Status: 04.01.2022 3:48 p.m.
According to the Corona crisis chief Heiger Scholz in Lower Saxony, there could only be Omicron infections in the course of this week. The variant increased “explosively”.
In the first week of December, the Omikron variant made up only 2.2 percent of the infection rate, said Scholz. In the past week, the Omikron share was already 70 percent. “One can assume that this week there will probably be almost nothing else but Omikron,” said Scholz. This will be the case no later than the next week or the week after that.
Omikron hotspots: Verden and Osterholz districts
Overall, the relaxation that had briefly occurred in the meantime is already over, emphasized Scholz. The incidence is still below 100 in only five districts and urban districts in Lower Saxony (Wittmund district, Friesland district, Wilhelmshaven district, Goslar district, Aurich district). The districts of Osterholz and Verden, on the other hand, have a seven-day incidence of well over 400. “We can assume that these are omicron hotspots,” said Scholz.
It is unclear how Omikron will affect Lower Saxony
It is known about Omikron that it is much more contagious than the previously dominant Delta variant, said Scholz. It is also known that Omikron ensures milder disease courses in other countries. “But we don’t know how it will work for us,” said Scholz. The vaccination status of the different age groups also plays a role. In the medium term, Scholz expects incidences of more than 1,000 in Lower Saxony as well, as is already known from other countries. According to government spokeswoman Anke Pörksen, it is currently unclear whether the number of hospital admissions will increase sharply or whether those infected with Omikron could simply cure themselves at home. The aim now is to ensure that as few people as possible get infected for as long as possible.
Poerksen: No easing in sight for the time being
Warning level 3 will still apply in all of Lower Saxony until January 15th. Government spokeswoman Pörksen currently does not assume that the requirements can be significantly relaxed afterwards. In the next four to ten weeks, many areas of society would be dimmed down, she said. “We also do this so that important areas, such as daycare centers and schools, can stay open as long as possible,” says Poerksen. The state government is currently very confident that classes can begin in attendance on the coming Monday after the Christmas break. “We know how important it is to start school regularly for many children in Lower Saxony,” said Poerksen – especially for children from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. But we will also wait for further developments on the subject of schools.
Confused vaccine for children: the only incident in Lower Saxony
The crisis team also commented on the vaccination failure in the vaccination center at Hanover Zoo. There, 21 children under the age of 12 received the adult dose – and not the children’s vaccine intended for them with a lower dose. All parents of the children concerned were informed by the health department on the same evening, said Scholz. At the time, everyone was fine, some were a bit tired, which could also be related to the fact that they had spent the day at the zoo, said Scholz. The Hanover region drew the conclusion from the incident that only children under the age of 12 are vaccinated in the vaccination center at the zoo and that there can no longer be confusion. To the knowledge of the crisis team, the incident in Hanover is the only one of its kind in Lower Saxony.
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