Status: 02.12.2021 07:11 a.m.
The seven-day incidence in Germany is currently 439.2 – after 442.9 the previous day. That sounds like another slight decline. Experts warn, however, that the numbers should be treated with caution.
The nationwide seven-day incidence fell slightly for the third time in a row. The Robert Koch Institute stated the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week as 439.2. A high of 452.4 was recorded on Monday, and the incidence on Tuesday and Wednesday was 452.2 and 442.9, respectively.
The health authorities reported 73,209 new infections to the RKI within 24 hours. That’s about 2500 less than a week ago. In addition, 388 new deaths related to the coronavirus were recorded. The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was given by the RKI as 5.61. The previous day the hospitalization rate was 5.73.
Overtaxed health authorities and laboratories
Even if the numbers give the impression that the number of infections is declining, experts warn against being too optimistic. The high number of cases could overwhelm the recording and reporting system and lead to significant under-recording, they argue. It is therefore unclear whether the incidence at the moment reflects the actual infection trend.
Test laboratories and health authorities are currently working to the limit and cannot keep up with the processing of positive corona evidence. “I assume that the reported numbers are only part of the positive evidence,” said the chairman of the board of the Federal Association of Doctors in the Public Health Service, Ute Teichert, of the dpa news agency.
The Association of Accredited Laboratories in Medicine (ALM) also warned that laboratories in some regions are “simply at the limits of what is affordable” when it comes to evaluating corona tests. These included Saxony, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia. “There is a risk that if the workload is close to or regionally above the maximum limit, even with minor failures of personnel or equipment, the diagnosis runtimes will increase to several days, which must be avoided at all costs,” said Evangelos Kotsopoulos from the ALM board of directors.
Even more soldiers should support
In order to support health authorities, hospitals and vaccination centers in their work, the Bundeswehr is deploying additional soldiers. As the armed forces base announced, the available contingent will be increased to 12,000 forces by next week in view of the “volatile situation” in the fourth corona wave.
According to the information, the Bundeswehr is currently on site with 5900 soldiers in 14 federal states. A third of the total available contingent of now 12,000 soldiers can be deployed within 48 to 72 hours, it said. For the remaining 8,000 soldiers, graduated response times of seven to 14 days apply.
Another 90 applications for administrative assistance with 900 soldiers are currently in preparation, explained the armed forces base. 360 of them are about work in health departments, 170 about work in vaccination centers. The trend of inquiries is increasing.