Study on corona tests in daycare centers: No undetected infections
Monday, August 9, 3:35 p.m .: According to a Würzburg study, regular corona tests in daycare centers have proven themselves. The University Hospital of Würzburg announced on Monday that there was no evidence of undetected infections. During the entire three-month study period, children and staff were checked twice a week using a mouthwash sample (spit test) or rapid antigen tests (nose test) obtained at home. Only a single Covid infection was detected. Antibody tests showed that no infections were missed. However, the overall incidence was low.
From May to July 2021, in the second phase of the Würzburg Kindergarten Corona Study (Wü-KiTa-CoV) started in October 2020, the scientists examined test strategies for the children and staff in nine Würzburg childcare facilities. The aim was to find optimal test methods to detect infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus as early as possible. Around 800 children between the ages of two and six and 150 carers were invited to take part in the study. That corresponds to about a quarter of all children in this age group cared for in Würzburg. More than half of those asked from both test groups had participated, it was said. The advantages and disadvantages of continuous testing with the PCR method from a mouthwash sample compared to a rapid antigen test using a nasal swab are still being evaluated.
Lower incidence: Berchtesgadener Land can relax corona rules
Monday, August 9th, 3 p.m .: In the Berchtesgadener Land district, the corona rules will be relaxed again from Tuesday. Then the regulations apply to an incidence between 25 and 50, as the district office published in the official gazette on Monday. After a corona outbreak, stricter rules had applied since August 2, after the incidence in the district was below 50 again for five days in a row, various restrictions are now no longer applicable.
The lower incidence classification means, among other things, that there is only a limit to the number of people at private meetings, but no longer for households, and more people are allowed to meet again at public events. In sport, there is no obligation to test or limit the number of people, in gastronomy people from several households can again sit at a table without a test and in the hotel industry guests no longer have to test themselves regularly.
From Tuesday, the stricter rules for incidences over 50 will not apply in any Bavarian district. Aschaffenburg was again over 50 on Monday, but only for the second day in a row – the incidence classification would only be raised after three days. Should the city be above the threshold again on Tuesday, stricter rules would apply there from Thursday.
Seven-day incidence continues to increase
Monday, August 9th, 7:20 am: The incidence value in Bavaria continued to increase slightly on Monday and is now 15.9. The Robert Koch Institute reported 2081 cases in the past seven days. The incidence indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants have been infected with Covid-19 in the past seven days – in cities and counties with only a few inhabitants, the numbers can skyrocket.
The value in the city of Aschaffenburg has risen above the 50 mark: 15 new infections caused the increase from 45.1 on Saturday to 59.2 on Sunday, on Monday the value fell slightly again to 56.3. In Schweinfurt, where an incidence of zero was reported on Saturday, there are four new infections, the incidence value has risen to 7.5. Overall, however, the Free State is still well below the Germany-wide incidence value, which stood at 23.1 on Monday.
In all Bavarian circles there have been new corona infections in the past seven days. This means that – unlike in the past few days – no district or urban district no longer has an incidence of zero.
Incidence value on Sunday at 15.3
Sunday, August 8th, 8:49 a.m .: The seven-day incidence in Bavaria continues to rise moderately. The Robert Koch Institute reported 423 new infections on Sunday, the incidence value is 15.3.
State Office: EM games in Munich were not a source of infection
Sunday, August 8th, 7.18 a.m .: According to the Ministry of Health, the four games of the European Football Championship in Munich “made no significant contribution to the infection rate in the Free State”: five corona infections in connection with attending a European Championship game in Munich were reported to the State Office for Health (LGL). A ministry spokesman said 18 corona cases across Bavaria were associated with public viewing events around the game days. In addition, five visitors to a European Championship game abroad were then tested positive.
Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) criticized the mask discipline “unfortunately there was still room for improvement with many fans”. Even if the scientific monitoring shows that this major sporting event in summer “did not contribute to any relevant increase in the number of corona infections, I am of the opinion that the motto” prudence and caution “must still apply,” he said and warned: “We need strict adherence to the hygiene concepts, especially in autumn, when the framework conditions change again due to a possibly increasing number of cases, new virus variants and increased staying in closed rooms!”
A ministry spokesman said that the results of an internationally attended Europe-wide sporting event in June with a very low incidence could not easily be transferred to Bundesliga games in autumn or other major sporting and cultural events.
The LGL had asked the health authorities in Bavaria and other countries to report corona diseases in connection with attending an EM game in Munich, abroad or a public viewing event. No Covid case in connection with stadium visits was reported from other federal states.
The seven-day incidence in Free State is 14.2
Saturday, August 7th, 11.15 a.m .: According to the Robert Koch Institute, the seven-day incidence in Bavaria rose again slightly and is now 14.2. This means that the Free State is still well below the nationwide incidence value, which is currently 21.2. Only two Bavarian municipalities – the cities of Coburg and Schweinfurt – have an incidence of 0.0 and are therefore considered to be corona-free. The values are highest in the district of Berchtesgadener Land with 47.2 and in Aschaffenburg with 45.1. After all: no municipality has a value above 50, from which some measures would be tightened again, this primarily affects test obligations for various activities.
Sibler: “Classroom teaching a must for the winter semester”
Friday, August 6th, 7.30 p.m .: Life is returning to the Bavarian universities. Science Minister Bernd Sibler (CSU) said on Friday that classroom teaching was “a must for the winter semester”. The current resolution of the Standing Conference confirms his line of making on-site studies the rule again: “After all, our students have had to forego direct contact on site and personal exchange for long enough.” Direct exchange and togetherness are an important part of studying, research and teaching.
For a week, the state government has allowed universities to attend classes at an incidence of up to 100, even if the minimum distance of 1.5 meters between the students cannot be consistently maintained. The FFP2 mask requirement remains.