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Corona test: Delta variant dominates in Germany (archive image)
Photo: Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
The proportion of the delta variant of the coronavirus in Germany is now around 84 percent.
This emerges from the weekly management report of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
In Germany and other European countries, most infections are caused by worrying variants, it says.
Last week, the proportion of the Delta variant was 74 percent.
The RKI estimates the occurrence of the variants on the basis of random samples selected for sequencing.
Accordingly, the proportion of alpha (formerly B.1.1.7) was 12 percent - until a few weeks ago, alpha was still the dominant variant in Germany and responsible for most of the third wave infections.
The decline in the 7-day incidence observed from the end of April 2021 to the end of June 2021 does not continue, reports the RKI.
An increase in the number of cases has been observed since the beginning of July, especially in the 15 to 34 age group.
The decline in hospitalizations is also currently not continuing.
However, a comparison of hospitalized cases for which information on the variant of Sars-CoV-2 is available shows no difference between alpha and delta in terms of the proportion of hospitalizations for the past four reporting weeks.
Herd immunity unlikely
According to current estimates, the delta variant is up to 60 percent more infectious than the alpha variant of the coronavirus.
However, a full vaccination seems to provide good protection against severe disease and hospitalization.
Infections with the delta variant are, however, possible in rare cases even with complete immunization.
The RKI therefore continues to assess the overall health risk for the population in Germany who have not been vaccinated or have only been vaccinated once as high.
For those who have been completely vaccinated, the risk is assessed as moderate.
So far, around 48 percent of the total population in Germany has been fully vaccinated. 12 percent only received the first vaccination but not the second. According to calculations, a vaccination rate of well over 80 percent would be necessary for herd immunity. The RKI now considers this to be unrealistic, because the total number of vaccine doses administered per week is now declining. In addition, the vaccines have so far only been approved for people aged 12 and over. Under 12-year-olds alone make up around ten percent of the total population.
The RKI calls for the individual risk of infection to be minimized again due to the increasing number of cases.
"If possible avoid situations in which so-called super-spreading events can occur, have yourself tested even if you have mild symptoms of the disease and stay at home if the test result is positive." It is also strongly recommended that the offers for vaccination against Perceive Covid-19.
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