Corona pandemic: the infection curve is pointing upwards

For the fifth day in a row, the Robert Koch Institute reports an increase in the seven-day incidence, which is now 232.4. Health Minister Lauterbach announced a quick decision on shortened quarantine periods.

The seven-day incidence of new corona infections in Germany has risen for the fifth day in a row. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gave the value as 232.4. The day before and the week before, the incidence was 222.7 in each case. The value quantifies the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days.

The health authorities reported 18,518 new infections to the RKI within 24 hours – an increase of around 4600 compared to the previous week. 68 other deaths were also registered. A total of 112,223 people have died in connection with the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Highest value in Bremen, lowest in Rhineland-Palatinate

Among the federal states, Bremen has the highest value with 468.6, Thuringia the second highest with 404.2, and Hamburg has 397.2. Rhineland-Palatinate has the lowest incidence at 161.3. Among the counties, the Ilm district in Thuringia has an incidence of 820, which is by far the highest value.

The RKI continues to point out that the infection numbers are currently most likely not complete. Due to the holidays, fewer people were being tested and not all health departments were relaying data. The actual numbers could therefore be higher. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach recently said that the realistic incidence is probably two to three times higher than currently recorded by the RKI.

Lauterbach announces new resolutions

With a view to the spread of the Omikron variant, Lauterbach also expects a quick decision to shorten the quarantine periods. “We are indeed thinking about shortened quarantine and isolation times,” Lauterbach told ZDF. In view of the expected high number of cases, other quarantine periods are needed, the SPD politician continued.

It remained open whether Lauterbach would only consider shortening the quarantine periods for contact persons or even shorter isolation times for infected people. Among other things, it must be clarified to what extent the deadlines for people with booster vaccinations could be changed, he said. Bavaria’s Minister of Health, Klaus Holetschek, recently discussed an exemption from quarantine for boosted contact persons.

The federal and state governments want to meet for a new switching conference on January 7th to discuss the further strategy. Lauterbach made it clear that in view of the spread of the highly contagious Omikron variant in Germany, it is imperative to hurry. “

Virologist for shortened quarantine

In the opinion of the virologist Ulrike Protzer, Omikron represents a greater risk, especially for those who have not been vaccinated. Although data from other countries suggest that the Omikron variant is now less aggressive, this applies above all to people with an existing immunity – So vaccinated and recovered, she said in the ARD morning magazine. In the USA, for example, one sees that Omikron, in connection with a high number of unvaccinated people, could certainly have an impact on an increase in hospitalizations. Protzer assumes that the number of infections will soon skyrocket in Germany too.

The virologist at the Technical University of Munich welcomed the idea of ​​shortening the quarantine periods. “I believe that it makes sense and is necessary. Because if many people are infected at the same time and all are quarantined, all of these people fall out of work.” However, one must also consider the possible risk of infection that emanates from the infected and contact persons in quarantine. “That’s why you have to weigh things up carefully and that’s why we need good quarantine regulations,” said Protzer.