The hope of an early end to the corona virus is growing. Many experts assume that the omicron wave will flatten out in the next few weeks. But new data from the clinics give reason for caution.
For a long time it seemed as if Germany would get through the omicron wave relatively well. Although the number of infections is breaking new records every day, the feared collapse of the critical infrastructure did not materialize – also because politicians had taken protective measures in good time.
But in the meantime, the stresses are increasing in the clinics, especially on normal wards. A total of 17,940 corona-positive patients were in the hospital nationwide on Wednesday, according to a new overview published by the German Hospital Society (DKG) on Thursday. Of these, 15,542 patients were in normal wards, 21.5 percent more than a week ago. There were 2,398 corona-positive patients in intensive care units – 3.8 percent more than a week ago.
The data does not distinguish whether patients come because of a Covid infection or whether the infection found is not the cause of the treatment, as explained. The overview by country should now be updated every working day.
DKG boss: Normal wards in the corona pandemic are becoming increasingly important
DKG boss Gerald Gass said that with the omicron wave, data from the normal stations would become more and more important. “With the extremely high number of infections, the incidence has lost much of its meaningfulness, and the situation in the intensive care units is currently less tense than in previous waves.”
The DKG explained that the new data publication should help to make the pandemic situation more transparent. In general, the data situation in Germany is very unsatisfactory even after two years of the pandemic. Hospitals collect the most accurate data about their corona patients. Unfortunately, the data would not be processed and published in such a way that they could be of any help in assessing and managing the pandemic.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection welcomed the fact that there was finally corona monitoring for all hospitals. Currently 3.34 percent of patients are infected with the virus, said board member Eugen Brysch. It seems that the omicron wave rolled over Schleswig-Holstein. Because this federal state is the only one to show a decreasing occupancy incidence in the overview. These facts show that the hospitals are currently not overloaded, said Brysch.
Source: Stern
