Will the Corona summer wave soon be behind us? The RKI states a declining infection rate, but does not give the all-clear. The Minister of Health asks questions about the Corona autumn.
Despite falling corona numbers, people in Germany will have to prepare for nationwide mask requirements and possible stricter protective requirements from October.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wants to stick to his controversial proposals if possible, as he made clear in Berlin. Despite some strong criticism from the federal states, the SPD politician was confident that they would be implemented. Vaccines adapted to the omicron variant will probably be available from September, as Lauterbach also announced.
The Corona situation has eased at the moment. “The summer wave is now slowly starting to recede,” said Lauterbach. There is a “robust decline in the number of cases”. “First of all, that gives reason to be happy. That’s still no reason for the all-clear.”
Peak of the summer wave passed
The seven-day incidence fell again by 27 percent last week after a decline in the previous week. This is shown by the latest weekly report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). There are also fewer infected people with symptoms. Conclusion of the RKI: The current wave peak seems to have been exceeded. Nevertheless, there were still 372 corona deaths in the past week after 444 in the previous week. Serious illnesses also declined more slowly than the overall numbers.
For the next few weeks, the RKI expects a further high number of hospital admissions, corona intensive care patients and deaths – especially in older age groups. Lauterbach also said, citing further RKI assessments, that the number of unreported cases of infections is increasing.
Roadmap for the Infection Protection Act
As early as August 24, the Federal Cabinet should give the green light for the controversial draft by Lauterbach and FDP Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann on the corona measures in autumn and winter, as the Minister of Health announced. Next week it should be further coordinated with the countries. He is not set in stone. But: “I think the proposal makes sense.” Bavaria and other countries had sometimes expressed strong criticism. The Bundestag and Bundesrat should then adopt the new set of rules.
According to the proposal, countries should introduce a mask requirement indoors from October 1 – regardless of the incidence. The federal states could also do without it, emphasized Lauterbach. But he expects all federal states to take the measure. Because, among other things, the end of the summer holidays will probably worsen the Corona situation again.
The controversial exceptions
If the countries introduce the mask requirement, “they must provide an exception for indoor areas, where wearing a mask can be replaced by either a vaccination card, a convalescent card or fresh testing,” affirmed Lauterbach. The mask should not be mandatory if you have been vaccinated in the three months before. “That’s the length of time we believe the new vaccines will protect against infections, not just severe cases.”
Lauterbach explained the purpose of the planned exception as follows: “If someone goes into an inn, for example, goes in with a mask, is not vaccinated, has not been tested, then takes off the mask, then sits there for an hour without a mask because he is eating , then it can be less certain than if he has previously shown a fresh vaccination card.” It could therefore be additional security in the restaurant if there were more vaccinated people and people who had just recovered than people with a mask – “although that is not immediately plausible for the layperson”. Lauterbach said these should be incentives to get vaccinated or tested.
In response to criticism of the lack of feasibility, Lauterbach explained the planned reprogramming of the Corona-WarnApp. If you have just been vaccinated, tested or recovered, the app will automatically and without delay show green instead of blue – this can then be seen at a glance in the restaurant.
The fourth vaccination
The European approval of the vaccines against the omicron variants BA.1 and BA.5 is expected in September, as Lauterbach said. This is due on September 1st for BA.1 and September 27th for BA.5. The vaccines could be delivered on the next day. “The federal government has procured sufficient quantities of both vaccines,” said Lauterbach.
This raises the question of who should be vaccinated with which vaccine and when. Lauterbach had been accused of causing confusion with previous statements and of undermining the standing of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko).
Now the Minister of Health explained: Anyone who is older, previously ill or in constant contact with many people should not wait for the adapted vaccines. Current vaccines could also prevent the serious consequences of an infection, including death. He again recommended younger people to ask their family doctor whether the fourth vaccination is already recommended. Lauterbach: “The family doctor can say: No, absolutely not, or the family doctor can say: For God’s sake, you are such a severe asthmatic, then definitely.”
Stiko is also working on vaccination recommendations for the adapted vaccines. Lauterbach announced that the vaccination commission would also be strengthened. For example, Stiko should have a pandemic working group (PAIKO) with external experts, in whose meetings he also wants to take part, said Lauterbach.
Source: Stern
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