The health authorities in Germany can currently no longer track all contact persons of infected people. “With a high number of people who tested positive without a simultaneous lockdown, people often have so many contacts that a basic and extensive follow-up is no longer possible,” said the chairman of the Federal Association of Doctors of the Public Health Service (BVÖGD), Ute Teichert , the Rheinische Post.
When the number of infections in Germany was low this summer, many offices significantly reduced their follow-up teams. In July, the nationwide seven-day incidence was at times only five, but has now risen to more than 80 within a few weeks.
Many health authorities are currently reaching their limits in terms of personnel, said Teichert. It is difficult to attract specialists and especially doctors because they earn significantly less in health departments than in hospitals. (09/09/2021)
Nationwide incidence value rises to 83.5
The seven-day incidence in Germany has increased minimally. The Robert Koch Institute reports a value of 83.5 new corona cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past seven days. On Wednesday it was 82.7. In fact, that means hardly any change in the situation: after a continuous increase over weeks, the incidence value has fluctuated around 83 since last weekend. (09.09.2021)
Chile plans to vaccinate children from the age of six very soon
In Chile, children from the age of six will be vaccinated against the corona virus in the future. The vaccination campaign for children between the ages of six and eleven will start on Monday next week, said Health Minister Enrique Paris on Wednesday during a visit to the city of Arica in the north of the country. The children are to be vaccinated with the Coronavac vaccine from the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac. Earlier this week, the Public Health Institute gave the vaccine emergency approval for children six years and older.
Chile is one of the countries with the highest proportion of vaccinated people in the population. More than 86 percent of Chileans are already fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The Chinese vaccine Coronavac was mainly used in the vaccination campaign in Chile.
On Monday, Cuba became the first country in Latin America to start vaccinating children between the ages of two and eleven against the coronavirus. The preparation Soberana 02 developed there is used on the socialist Caribbean island. Cuba has a lot of experience in vaccine development, but the study results on the Cuban vaccines have not yet been independently verified. (09/09/2021)
Medical Association President Montgomery for tightened corona measures
In the fight against the fourth wave of pandemics, the chairman of the World Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, has spoken out in favor of tightening corona measures. It will hardly be enough to increase the vaccination rate through mobile offers. “To break the fourth wave before it gets dramatic, a 2-G rule should now be introduced nationwide wherever possible,” Montgomery told the Funke media group. Only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered would then have access. Where it would not be practical to exclude unvaccinated people, such as in local public transport, at least a stricter 3-G rule would have to apply. “Unvaccinated people would then have to show a current PCR test. A simple rapid test should no longer be sufficient,” said Montgomery. Such an extended 2-G rule could be the necessary incentive to get vaccinated. (09/09/2021)
Clinics for uniform rules for assessing the corona situation
The CEO of the German Hospital Association, Gerald Gaß, has spoken out in favor of a uniform definition of critical brands for assessing the corona situation, which can be regionally adjusted. “We should define nationwide threshold values for the three central factors – the incidence of infection, the incidence of hospitalization and the occupancy of intensive care capacities -” said Gaß to the editorial network in Germany. “The threshold value then depends on the regional characteristics, such as hospital capacities, vaccination rates and the like.”
The Bundestag decided to change the Infection Protection Act on Tuesday. In future, the federal states should be able to largely determine locally when stricter everyday restrictions will be necessary. In particular, the number of corona patients admitted to the clinics per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days should be the “essential benchmark” for measures to be taken. However, “other indicators” should also be taken into account. The number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, available intensive capacities and the number of people vaccinated are given. The countries should then be able to determine where the critical threshold values lie. (09/09/2021)
Spahn calls Germany-wide vaccination week
In order to get more people in Germany to have a corona vaccination, the federal and state governments are calling for a “common vaccination week” from Monday. This should – together with municipalities and associations – bundle previous efforts and make more offers, said Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) in the morning. He spoke of “many creative ideas”. In his eyes, Spahn explained the vaccination rate that was too low: There was no lack of information about the corona vaccinations, “nobody actually got around it”. However, there was apparently a lack of opportunities at times.
Spahn and Lothar Wieler, the President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) repeated their appeal to get vaccinated. This is important to protect yourself and also people who cannot be vaccinated – for example children. “The number of unvaccinated people is still too large,” said Spahn. If it does not increase significantly, the fourth wave could “take a brilliant course” in autumn, warned Wieler. That would still be in the hands of the Germans themselves.
Those who do not get vaccinated will be infected with Sars-CoV-2 and possibly become seriously ill, said Wieler. According to Spahn, more than 90 percent of Covid-19 patients currently in intensive care were not vaccinated; the rate of infections in the unvaccinated is ten to 14 times higher than that of the vaccinated.
In the morning Spahn praised the vaccination campaigns in Bremen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein, in which the rate for first vaccinations is more than 70 percent according to the Federal Statistical Office. “If we achieve vaccination rates like in these countries all over Germany, it will be a safe winter for all of us,” the CDU politician tweeted. On Sunday, on the sidelines of a meeting of the health ministers of the G-20 countries, Spahn said that in order to get through the coming months safely, a good five million vaccinations would still be needed in Germany. (08.09.2021)
Step-by-step plan with restrictions for unvaccinated people in Austria, 3-G rule in Switzerland
In Austria, there will be restrictions for unvaccinated people in the future with increasing occupancy in intensive care units. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the conservative-green federal government had created a step-by-step plan together with the state leaders. From an occupancy of 15 percent of the intensive care places, which corresponds to an occupancy of 300 beds, a 2-G rule should apply to clubs and bars, i.e. access only for vaccinated and convalescent people – instead of the 3-G rule as before ( Vaccinated, recovered and those who tested negative), said Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein. There should be no restrictions for vaccinated people. “What we are experiencing at the moment is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” said Kurz.
At the same time, the Swiss government announced that it would introduce new restrictions on virus control in view of the tense situation in the intensive care units. From Monday onwards, visitors to restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities as well as events must present a certificate that proves a vaccination, a survived illness or a negative test result. This 3-G rule is limited to January 24, 2022. With a view to the autumn break, the government also wants to issue stricter entry regulations. Unconcealed and unvaccinated travelers from all countries should have to show a negative corona test. (08.09.2021)
Most infected people and Covid-19 deaths worldwide in the USA
In the United States, health officials report at least 289,557 new infections within 24 hours. At least 1,835 people died with or from the virus. This is a count by the Reuters news agency based on official data. In total, more than 40.47 million people have been proven to have contracted the coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic in December 2019. The total number of deaths is 651,760. The USA has the highest number of infections and deaths related to the coronavirus in the world.
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 on the number of infections, which is no longer considered to be so 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, available intensive capacities and the number of people vaccinated are mentioned. 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. There, the so-called 3-G principle applies, according to which only vaccinated, convalescent or tested people have 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)