Southwest Cities Conference Leader Opposes "Partial Lockdown"

In the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor of Mannheim, Peter Kurz (SPD), has proposed a new approach to combat the rising infection numbers.

Kurz suggests a well-prepared, time-limited, and calculable comprehensive shutdown of a few days that also affects the private sector. This shorter shutdown, according to Kurz, would be more economically and socially acceptable than the lockdown imposed after the outbreak of the pandemic.

The latest measures decided by Angela Merkel (CDU) and the state premiers have only been in effect for about ten days. However, Kurz believes that a light lockdown would cause more harm than good, citing economic consequences for the hospitality and cultural sectors.

He speaks out against a repetition of the lockdown from spring if measures are not sufficient to reverse the trend. Instead, he proposes a faster implementation of quarantine through general orders, good contact tracing management, and acceleration of processes in health departments through the necessary linking of IT programs.

Kurz is against a "light lockdown" in the current corona crisis. He believes that such measures would not be effective in controlling the spread of the virus, especially since the increase in infection numbers is not due to strongly controlled public places like restaurants, cinemas, theaters, museums, or concert halls.

As an alternative to repeating a lockdown, Kurz proposes the implementation of 50 local strategies aimed at preventing and combating drug-related violence, along with mutual support and joint problem-solving among cities. This approach, he believes, would be more effective in addressing the current crisis.

In conclusion, Kurz's proposal for a short shutdown, coupled with effective quarantine and contact tracing measures, could provide a viable alternative to the lockdown during the current COVID-19 crisis. The success of this approach will depend on its implementation and the cooperation of all parties involved.