Mar 25, 2020
Medics want to provide the best possible care for all coronavirus patients. But what if there simply aren’t enough ventilators or intensive care beds? DW put these questions to medical ethicist Prof. Dr. Georg Marckmann.
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Medics want to provide the best possible care for all coronavirus patients. But what if there simply aren’t enough ventilators or intensive care beds? DW put these questions to medical ethicist Prof. Dr. Georg Marckmann.
#WEagainstthevirus
“Today, it is a great encouragement to see that millions and millions of people are making sacrifices out of solidarity and consideration for the most vulnerable. I am convinced that this sense of solidarity, this idea that ‘we look out for one another’ will carry us all through this difficult time.” - Angela Merkel
More legal certainty in times of crisis
The Federal Cabinet has approved the drafting aid presented by the Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection for a bill to mitigate the consequences of the corona pandemic in civil, insolvency and criminal procedure law. For example, tenants who no longer meet their payment obligations as a result of the spread of the coronavirus are to be protected against termination.
Source/Translation mine
Federal Finance Minister Scholz and Federal Economics Minister Altmaier today presented comprehensive additional measures with emergency aid of up to 50 billion euros for small companies, self-employed persons and members of the liberal professions.
Scholz: "We are going full steam ahead in order to provide support for even the smallest companies and the self-employed. They need our special support; they are being hit hard by this crisis. This is why the Federal Government is now providing emergency aid quickly and unbureaucratically. What is very important to me is that we give a grant, not a loan. So nothing has to be paid back. This way we reach those who urgently need our support now."
Altmaier: "We never leave anyone alone. There must not and will not be a gap in solidarity here. That is why we are putting together an additional comprehensive package of up to 50 billion euros for solo self-employed persons and micro-enterprises, including direct grants that do not have to be paid back. In addition, with the Economic Stabilization Fund, we are providing concrete help to the real economy and preventing the sell-off of German economic and industrial interests. There must be no taboos in this process. Temporary and limited-term state aid, including equity investments and takeovers, must be possible".
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Already for the coming week, Federal Minister Heil announced a legislative procedure to avoid "disproportionate wage cuts" in case of a loss of working hours due to necessary child care during times when day-care centers and schools are closed.
In addition, solutions must now be found together to cushion wage gaps caused by short-time work. There will be further talks on this, Heil said. The same applies to the question of how the smallest self-employed can be supported in case of existential problems. Here, too, the federal government's goal is to avoid social hardship. Source/Translation mine
A protective shield for employees and companies