According to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, a Corona summer wave is hitting Germany. Because of a lack of precautionary measures, the expected summer effect was crumbling away, he told the ‘Rheinische Post’ daily.
Berlin, June 15th, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) — In Germany, the Corona situation is problematic yet again. In spite of the fact that the summer has not even begun, the positive effect it was supposed to have on the Corona infection numbers is gone. Instead of falling, those numbers are increasing, even though far less people meet indoors, compared to the cold season. Once again, careful politicians who opposed the lifting of almost all anti-Corona measures were right.
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Even More Contagious
The Coronavirus has a variant called Omicron, and Omicron has several subtypes. Two of those, BA.4 and BA.5, are in the process of replacing BA.2, a third subtype that already was more contagious than its predecessor. And yes, BA.4 and BA.5 spread even faster. Apparently, BA.5 also found a way to bypass Corona vaccinations, meaning it does infect persons who have been immunized. On the other hand, vaccinations help prevent severe disease progressions.
Professor Lauterbach has been warning the nation of a summer wave for weeks. Now, it is actually hitting Germany. According to the Robert Koch Institute, 92,344 new Coronavirus infection were registered since yesterday. The Federal Republic’s Seven Day Incidence increased substantially yet again. It just reached a level of 472.4. Eight days ago, it was below 200. The number of Corona-related deaths per day is increasing again too. In the past 24, there have been 112 of them.
Big Vaccination Gap
In an interview with the ‘Rheinische Post’ publication, Lauterbach stated the summer wave which had been announced was now reality. Because the current variant of the Coronavirus was very infectious, and because almost all anti-Corona measures had expired, the summer effect was now disintegrating. This was why he was advising the elderly and persons with pre-existing conditions to get vaccinated again, the Minister told the daily.
Lauterbach pointed out that another vaccination shot would not necessarily prevent infection. “But it will prevent severe disease progression”, he stressed. The problem is that Germany’s vaccination campaign has been stalling for months. Only 75.9 percent of all Germans are fully vaccinated while 59.8 percent got at least one booster shot. Only 6.3 percent were ‘boostered’ a second time. Germany still has a big vaccination gap.
Infection Protection Act
In spite of it all, there are hardly any Corona restrictions. There is a mandatory mask rule in public transport, including on aircraft that take off from German airports or land there. The Infection Protection Act might have to be updated again. One of the many problems a summer wave poses is that it could lead to a giant fall and winter wave if it is not curbed.
Looking for the daily Corona update for Germany? Find it here.
ALL CORONA CHRONOLOGIES:
Corona Chronology for Germany, 2022
Corona Chronology for Germany, 2021
Corona Chronology for Germany, 2020
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