What is the current Corona situation? There are again increasing cases of corona infections in general practitioners’ practices in Melle, and Ute Sträter-Schnitker, a doctor in Melle-Mitte, is also currently noticing this trend: “There are significantly more patients reporting a corona infection again. The infected patients can be assigned to all age groups.”
Family doctor Sarah Kollmeyer from Neuenkirchen also confirmed this when asked: “There are currently significantly more patients who have been infected with Corona or who are suspected to be infected. However, you cannot say with certainty because, apart from self-tests, there is no longer any possibility of testing yourself and there is no obligation to do so.”
Pharmacist Johannes Hoffmann from the Schreibersche Apotheke also notices the increasing trend of infected people: “The number of cases is actually increasing again. The demand for Corona self-tests is also increasing accordingly. Especially at larger family events, people are still cautious and test themselves beforehand. You shouldn’t underestimate the virus, especially as a high-risk patient.”
Are there corona patients in hospital? In the Melle Christian Clinic of the Niels Stensen Clinics, two patients with a Covid infection were treated last week, clinic spokeswoman Ute Laumann reports on the current status. However, in both cases, Covid is not the main reason for the inpatient stay. One of the patients has now been discharged.
Classic cold symptoms with Covid
What symptoms do patients experience with the current variant? According to Ute Sträter-Schnitker, these are the same symptoms as a normal cold infection. So: sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue.
Sarah Kollmeyer notices classic symptoms in her patients such as fever, body aches and cough, sore throats and gastrointestinal problems. However, the symptoms are very diverse: from a feeling of fatigue to asymptomatic infections.
Visiting the doctor only with a mask
How should I behave if I have these typical symptoms? “If there are typical symptoms, patients should, if possible, do a rapid test themselves in order to be certain and then protect those around them by keeping their distance and wearing a mask – even though there is no longer an obligation for these protective measures,” advises Sträter-Schnitker. According to the doctor, if the symptoms are so minor that the person affected can work, working from home would be desirable if possible. If symptoms are more severe, you should see your family doctor.
Under no circumstances should you enter a doctor’s office without a mask if you are infected and thus endanger the staff and other patients, emphasizes Kollmeyer. A visit to the doctor is currently only necessary in exceptional cases.
Doctors recommend corona vaccination
Is a rapid test actually enough to confirm Corona? According to the two family doctors, PCR tests are now hardly carried out: “PCR tests can be carried out if there is strong clinical suspicion. However, they currently remain without consequence,” said Kollmeyer.
And what is the forecast for autumn and winter? “I think that the number of infections will continue to rise, but there will be a high number of unreported cases due to a lack of testing,” said the Meller doctor from Engelgarten.
Kollmeyer sees it similarly: “It remains to be seen, but a significant increase in cases can be expected. It also remains to be seen whether there will be valid figures in this regard.”
However, doctors continue to recommend vaccination with the new corona vaccine for certain groups: “As with the flu vaccination, we recommend this to everyone aged 60 and over, with chronic illnesses, residents in nursing homes, employees in the medical sector or community facilities if you are in “We had neither a Covid vaccination nor infection in the previous year,” says Ute Sträter-Schnitker.