Thousands protest in Berlin against COVID sidewalks, vaccines

BERLIN, Aug. 29 (Reuters) – Several thousand people took to the streets of Berlin on Sunday for a second day of unauthorized protest against coronavirus vaccinations and restrictions aimed at curbing a fourth wave of pandemic.

Shouting “Hands off our children,” protesters waved signs denouncing what they called “apartheid vaccination,” as parts of Germany are considering imposing tougher restrictions on people who are not vaccinated against coronavirus.

Dozens of police officers dressed in riot gear tried to control the march through the residential streets of East Berlin.

Berlin police said on Twitter that they had detained about 80 people at the rally, focusing on people who were violent or demanding violations of coronavirus regulations.

Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.

Now, about 60% of the German population has been completely vaccinated and about 65% have received at least one shot, but infections are rising rapidly again, prompting officials to consider ways to encourage the protection of more people. .

With a significant minority in Germany skeptical about vaccination, the city government of Berlin has been put on fire for urging teenagers to receive the shots, authorized for over-12s.

At least one region of Germany plans to impose tougher restrictions on people who are not vaccinated, an official said Sunday.

Currently, the German government requires people to be vaccinated, tested negative, or certified to enter indoor restaurants, visit hospitals and nursing homes, and attend events, parties, or indoor sports.

The social ministry of the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg has proposed banning unvaccinated adults from restaurants and concerts and restricting their contacts.

“If it comes to intensive care units, we have to act,” Thomas Strobl, deputy director of Baden-Wuerttemberg, told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

“It would be wrong to hold everyone accountable together, including the vaccinated. That’s why there will be different rules for the unvaccinated than for the vaccinated.”

The Bavarian Minister of Health also supports the proposals, according to the newspaper.

Leading candidates who will run to replace Chancellor Angela Merkel in a Sept. 26 federal election have vowed no return to last year’s strict blockades and earlier this year, even when coronavirus infections return. to jump.

The country reported 8,416 new cases and 12 fatalities on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases to more than 3.9 million and the death toll to 92,130.

To encourage more people to get vaccinated, the government has said it will stop offering free coronavirus tests from Oct. 11, except for those for whom vaccination is not recommended, such as children and pregnant women. .

Report by Emma Thomasson; Edited by Raissa Kasolowsky

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