"We have had to learn from experience that the partial lockdown measures have unfortunately not led to a reduction in the number of cases. That's why we now have to resort to tougher instruments. Better a hard lockdown that works - as in the first wave - than a long partial lockdown that doesn't reduce the numbers and weakens the motivation to comply with the rules," says the head of the district administration. He hopes that the state and federal governments will take appropriate decisions. Allgaier expressly welcomed the state government's decision today to impose a nationwide curfew from Saturday.
According to the head of the district administration, it is unacceptable for the majority of the population to abide by the rules and fight the pandemic, while the minority disregard them and exploit loopholes, for example by forming groups in connection with the sale of mulled wine to go or Christmas shopping without social distancing. "This behavior is grossly lacking in solidarity, reckless and dangerous because it spreads the virus and thus increases the likelihood of severe cases. This is particularly life-threatening for vulnerable groups, i.e. older people and people with pre-existing conditions," says District Administrator Allgaier. He backs this up by referring to the trend in the number of deaths with and from COVID-19 in the district of Ludwigsburg: The number of deaths rose from 90 to 158 between October 31 and December 10.
"If we don't manage to reverse the trend in new infections, there is a very real risk that our clinics will be overloaded," explains Allgaier. At the moment, the wards are already heavily occupied: 59 of 61 beds in the intensive care/monitoring ward at Ludwigsburg Hospital, including 16 COVID-19 patients, and all 13 beds in the intensive care/monitoring ward at Bietigheim Hospital, including four COVID-19 patients.
"The sooner we implement the hard lockdown, the better: the effect of a hard lockdown only has an impact on hospitals and intensive care units around 14 days after it begins," summarizes District Administrator Allgaier.
