268,477 new corona cases were reported to the RKI within 24 hours, the incidence drops to 1663. The Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, which has a strict lockdown, has recorded a further increase in cases. All developments in the live blog.
4:57 a.m
Nationwide corona incidence drops to 1663
The nationwide seven-day incidence of new corona infections has fallen. As the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced in the morning, the value is now 1663.0. On Monday it was 1703.3, a week ago it was 1734.2.
As the RKI further reported, citing data from the health authorities, the absolute number of new infections reported within 24 hours on Wednesday was 268,477. 237,352 new infections had been reported the day before, compared to 283,732 a week ago. The total number of registered cases of infection in Germany since the beginning of the corona pandemic has increased to 20,829,608.
According to the RKI, 348 further deaths related to the corona virus were registered within 24 hours. The total number of corona deaths recorded in Germany rose to 129,112.
2:22 a.m
Number of new infections in Shanghai continues to rise
The number of new corona cases in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai has continued to rise. The authorities reported almost 6,000 new infections within 24 hours – around 1,500 more than the day before. A “zero Covid strategy” applies in China – tough measures are already being imposed in individual cases. A lockdown is currently in force in the port metropolis with 26 million inhabitants.
2:02 a.m
Clinics report six percent with missing vaccination
According to a media report, the hospitals reported an average of six percent of their employees to the health authorities because of a lack of proof of vaccination or recovery. This was the result of a representative survey by the German Hospital Society (DKG) at almost 400 clinics, which is available to the editorial network Germany (RND).
In detail, the reporting rate for nursing services is seven percent, while it is four percent for intensive care. In the medical service, it is therefore three percent. “The figures from the survey show very impressively that our employees have an extraordinarily high and exemplary vaccination rate compared to the general population,” said DKG boss Gerald Gass to the RND.
In Germany, vaccination has been compulsory for employees in care and healthcare since mid-March. Those who are not vaccinated are threatened with a ban on employment without proof of vaccination or recovery.
1:59 a.m
Trade unions are demanding ongoing corona protection in companies
Several unions are calling on employers to ensure corona protection in the workplace even after the strict measures expire next weekend. The chairman of the Food-Genuss-Gaststätten (NGG) trade union, Guido Zeitler, told the newspapers of the Funke media group with regard to the hospitality industry: “In their own interest, employers are urgently requested to continue to do everything possible to protect their employees and guests .” They should continue to make free corona tests available to their employees in the future.
With a view to trade, Ver.di federal board member Stefanie Nutzberger told the Funke newspapers: “The most important thing now is the protection of employees and customers.” She criticized the lifting of the mask requirement in view of the high number of infections. Many employees are currently very worried about this.