Status: 01/17/2022 07:55 a.m
In the live ticker, NDR.de will also inform you today – on Monday, January 17, 2022 – about the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg. Yesterday’s reports to read in Sunday’s blog.
The essentials in brief:
- On Hamburg schools everyone has to test themselves
- Health ministers discuss the current situation with Lauterbach
- Confirmed new infections in the north: 2,582 in Lower Saxony, 1,701 in Schleswig-Holstein
- RKI: 34,145 new corona cases registered nationwide – incidence at 528.2
Tables and graphics: This is how the vaccination campaign works in the north
Map: New infections in the north German counties
7:52 a.m
Few violations of the 3G rule in buses and trains
According to the operators, violations of the 3G rule in buses and trains in Lower Saxony are limited. According to Üstra, violations have been found in about two percent of the controls. Evidence was mostly missing due to forgetfulness. Around 100,000 people would then be checked by the transport provider from Hanover every month. In the area of the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Osnabrück (VOS), the number was slightly higher at around five percent of violations of the 3G rule. Around 800 passengers are checked every day in the Osnabrück city bus network. According to Deutsche Bahn, the number of passengers without proof in all regional and S-Bahn traffic nationwide is currently around two percent, and the trend is decreasing. In long-distance traffic, the proportion of violations nationwide is less than one percent.
06:36 a.m
Lower Saxony’s rescue services are armed for a further increase in the number of infections
The rescue services in Lower Saxony believe that the Omicron variant is equipped with personnel in the event of a further increase in the number of infections. If a large proportion of the employees in the rescue service become infected with the corona virus or have to be quarantined, aid organizations fall back on emergency plans, which were usually drawn up at the beginning of the pandemic, according to a survey by the German Press Agency. In an emergency, these stipulate that volunteers or helpers from other rescue organizations such as the fire brigade can also be used to man ambulances.
6:30 a.m
Gass: Hospitals have to postpone operations that can be planned again
The German Hospital Society assumes that planned operations will have to be postponed again due to the new wave of corona infections. “The hospitals have to concentrate staff on the seriously ill patients,” said the President of the German Hospital Society (DKG), Gerald Gass, of the “Rheinische Post”. There are no personnel reserves. “That’s why we have to put patients on the waiting list again, if it’s medically justifiable.” On the one hand, this concerns the treatment of chronically ill patients. “For example, at the peak of the pandemic, we postponed up to 25 percent of hip surgeries,” said Gass. But it is also about cancer operations. “At times we had a significant decline of up to 18 percent in colon cancer surgeries,” said Gass. Gass does not yet see any major failures among nursing staff due to the increased number of corona infections: “So far we have not had any feedback from the hospitals about massive staff shortages due to quarantine or infections, so that hospital care would be threatened.”
5:58 a.m
Nationwide incidence at 528.2 – new high
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has again reported an increase in the nationwide seven-day incidence and thus a new high: 528.2 (previous day: 515.7 / previous week 375.7). The health authorities in Germany reported 34,145 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. A week ago there were 25,255 infections. According to the new information, 30 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there had been 52 deaths.
The RKI gave the number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days as 3.23 on Friday (Thursday 3.09, Wednesday 3.13). It had risen again for the first time in a few days. It will not be published at the weekend.
5:56 a.m
2,582 new infections reported in Lower Saxony
The authorities have registered 2,582 new corona cases in Lower Saxony (previous day: 4,449 / previous week: 1,552). The seven-day incidence has risen to 431 – a new high (previous day: 417.1 / previous week: 308.6). No other deaths related to the coronavirus have been reported.
5:55 a.m
At Hamburg’s schools, every student now has to test himself
New rules apply to schools in Hamburg this week. All students now have to be tested for Corona three times a week instead of twice a week. Even if they are fully vaccinated or recovered. According to the school authorities, a medical mask must be worn during physical education classes in the gym. Exercises and tasks that put a greater strain on the cardiovascular system should be avoided. It is recommended that physical education lessons take place outdoors if possible – without a mask.
“This change is necessary because the omicron variant can also infect and be transmitted by people who have been vaccinated once or twice,” explained school senator Ties Rabe (SPD). Even those who already have a booster vaccination must now do a rapid test under supervision on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for more security. This also applies to school events that are not expressly stipulated as mandatory by the Schools Act, such as teacher conferences, learning development talks or registrations for first grade.
5:52 a.m
Health ministers discuss the current situation with Lauterbach
The health ministers of the federal states are once again discussing their approach to the corona pandemic today. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) will also take part in the video conference, which is under the impression of the spread of the omicron variant and the associated sharp increase in new infections. The chairwoman of the conference of health ministers, Saxony-Anhalt’s department head Petra Grimm-Benne (SPD), will then provide information on the results – probably around 8 p.m. In the run-up to the conference of health ministers, Lauterbach had called on citizens in an interview to test themselves several times a week with a rapid test for the corona virus. He also demanded that three corona vaccinations be prescribed to fulfill the planned vaccination requirement.
5:46 a.m
The northern reportage: Working in the emergency room
During the pandemic, the requirements in hospitals have become significantly higher. The ailments and illnesses of the patients are manifold. And the concern that the staff could become infected with the corona virus is always there. In the northern reportage, NDR television shows a shift in the emergency room of the Agaplesion Bethesda Hospital in Bergedorf – tonight at 6:15 p.m.
VIDEO: ER: Medicine in the Eye of the Storm (3 min)
5:46 a.m
Unvaccinated workers in medical practices may be threatened with dismissal
According to a newspaper report, unvaccinated employees in family doctor’s practices are initially threatened with warnings and later, possibly, dismissals in view of the obligation to vaccinate from mid-March. This is reported by the “RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland”, citing an information paper from the German Association of General Practitioners. From March 15th, employees in the health and care sector will be subject to a facility-related vaccination requirement. Employees would then have to provide proof of vaccination or recovery, according to the report. Alternatively, a medical certificate stating that you cannot be vaccinated against Corona due to a medical contraindication is an option. If they do not comply, those affected should neither work nor be employed in the doctor’s practice. The health department can issue a ban on even entering the doctor’s office. Then the right to compensation also expires. If the employee continues to refuse to provide proof of vaccination, termination can be considered as a last resort, it said. But warnings would have to be issued first.
5:42 a.m
Service: Determine the incidence value for your place of residence
The seven-day incidence of new corona infections is also in motion in northern Germany. If you want to know what the situation is in your city or district, simply enter your postal code here.
5:38 a.m
Schleswig-Holstein reports 1,701 new infections
1,701 new corona cases were recorded in Schleswig-Holstein (previous day: 1,551 / previous week: 764). According to the state registration office, the seven-day incidence rose from 665.6 to 681.1 compared to the previous day. A week ago the value was 529.5.
The hospitalization incidence, which is important for corona measures and indicates how many corona patients per 100,000 people came to clinics within a week, is still 4.26. There are still 263 patients suffering from Covid-19 in the hospitals. The number of patients in intensive care units also remained the same at 58, 44 of them are ventilated.
5:35 a.m
New week, new NDR.de Corona ticker
Good morning from the NDR.de editorial team at the start of the new week! Our Corona live ticker keeps you up to date on Monday, January 17, 2022, about the effects of the pandemic in northern Germany. Here you will find all the important news as well as content from the NDR radio and television programs. Yesterday’s news and events you can Read Sunday’s blog.
FAQ, podcast and background
The coronavirus blogs to read
