An early midsummer with temperatures above 30 degrees meets high spirits among the population in Germany. Because the COVID-19 key figures have recently rushed down: there are no longer 5000 or more critically ill patients in the intensive care units, but just over 1000. The number of new infections has fallen, the incidence value is just over 10.
Nationwide is therefore being relaxed, as it is said. Shopping without tests is possible again, as is coffee on the bistro terrace, even dancing in clubs is allowed in some places, as is public viewing at the European Football Championship. But the pandemic is not over.
Worry about the delta mutation
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) as the national health authority pointed out in its weekly report on the spread of the virus mutants that the so-called Delta variant, which was first detected in India, is also spreading in Germany. According to experts, it is considered more contagious than the previous virus variants.
In Great Britain, the number of infections is rising again, an extensive opening has been postponed by a month.
Great Britain is particularly affected by the Delta variant
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The proportion of the delta variant in Germany is currently around six percent – four weeks ago it was two. In absolute numbers, the RKI has 880 cases, most of them from the age group under 60. An increasing proportion can be expected, according to the RKI.
What is politics doing?
Politicians also see the danger as not averted. This played a major role at the meeting of the country representatives with Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn. On the one hand, it is about the vaccination centers in the federal states. “We have agreed to create a standby concept for the vaccination centers that guarantees minimum operation, but also allows them to start up again quickly,” said Spahn after the meeting. When in doubt, too much than too little, Spahn gave as a motto. However, the federal states are responsible for the precise design.
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Another adjustment screw is the entry requirements, especially now in the beginning of the main summer travel season. The following still applies here: Anyone coming from a risk area must be in quarantine – or have a negative test. In so-called virus variant areas – such as India and Great Britain at the moment – there is even a 14-day quarantine obligation, which cannot be shortened even with a negative test.
Anyone wishing to travel to Germany from abroad by plane must be tested before departure. Unlike last summer, there are now sufficient tests for it, said Spahn. The RKI gives an up-to-date list of risk areas on its Website out.
Sticking points of masks and schools
Many Germans are of course interested in the question: does the mask fall or not? Here, too, the federal states are initially responsible. In many places you no longer need to wear masks on busy shopping streets. But on the bus or train. “The mask will be with us for a while,” said Health Minister Spahn. Now begin a “phase with a lot of responsibility” for one another. The more people clustered in a small space, the greater the willingness to wear a mask should be. Because still not everyone could be offered a vaccination.
The mask requirement has often been lifted again
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The question of how things will continue in schools is likely to be a tricky one. In Germany, the holidays are stretched from June to September, depending on the federal state. As a rule, there should be no vaccination for under 12-year-olds, according to the recommendation of the “Standing Vaccination Commission”. Vaccination is optional for everyone between the ages of 12 and 16, just as there is generally no compulsory vaccination in Germany.
The Conference of Ministers of Education has just decidedthat full face-to-face lessons should be given again from autumn, i.e. no more homeschooling. However, the practiced hygiene rules should be retained. But in general, children and young people are not a “driving force” in the pandemic. However, this is not entirely undisputed.
New lockdown in autumn?
The question remains: Is there a new, and in Germany fourth, wave of the pandemic threatening a new lockdown in autumn? First politicians like the SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach fear this. During a TV appearance, he described the Delta variant as significantly more contagious and dangerous when it comes to severe courses, and as sometimes resistant if it has only been vaccinated once. But he hopes that there will be no “such a big wave because many have already been vaccinated twice”.
There is great concern about further mutations
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But currently there has been a setback in the vaccination schedule. The German vaccine Curevac turned out to be insufficiently effective in the first analyzes. The other manufacturers are still uncertain because delays due to production downtimes can occur again and again.
High vaccination speed is very important
Currently, around every second person has had a vaccination, and every fourth person has been vaccinated twice. Recently the pace has increased. It has to stay that way, emphasizes Gernot Marx, chairman of the interdisciplinary association of intensive care and emergency medicine, in an interview. Personal behavior is also important. “If many people are careless, more infections could occur again in autumn, a fourth wave is possible,” fears Marx. “There is still a risk that there could be many more seriously ill people and deaths.”
There is a widespread opinion among virologists that the pandemic will not go away entirely. COVID-19 will become a “normal” disease like any other. Another vaccination may be necessary as early as autumn. That is the reason why politicians have decided not to dismantle all of the vaccination centers again.
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