The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 4171 new positive tests. That is 493 fewer than on Tuesday a week ago, when 4664 new infections were reported. The seven-day incidence drops to 60.3 from 61.7 the previous day. 101 more people died related to the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 93,504 within 24 hours. In total, more than 4.2 million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany.
Biden gets a booster shot
US President Joe Biden has received his third corona vaccination. “I know I don’t look like that, but I’m over 65 years old,” the 78-year-old joked at the White House while getting vaccinated on camera. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved corona booster vaccinations with the agent from Biontech / Pfizer for the elderly and high-risk groups last week. The second vaccination must have been at least six months ago.
His 70-year-old wife Jill will also get the third shot, Biden said. “I want to make it clear that booster vaccinations are important, but the most important thing is that more people are vaccinated.” The vaccination campaign in the USA has clearly lost momentum in the past few months. So far, 55.3 percent of the population of around 330 million people there have been fully vaccinated. (27.09.2021)
Chile ends pandemic emergency thanks to falling new infections
Chile has ended the pandemic emergency. The responsible authorities say that the reason is a decline in new corona infections. Chile declared a state of emergency in early 2020. This enabled the government to impose night curfews and order quarantine in hard-hit districts. In addition, restrictions on freedom of movement and the number of people at events should fall. Chile announced 640 new infections for Monday. (27.09.2021)
Study: Due to Corona, life expectancy is falling more sharply than it has been since the Second World War
In the wake of the corona pandemic, according to a study, life expectancy in many countries has fallen more sharply than it has been in Western Europe since the Second World War. In some countries, the progress of the past few years has been ruined in a short time, report researchers at the Leverhulme Center for Demographic Science at the University of Oxford International Journal of Epidemiology. The decline in men was therefore greater than in women.
For the study, the scientists examined data from 29 countries, most of them from Europe, including Germany, as well as Chile and the USA. In 2020, life expectancy fell in 27 of these countries and by at least half a year in 22 countries. “In Western European countries such as Spain, England and Wales, Italy, Belgium, such a decline in life expectancy in a single year at the time of birth was last observed during World War II,” said co-author José Manuel Aburto.
The life expectancy of men fell the most in the US – 2.2 years compared to 2019. In the US, the rise in working-age mortality under 60 is particularly noteworthy, said co-author Ridhi Kashyap. In most European countries, on the other hand, mortality among those over 60 has increased in particular. A study in the British Medical Journal pointed out the drastically reduced life expectancy in the USA.
Life expectancy is the age a newborn is likely to reach if the death toll continues to develop as it did when it was born. According to the Federal Statistical Office, life expectancy in Germany in August 2021 was 78.6 years for boys and 83.4 years for girls. It was also known that in 2020 mortality increased compared to 2019, especially for men and women over the age of 75.
Development Minister: Preventing disadvantage in poor countries
Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) warns of increasing disadvantages in poor countries when it comes to corona vaccines. “Rich countries bought additional vaccines from the world market in order to make third-party vaccinations possible, while over 90 percent of Africans did not even have the first vaccination,” says the CSU politician of the Funke media group, according to a preliminary report. One must prevent the poorer countries from being further disadvantaged. Müller affirmed: “We must not get into a situation in which the rich countries are buying empty the market and hoarding vaccines, while nothing is left for the poor countries.”
The goal of the international vaccine initiative Covax of making two billion vaccine doses available to people in poor countries by the end of the year can no longer be achieved, said Müller. So far, only over 300 million vaccine doses have been distributed by Covax. Vaccine shipments to Africa are expected to be 25 percent lower than expected by the end of the year. This is mainly due to a lack of supplies.
The vaccine donations from the rich countries must now be made quickly, demanded Müller. The EU states have promised 248 million cans, but have only given 20 million cans so far. “Worldwide there are 100 million cans that are about to expire and need to be vaccinated quickly,” warned the minister.
Müller also made the manufacturers responsible, who would have to change their delivery policy. “It would be absolutely unacceptable if vaccines were kept extra scarce. Or contractually promised doses were postponed to Covax in order to deliver to richer countries instead,” he emphasized. “Manufacturers should finally prefer Covax for deliveries.” (09/26/21)
Berlin techno club Berghain reopens
Berlin’s nightlife is getting one of its internationally celebrated highlights back. The Berghain wants to reopen. On its homepage the techno club, which resides in a former district heating plant, announced its first “club night” for the Saturday of the coming weekend (October 2nd). On the following Saturdays too, the techno club wants to unlock its entrance, which is regularly besieged by long lines. If you want to get in, you have to be vaccinated against Corona or have recovered from Covid-19 (2G). “We’re looking forward to our first club night after almost 19 months,” said the page. “Let the bass kick, see you on the dance floor!”
In August, the Berlin administrative court overturned the general ban on commercial dance events in closed rooms. It argued that unrestricted openings were still not allowed against the background of the corona pandemic, but events should only be allowed for vaccinated and recovered people. (25.09.2021)