Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) appeals to the Prime Ministers not to go beyond the relaxation of the corona measures decided at the last federal-state meeting. That was “everything sewn on edge” and “the maximum we can afford to relax,” he said before the federal press conference. Thanks to the various measures, it has “so far been successful in getting through the omicron wave”. However, a renewed increase in the number of cases cannot be ruled out. He stands for a conservative approach, said Lauterbach, who had repeatedly advocated rather tough restrictions. “We’re not really in safe waters yet.”
The SPD politician said that the Omicron variant BA.2 was more contagious than the previously dominant BA.1 variant. One must also assume that the courses are somewhat more serious, although this has so far only been proven in animal studies. At the moment, however, he sees no danger that the hospitals could be overburdened, said Lauterbach. The RKI recorded in its weekly report that the proportion of corona cases examined by BA.2 in a sample has recently risen to 14.9 percent.
RKI Vice President Lars Schaade said he does not expect the virus to disappear in the medium term. “We have to be prepared for the fact that there will be more Covid waves.” Even if the peak of the omicron wave has now been passed, this does not mean there is any relaxation, especially for the hospitals. “The peak for the intensive care units has not yet been reached.” The risk of infection remains high, older people must be further protected. Lauterbach prepared people for many years to come with the risk of a pandemic. One could think of that in a period of ten years.
Lauterbach also made some announcements for the coming week: “On Monday we expect 1.4 million doses of Novavax,” he announced deliveries of the so-called inactivated vaccine. These should essentially be used to implement compulsory vaccination in nursing or retirement homes. Lauterbach also said that he wanted to present details of the care premium early next week. The SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed in the coalition agreement to make one billion euros available for the bonus. The bonus is to be paid to nurses who were particularly hard hit by the pandemic. Concrete details had been repeatedly postponed, first to the beginning and then to the end of January. (02/18/2022)
Almost 220,000 new infections
The health authorities in Germany reported almost 220,000 new corona infections to the RKI within one day. The seven-day incidence fell to 1372. On Wednesday the value was 1385. 264 people died in connection with the virus.
According to a report by the RKI for the week up to February 6, the highest seven-day incidences are still recorded in children between the ages of five and 14. But even in the older age groups, the seven-day incidences have recently increased again significantly.
However, the figures are only of limited significance. Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data. Test capacities and health authorities are at the limit in many places, contacts are only traced to a limited extent. That is why we use the SZ Corona Dashboard to show an average value from the reports of the past seven days, which is intended to compensate for fluctuations from day to day. You can find more information on this in the transparency blog, further data and graphics on the pandemic here. (02/18/2022)
More than 200 MPs support compulsory vaccination from the age of 18
According to a media report, more than 200 members of the Bundestag have signed the application to introduce general corona vaccination from the age of 18. “To date, 218 MPs have joined our motion for the introduction of general compulsory vaccination and more are being added every hour,” said Deputy SPD parliamentary group leader Dagmar Schmidt Rheinische Post. This means that the application has broad support and forms the basis for the first reading in the Bundestag planned for March.
According to the newspaper report, the signatories are 153 Social Democrats, 60 Greens, three FDP politicians and two Leftists. The Bundestag has a total of 736 MPs, so the number of signatories is still far from a majority.
The draft is to be discussed in the Bundestag as well as a competing proposal for the possible introduction of compulsory vaccination from the age of 50 and a motion against compulsory vaccination without party pressure. The Union faction has also submitted its own application, which initially only provides for a vaccination register and then a graduated plan with a possible vaccination obligation for certain groups depending on the pandemic situation. The traffic light partners have agreed on a first reading on March 14th. (02/18/2022)
RKI weekly report: Omicron variant BA.2 is increasing significantly
The BA.2 variant from Omikron, which can be transferred even more quickly according to initial findings, has increased noticeably in Germany according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The RKI recorded in its weekly report that the proportion of corona cases examined in a sample had recently risen to 14.9 percent. This information refers to the week up to February 6th – for the week before, the RKI gives the share as 10.4 percent.
It is true that there is not yet sufficient data to be able to more precisely assess the properties of the subtype with regard to the severity of the disease. However, due to the progressive spread and easier transferability of BA.2, “a slower decrease or a renewed increase in the number of cases cannot be ruled out,” it says.
The planned relaxation of the corona measures and an associated increase in contacts could therefore also contribute to such a development. Experts have recently increasingly pointed to BA.2 as a possible uncertainty factor. In countries like Denmark, the subtype has already spread rapidly. This is therefore also possible in Germany and, according to many, could ensure that the omicron wave is extended.
The load on the intensive care units is still high. As of Wednesday, 2466 patients who had tested positive for corona had been treated in intensive care units – a week earlier it had been 2398.
In view of the planned easing of the corona measures, the RKI also warns of special consideration when dealing with vulnerable groups. The number of corona outbreaks in old people’s and nursing homes rose again in the week up to February 13, as the weekly report shows. The number of active outbreaks in old people’s and nursing homes has risen to 414 (previous week: 373). 5,226 cases were reported as a result of these outbreaks. In medical treatment facilities, the number of active outbreaks remained “stable, but at a high level”. (02/18/2022)
Demand for vaccinations falls sharply
According to the German Red Cross (DRK) and the Malteser, the demand for vaccinations has fallen sharply in the vaccination centers. The DRK knows from “verbal feedback that the query of vaccination appointments or the perception of vaccination offers is currently at a very low level,” said a spokeswoman for the DRK the editorial network Germany according to a preliminary report. “Experiences from last autumn have shown that it is nevertheless important to maintain vaccination capacities for adaptation and booster vaccination.” (02/18/2022)