The seven-day incidence of new corona infections fell slightly again. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Wednesday morning, it was 82.7 – the previous day the value was 83.8, a week ago it was 75.7. The health authorities in Germany reported 13,565 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. This is evident from the numbers that reflect the status of the RKI dashboard at 4:09 a.m. A week ago the value was 13,531 infections.
According to the new information, 35 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 23 deaths. The RKI has counted 4,030,681 detected infections with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections are not detected.
The incidence of new infections has so far been the basis for many corona restrictions in the pandemic, for example as part of the federal emergency brake that expired at the end of June. In the future, other values such as the number of hospital admissions are to be taken more into account.
The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was given by the RKI in its management report on Tuesday as 1.69 (Monday 1.64). A nationwide threshold, from when the situation can be viewed critically, is not provided for the incidence of hospitalization, among other things because of large regional differences. The previous high was around 15.5 around Christmas time.
The seven-day incidence is calculated according to RKI information on the basis of the reporting date to the local health department. According to this, an average of about ten days elapse between an infection and hospitalization, so this value reflects the infection situation with a noticeable delay.
The RKI stated the number of those who had recovered at 3,793,000. The number of people who died with or with a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 rose to 92,448.
Clinic occupancy will be decisive in the future
The number of corona patients in the clinics should in future be the main yardstick for assessing the pandemic situation. This provides for an amendment to the Infection Protection Act, which the Bundestag decided on Tuesday. This is intended to replace the previous orientation towards the number of infections, which is no longer considered as meaningful in view of the vaccinations. In addition to the situation in the hospitals, “other indicators” should also be taken into account: the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, the available intensive care capacities and the number of people vaccinated. The countries should then be able to determine where the critical thresholds lie, from which further everyday restrictions apply.
In addition, employees in daycare centers, schools and nursing homes should be able to be asked by the employer whether they are vaccinated during the crisis. The Federal Council should approve the new regulations in a special session on Friday. (07.09.2021)
Schleswig-Holstein abolishes the mask requirement – if 3G applies
Schleswig-Holstein wants to abolish the mask requirement at events, sports and gastronomy. The so-called 3-G principle applies there, according to which only those who have been vaccinated, recovered or tested receive access. “Wherever 3G can be complied with in Schleswig-Holstein, there will no longer be any restrictions in the future,” said Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) after a cabinet meeting.
The state government made up of the CDU, the Greens and the FDP wants to make a clear change of course by September 20. In future, it will rely on the so-called 3-G rule. According to the plans, there will then no longer be any capacity restrictions at events, in the cinema, in sports or in restaurants. Wherever the 3-G rule is not practicable, such as in retail or in local public transport, the existing rules remain, said Günther. (07.09.2021)
Education minister welcomes quarantine rules for students
Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek welcomed the agreement of the health ministers of the federal states on quarantine rules in schools. “That will increase the acceptance of the rules. The correct approach is that the duration and the number of those affected in the quarantine are moderately restricted,” said the CDU politician at the German Press Agency in Berlin. This will help ensure that classroom teaching is maintained for as many children and young people as possible. “But it is also important that the health authorities always look at the individual case.”
Karliczek again appealed to adults to accept the offer for the corona vaccination. “The pandemic remains a threat to our children who cannot or are not yet vaccinated.” The more people are vaccinated, the easier it is to control the infection process in schools.
The majority of the health ministers on Monday spoke in favor of simpler quarantine rules for corona cases in schools. In principle, quarantine should no longer be ordered for the entire class in one case, according to a decision after consultations with the federal government. Symptom-free children who are in quarantine as close contacts should be able to end this with a negative test at the earliest after five days. (07.09.2021)
The federal government wants to test young people free of charge until the end of November
Children from twelve to 17 years of age are expected to be able to get free rapid corona tests until the end of November. This emerges from a draft of the Federal Ministry of Health for a new test regulation, which is supposed to implement the planned general end of free tests for all citizens on October 11th. First reported the news portal ThePioneer and Business Insider on the draft, it is available to the German Press Agency.
According to this, people without symptoms who have not yet reached the age of 18 should also be entitled to free tests until November 30th. Free tests should generally remain possible for everyone who cannot be vaccinated – including children under the age of twelve, for whom there is currently no approved vaccine, as well as pregnant women.
Chancellor Merkel and the prime ministers had decided that the federally financed offer for free citizen tests for everyone should end. As a rule, you should be able to pay for them yourself from mid-October. Since a direct vaccination offer can now be made to everyone, a permanent assumption of the costs by the taxpayer is not indicated, it said in the decision. In the draft ordinance for the new regulation, reference is made to the fact that the Standing Vaccination Commission has also had a general vaccination recommendation for the group of twelve to 17-year-olds since mid-August. In order to give them sufficient time to find out about vaccination offers and to obtain complete vaccination protection, free tests should be possible for everyone up to the age of 17 until the end of November. (06.09.2021)
EU authority EMA reviews Biontech booster vaccination
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) wants to complete its assessment of a booster vaccination with the Covid-19 vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer in the next few weeks. The application for a third dose of the vaccine six months after the second dose in people over 16 years of age will be examined more quickly, the EMA said. The EMA is also reviewing data on a third dose of one of the mRNA vaccines from Biontech and Moderna in severely immunocompromised people.
According to the EMA and there is currently no urgent need for booster vaccinations in the general population. However, they should be considered in severely immunocompromised people. (06.09.2021)
Laschet for the obligation to provide information on vaccination status in all establishments
Union Chancellor candidate Laschet has spoken out in favor of an obligation to provide information on the vaccination status in all companies in Germany. “The employer must know who is vaccinated in the company in order to be able to take protective measures,” he said at the “election check” of the Heilbronn voice. However, non-vaccinated people should not be discriminated against. “You have to do it carefully.” The Union and the SPD in the Bundestag have only agreed that employers in daycare centers, schools and nursing homes may ask employees whether they have been vaccinated against the corona virus. So far, this has only been allowed in medical practices and clinics.
Laschet spoke out against restricting unvaccinated people more in view of the increasing numbers in the Corona crisis. “I think the 3-G rule should apply.” According to this, certain areas of public life are open to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered, as well as those who have tested negative. In some federal states, 2G should apply in some areas, which means that unvaccinated people should be restricted more. But Laschet did not want to rule out the possibility that there would be further cuts for the unvaccinated. He only wanted to rule out a new lockdown for vaccinated people. “Vaccinated people in particular should no longer suffer any disadvantages.”
Laschet also criticized SPD Chancellor candidate Scholz, who said at the weekend that people in Germany were “guinea pigs” when they were vaccinated. “We were not guinea pigs,” emphasized Laschet, referring to the vaccine approval process. “Such sayings fuel the lateral thinkers.” Scholz should take this “very bad word” back, he demanded. (06.09.2021)