Intensive accompanying communication is required to understand the measures. In a strategy paper, the RKI recommends, among other things, closing restaurants immediately and extending the Christmas holidays for daycare centers and schools.
With a view to the new Omikron variant of the coronavirus, the RKI speaks of a “pandemic wave currently starting in Germany”. Even if this wave is still in its infancy in this country, a look abroad shows “that this variant will result in a wave of infections with a dynamic that has not yet been observed”.
Despite the uncertainties that still existed, initial analyzes indicated that Omikron could identify the majority of cases of infection in Germany as early as January 2022, the RKI announced. There could be tens of thousands of Omikron infections per day. Under the current conditions, the doubling time in Germany is around three days.
“The 2G / 3G concepts should be sharpened taking into account the Omikron variant, since a considerable transmission of this variant must also be assumed by those who have recovered and who have been completely vaccinated without a booster”, writes the RKI.
The number of new cases of the fourth wave due to the delta variant is declining, writes the RKI. Nevertheless, the hospital admissions and the utilization of the intensive care units are still at a very high level. “If the dynamics of the upcoming Omikron wave are not slowed down, the high number of cases to be expected in a short period of time means that the health care structures in Germany will be overburdened.” A further impairment of the critical supply structures – for example transport and production chains, energy, police, fire brigade – must be expected.
The further course of the epidemiological situation in the next few weeks depends on the behavior of the population on the holidays and the unpredictable strength of the flu circulation as another pathogen with epidemic potential.
In the afternoon, the federal and state governments will again discuss measures to combat the pandemic in Germany. It is assumed that there will be no nationwide lockdown, but contact restrictions – also for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.
Source: Nachrichten
