Corona report by the RKI: Omicron now clearly dominates

Status: 01/13/2022 8:50 p.m

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According to the Robert Koch Institute, the proportion of the omicron variant in Germany is now 73.3 percent. In Bremen, the variant is almost the only cause of infections at 96 percent.

With a share of 73.3 percent, Omicron is now also the predominant variant of the corona virus in Germany. Last week, Omikron’s share was 44.3 percent. The fifth wave of the pandemic began in Germany with the spread of the more contagious variant, writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in its current weekly report.

The Institute estimates the risk to the population from the coronavirus as very high one. According to the RKI, it is urgently necessary to prioritize testing in accordance with the national test strategy in order to ensure the “prompt diagnostic care” of corona patients.

differences between the states

According to the RKI, 9848 omicron cases were confirmed in Germany by January 10th. 91,311 more are considered suspected cases. The distribution of the variant varies greatly in the individual federal states: from eleven percent in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to 96 percent in Bremen.

The reason for the differences is also that the different countries carry out variant-specific tests and in some regions the results from the laboratories are recorded and transmitted more slowly, according to the RKI. In addition, omicron spread from urban centers.

New high for new infections

The number of new corona infections transmitted to the RKI within one day has meanwhile reached a new high. According to the RKI, the health authorities reported 81,417 cases in 24 hours in the morning. The day before, the number had exceeded the threshold of 80,000 for the first time.

The RKI gave the seven-day incidence as 427.7. The previous day the value was 407.5. A week ago, the nationwide incidence was 285.9 (previous month: 389.2). On November 29, the RKI reported the previous high of 452.4, which later rose to 485.1 through late reports.

RKI recommends getting vaccinated

By January 11, 75 percent of the population had been vaccinated at least once and 72 percent had been fully vaccinated, and 44 percent of the population already had a booster vaccination, writes the RKI. The institute recommends those who have not been vaccinated to get vaccinated.

“According to the current state of knowledge, all vaccines that are currently available in Germany effectively protect the vast majority of vaccinated people from a serious illness with complete vaccination and especially after booster vaccination,” says the weekly report. However, the effectiveness against the Omikron variant cannot yet be definitively assessed.