RKI weekly report
Corona incidence in children and adolescents is sometimes more than 500
According to the RKI, 636 school outbreaks have been reported nationwide in the last four weeks.
© Friso Gentsch / DPA
The number of corona cases is stagnating, but there are regional and demographic differences. The current weekly report of the RKI shows that children and adolescents are particularly likely to contract Corona.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) registers a particularly high number of corona infections among children and adolescents in individual regions of Germany. In eight districts and one urban district, the seven-day incidence is currently more than 500 among 10 to 19-year-olds, as the RKI reported on Thursday evening on the occasion of the Corona weekly report. More detailed information on the districts and their respective numbers were initially not given, but the regions were colored accordingly on a map. The RKI also gave no information on possible backgrounds for the regionally high numbers.
Nationwide, the seven-day incidence last week in the age groups under 20 years, however, fell slightly compared to the week before, it was said in summary. In contrast, the values for people over 20 rose slightly.
The RKI also spoke nationwide of 636 school breakouts transmitted for the past four weeks – due to possible late registrations, however, the past two weeks in particular cannot yet be assessed.
Vaccination quota could play a role
For some time now, numerous corona infections have been found, especially in children from school age and in adolescents. The virus is tested regularly at daycare centers and schools. The Covid-19 vaccines have so far been approved for ages 12 and up. The vaccination rate for 12 to 17 year olds is much lower than for adults. Children and adolescents are significantly less likely to get seriously ill with Covid-19 than older people, but there are still unanswered questions about long-term consequences.
The RKI continues to write that there has been a plateau in the number of cases of patients with Covid-19 in the intensive care units over the past few weeks. Almost 1,400 adults are currently cared for there. The Divi Intensive Register indicates the proportion of underage people affected at 0.7 percent (as of October 14).
Vaccine breakthroughs are more common in the elderly
In the groups over 70 years of age for which the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) now recommends a booster vaccination, the increase in incidence is largely slight, according to the report. It is larger, especially among the very old over 90 years – the value rose from 39 to 48 from the week before last to last week. In older age, the immune response after vaccinations is generally lower and vaccination breakthroughs could more often lead to a more severe course, according to the Stiko justification for the booster vaccinations.
Overall, the RKI currently rates the situation with the number of infections as stagnating. The developments in the individual federal states differ. In a comparison of the past two weeks, Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Saarland recorded significant increases, according to the weekly report.