In Germany, people are wondering whether the Coronavirus pandemic will be over soon, now that the third wave was broken and the vaccination campaign is being sped up further. The answer is no, since there still are many issues, including a new danger called B.1.627.2.
Berlin, May 16th, 2021 (The Berlin Spectator) — The first Coronavirus infection in Germany was confirmed 473 days ago, in January of 2020. Since that moment, three and a half million Germans and residents of other nationalities got infected and 86,000 persons have died. Within one and a half years, Germany went through three big Corona waves. The country did manage to prevent an overburdening of its health system from happening.
Logistical Nightmare
Since the situation is now improving, the upcoming summer could be relatively worriless, but there still are serious issues. For instance, the Indian Coronavirus mutation has reached the European continent. It has the potential to cause a lot of trouble, including a new Coronavirus wave. It remains to be seen how B.1.627.2 reacts to Corona vaccinations. At this stage, this more contagious variant is being detected in 2 percent of all new Coronavirus infections. Germany is hoping it will not have to cancel the lifting and easing of Corona restrictions its federal states have announced, because of this danger.
In regard to the ongoing vaccination campaign, things are looking good. But Germany’s Vaccination Commission believes the millions of vaccinations that have been administered in Germany by now will have to be refreshed starting in fall. What this means is that Corona might win again, unless the speed of the vaccination campaign is tripled or quadrupled. Tens of millions of people are waiting for their first and second shots, while many will need their refreshment shot in fall and winter. This is a logistical nightmare.
‘Complicated Situation’
For the Social-Democratic party SPD, its health expert Heiner Lauterbach told the ‘T-Online’ news website, “the big times of Corona” were now over. At the same time, he warned of a “complicated situation” that might arise in fall. The larger the share of persons who were not immunized, the bigger the problems that had to be expected in the cold season would become, Lauterbach told the publication. He said one of the issues was that certain demographic groups, including migrants and Germans in the eastern part of the country, were “hard to reach”.
All relevant Corona numbers for Germany, and daily Corona updates, can be found in our Corona chronology.
Germany’s Seven Day Incidence just decreased to 83.1. In the past 24 hours, 8,500 new Corona cases were reported and 71 individuals died of COVID-19. Baden-Württemberg might soon become the 14th of a total of 16 federal states in Germany to drop below the Incidence level of 100. It now stands at 102.3. Up north, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg are below 50.
Culture and Restaurants
With a level of 66.9, things are looking better in Berlin too. From Wednesday, the city state will allow cultural events to take place outdoors, as long as the number of people in the audience does not exceed 250. The usual distancing and mask rules will still apply. On May 21st, 2021, restaurants and cafés may welcome customers at their outdoor tables.
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