The number of new infections remains high, but there are differences between the age groups. According to the latest RKI data, the seven-day incidence in high school students was halved. It is unclear whether this is only due to closings.
By Patrick Gensing, tagesschau.de
The corona situation in Germany remains tense: As before, “a high number of transmissions in the population” can be observed, warns the Robert Koch Institute. The RKI assesses the overall health risk in Germany as very high. On Wednesday, the RKI reported more than 20,000 new infections and more than 1,000 corona infected people who had died.
According to the RKI figures, however, there are clear differences in the various age groups with regard to the seven-day incidence per 100,000 inhabitants.
Significant decrease in students
Schools were closed three weeks ago or at least compulsory attendance was suspended; There were holidays nationwide over Christmas and New Year. Halved in this period according to the latest RKI data the seven-day incidence in high school students. In the week from 7 to 13 December, this value was still 224 infections per 100,000 inhabitants among 15 to 19-year-olds – and thus significantly above the average for the total population, it fell to 123 by the beginning of January -Year-olds the incidence in mid-December was 153, now 70. And for children of primary school age it fell from 115 to 51 during this period.
However, the figures are still to be assessed with caution: Experts warn of an unreported number because fewer tests have been carried out and data may still be reported because of the holidays. In addition, the overall incidence decreased, although the values in the other age groups did not decrease as significantly as in the schoolchildren.
Oldest group particularly affected
The incidence remains particularly high among the oldest people in Germany: For those over 90, the value is 587, for 85 to 89 year olds 347 – and for 80 to 85 year olds it is 203. The RKI warns nationwide There are corona outbreaks, which, according to the data transmitted, are mainly related to old people’s and nursing homes. So it is not possible to protect the particularly vulnerable groups – now the hope rests on the vaccinations, which, however, have only started slowly.
Since older people are more often affected by severe disease courses from Covid-19, the number of severe cases and deaths remains at a high level. The RKI therefore appeals that these cases could be avoided if everyone slows down the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the help of infection protection measures. To achieve this goal, the federal and state governments agreed on Tuesday to extend the lockdown. In addition, people’s range of motion should be restricted from an incidence of 200.
Appeals in the world of work
Parts of the working world are exempt from strict measures. While culture, gastronomy, many services and retail are largely closed, there are still appeals in other areas and there is still no right to work from home. A study by the Hans Böckler Foundation, which is part of the German Federation of Trade Unions, found that only 14 percent of people were able to work from home in November, compared with 27 percent in April. A quota of up to 40 percent is possible. Another exception concerns commuters, they are exempt from restrictions on the radius of movement in hotspots.
At the request of the ARD capital studios Regarding the appeals to employers, Chancellor Angela Merkel declined an obligation to work mobile, but indicated that this could be tightened. Because experts warn that the corona mutations that have occurred in Great Britain and South Africa could have fatal consequences in Germany as well.
