Kiel (dpa / lno) – Virologist Helmut Fickenscher predicts more corona infections in the north in the coming months. “Of course it is realistic to expect higher case numbers, but higher case numbers do not also mean more frequent serious or fatal diseases,” said the head of the Infectious Medicine Institute of the University of Kiel of the German News Agency. “Even with the exorbitant drop rates locally after Kiel week, this wasn’t a big deal.”
According to a study published by the Robert Koch Institute and led by Fickenscher, the seven-day incidence temporarily tripled in the region following the unrestricted summer crown festival in late June. In the same period, however, there was at most a slight increase in hospitalizations, serious illnesses or deaths. Due to the isolation rules, however, the high number of infections has led, among other things, to a severe staff shortage in hospitals. As a result, the number of beds available in normal wards has dropped dramatically.
“Despite the enormously high number of infections this year, the rate of severe or fatal disease courses has remained low compared to previous years,” Fickenscher said. Compared to previous years, much better vaccination protection was achieved in the population. Furthermore, a significant part of people have survived at least one infection and therefore have much better immunization.
Furthermore, the treatment options have greatly improved. In other European countries, this is taken into account more clearly in their regulations than in Germany, for example in the isolation rules, Fickenscher said. “New variants with greater immune evasion certainly emerge, but there is currently no evidence of new variants with greater pathogenicity.” The precautionary argument of the Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is useful for making adequate preparation for this case, which cannot be ruled out. The SPD politician called for precautionary measures and vaccinations on Friday in Berlin, but he was also confident for the next few months.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 221004-99-996471 / 2
Study on the course of infection after the Kiel week
