This year, too, the holidays will take place in the shadow of the corona pandemic. Photo: Thomas Banneyer / dpa
–
(Photo: dpa)
–
–
–
–
Even if the majority of infections are still caused by the delta variant of the coronavirus, the number of detected omicron cases has increased significantly in recent weeks, as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) wrote in its weekly report.
Its President Lothar Wieler told the editorial network Germany: “The outbreaks at Omikron are impressive. Very many people who are in a room with an infected person can become infected. Many also get sick. ” This is a different dimension than what is known from Delta. Delta has been the predominant coronavirus variant in Germany for months.
According to the RKI, 441 Omicron infections confirmed by genome sequencing were transmitted by December 21. According to a specific PCR test, it is suspected in 1438 cases. In Germany, however, only a small proportion of the positive samples are tested for Omikron.
Christmas in the shadow of the pandemic
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
–
–
–
As emerged from RKI data from Sunday morning, the health authorities in Germany reported 10,100 new corona infections to the institute within one day. The nationwide seven-day incidence fell again compared to the previous day. The RKI gave the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week at 220.7 – the day before it was 242.9. The RKI points out that less test and reporting activity can be expected during the holidays and at the turn of the year. Therefore, the officially reported number of cases could only show an incomplete picture of the corona situation in Germany.
Germany is celebrating Christmas for the second time in the shadow of the corona pandemic. In view of the strain on society as a result of the ongoing crisis, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for solidarity in his Christmas address.
In Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, stricter rules came into force on Friday. Private get-togethers there are already limited to those who have been vaccinated and recovered at Christmas, to a maximum of ten people. The federal and state governments agreed on Tuesday to introduce this requirement by December 28th at the latest – most of the federal states want to implement this after Christmas.
Omicron variant
Regarding the Omikron variant, the RKI wrote in its weekly report published on Thursday evening: “Previous reporting data on symptoms indicate a rather mild course in infected people with a full vaccination or booster vaccination.” According to the institute, information on the symptoms was provided for more than 1200 cases. Mostly none or mild symptoms were mentioned, the most common colds, coughs and sore throats. So far, according to the RKI weekly report, 28 Covid sufferers, in whom Omikron has been detected, have come to the hospital, and one person has demonstrably died.
However, experts have always emphasized that with the expected high number of infected people in the course of the rapid spread of the omicron, a large number of people will become more seriously ill at the same time and will have to be treated in hospital. Wieler warned on Wednesday that the health system would be overloaded and that critical care structures would be impaired if the Omikron wave could not be slowed down with strict measures.
In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the virologist Christian Drosten said when asked whether a lockdown was needed in Germany, it was necessary to wait and see “whether and how the measures that were now in force and were followed up again would work”. If the contact restrictions do not work as hoped, one could, in Drosten’s view, consider restrictions to which only people who have already been boosted have access – what he referred to as “1G”.
Twice vaccinated people are protected from severe courses even with Omikron, “but practically not against infection,” said the virologist at the Berlin Charité. Virus transmission in the event of infection is also hardly reduced. “But those who have recently been boosted are likely to contribute less to the spread and are noticeably protected against the disease. At Delta, 2G and 3G may be enough, but now Omikron is writing the rules. “
– .
