms, restrooms and canteens. Monday, 22 Feb 2021 07:30 PM MYT. | Mobile version. The biggest change is that all shops under 800 square meters (8,610 square feet) are allowed to open their doors from April 20. Some states insist that masks are worn in class, others don't. This article has been translated from German. From April people using busses and trains and going into shops in Saxony will need something to cover their noses and mouths. The school holidays are coming to an end in parts of Germany. Germany Schools in Germany reopen — but coronavirus is not gone . The approach was called for by the Robert-Koch-Institut (RKI), Germany's highest authority when it comes to health matters. "There should be a certain amount of uniformity," is Langner's recommendation. According to the latest plan, teachers should be vaccinated in springtime. Students are taught to wear masks, keep a distance and use disinfectant for their hands. Some people have been wearing masks out of choice, but in certain regions they will become a more common sight. © 2021 Deutsche Welle | Disinfectant is to be used sparingly and only when deemed necessary — and mixed into cleaning water rather than sprayed pure. Germany COVID: Schools are in lockdown and e-learning is a struggle. But shoppers in some states — such as Berlin — will have to wait a little longer. | Mobile version, Coronavirus — Children suffer most from being locked down, Germany to get tough on COVID-19 rule breakers. Bike stores, bookstores and car dealerships throughout Germany are allowed to welcome customers again, no matter the shops' size. The social affairs minister of Baden-Württemberg, Manfred Lucha, has announced that teachers can arrange vaccination appointments from next week — thanks to a major shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Teachers are seeing an upswing in "existential fears" that could make students easy targets for extremist groups. Many people fear that Germany is on the threshold of a third wave of infections.National politicians such as German education minister Anja Karliczek are in favor of reopening. Many say the reopening of schools was a hasty move. Lipski said the money would be used to buy laptops and other devices that students could borrow when need be. The state government says it is feasible because of the low rate of infection and the small number of active cases in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. "Children, especially the smaller ones, need each other", said Karliczek. According to the Education Ministry, distance learning is mainly to be used when there is a shortage of teachers. The schools are being offered a commercial-cloud-based learning management system. In mid-May, the New York Times told the story of Lea Hammermeister, a 17-year-old high school junior in the small northern German town of Neustrelitz. The World Health Organization recommends daily temperature checks for students as part of schools' COVID-19 public health measures. They've been back at school for real since Monday, But there are differences from federal state to federal state. Education is a matter for the states, not the federal government. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, that means about a third of all 2.5 million school students are returning. For example, whether to quarantine an entire school or just the respective "cohort.". Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will follow with similar measures. He said a lot had been done in recent weeks to make sure the logistical and organizational aspects work. It's a similar story with other measures. In Germany, everyone who wants a coronavirus vaccine should receive one by September. But critics feel the resumption of classes is too risky — and say teachers should have been vaccinated first. Strict statewide hygiene rules have been put in place: Students are told to keep their hands off the banisters when taking the stairs — and to wash them frequently. The chairman of the Deutsche Stiftung Patientenschutz (German Foundation for Protection of Patients), Eugen Brysch, is critical of the move to change vaccination priorities. Confirmed COVID-19 cases started climbing again, leading some states to backtrack while others pressed on and insisted that in … Privacy Policy | Due to a lack of data so far, it is not being given to senior citizens. So we have adapted in-school lessons." Most of them were happy to go. Germany on Thursday rejected a U.S. proposal to waive patent protection for COVID-19 vaccines, saying the greatest constraints on production were not … Its makers say the product has been on the market for more than 20 years now. Range of different responses to the classes doing state exams this year January... 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