Pandemic in Germany: highest level with 81,417 new infections

Status: 01/13/2022 7:40 a.m.

The number of new infections has reached a new daily high of 81,417 cases. According to the RKI, the incidence rises to 427.7. Health Minister Lauterbach sees the vaccination goal at risk again. The head of the crisis team, Breuer, warns of bottlenecks in tests.

The number of new corona infections transmitted to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within one day has again reached a high. According to the RKI, the health authorities reported 81,417 cases in 24 hours. The day before, the number had exceeded the threshold of 80,000 for the first time. A week ago, 64,340 new infections had been registered, with gaps in tests and reports over the course of the holidays.

The RKI gave the seven-day incidence as 427.7. The previous day the value was 407.5. A week ago the nationwide incidence was 285.9 (previous month: 389.2). On November 29, the RKI reported the previous high of 452.4.

According to the new information, a further 316 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 443 deaths. This increased the number of people who died of or involving a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 to 115,051.

More than 7.7 million corona infections

The RKI has counted 7,743,228 detected infections with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections are not recognized. The RKI puts the number of those who have recovered at 6,878,100.

In November, the federal and state governments set the so-called hospitalization incidence as the decisive yardstick for tightening the corona measures. This value indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants are in hospital within seven days because of a corona infection. According to the latest RKI report, the nationwide hospitalization incidence is 3.13 (previous day 3.34).

Lauterbach sees 80 percent vaccination target at risk

In order to counter the current wave of Omikron, the federal government had set the goal of an 80 percent quota for first vaccinations by the end of January. Originally January 7th was mentioned as the date by which the first vaccinations should have reached a rate of 80 percent. The goal was postponed to the end of January in December. Now this vaccination goal threatens to fail again. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told the news portal “The Pioneer”: “It will be very difficult, that is clear.”

So far, 74.8 percent – or 62.2 million people – received at least one vaccine dose. Lauterbach said there was a drop in vaccinations over the holidays. “So you have to push it again. But it’s not worth complaining about,” he said. “We have to work at full speed.”

Most recently, more than 710,000 vaccination doses were administered in Germany, including around 48,500 primary vaccinations. The day before, there were more than 520,000 vaccinations, including around 34,700 primary vaccinations. “But I think we can accelerate it again,” said Lauterbach “The Pioneer”.

DKG calls for the rapid introduction of compulsory vaccinations

The German Hospital Society (DKG) is calling for a mandatory vaccination to be introduced as soon as possible. “The process must now be stringent and speedy,” said association chief Gerald Gass of the Funke media group. “I consider it too late that a vaccination is only compulsory from autumn onwards.” The topic should not be completely talked to death until broad agreement is no longer possible.

The German Professional Association for Nursing Professions is also in favor of a general compulsory corona vaccination. A high vaccination rate is the only way to get out of the pandemic and reduce the severity of the disease, said association president Christel Bienstein of the “Rheinische Post”. Employees in acute and long-term care are burned out, a high vaccination rate is a central aspect in order to finally protect and support them.

Situation in critical infrastructure still relaxed

The decision on compulsory vaccination rests with the Bundestag and will probably not be made before March. Today the Bundestag votes on the new corona quarantine rules agreed between the federal and state governments. These are intended to keep important supply areas running, even if the number of infected people increases sharply.

Head of the Corona crisis team warns of test bottlenecks

Due to the rapidly spreading omicron variant of the corona virus, the head of the corona crisis team of the federal government, Major General Carsten Breuer, may lead to bottlenecks in corona tests. “As with all scarce resources, we will certainly have to bundle capacities where necessary. This also applies to tests,” he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. “As soon as things get tight somewhere, I have to prioritize. Employees in the critical infrastructure have priority.” The goal, however, is to maintain the previous test regime for as long as possible.

The Bundeswehr general warned against underestimating the danger posed by the Omikron variant of the corona virus. “We need a bulwark against Omikron,” said Breuer. Germany should “not get into a position where we have to shut down the critical infrastructure to such an extent that public life is restricted”. Vaccination remains the central remedy for the omicron wave. “For me, every spade counts in an upper arm,” said the general.

Government continues to campaign for compulsory vaccination

Angela Tesch, ARD Berlin, January 13th, 2022 7:22 am

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