The number of infections in Germany is increasing - including the usual guide values.
And that despite the lockdown.
SPD health expert Lauterbach warns of a new pandemic.
Munich - "I think it is certain that these numbers indicate that we are at the beginning of the third wave," warns SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach.
The number of infections with the coronavirus * is rising again in Germany - and that in the middle of lockdown.
Even before far-reaching easing was even decided.
It is clear, according to Lauterbach in an interview with
SWR
, "the lockdown is strong enough to fight the old virus variant - but the new variants continue to expand." And he adds: "The mutations could be a new one Trigger a pandemic. "
The focus is on the British variant B.1.1.7. * And the South African mutant B.1.351.
On Monday, February 22nd, in some of the ten federal states, presence in elementary schools and daycare centers will start again.
According to the expert, a critical moment in the current Corona * crisis - he was hoping for alternating lessons and antigen tests.
“The antigen tests are not there yet,” says Lauterbach.
“That is why you go into the schools, you have to be clear, into the risk.” He advocates using the antigen tests as quickly and specifically as possible in schools.
Corona in Germany: RKI reports an increase in the numbers - worrying trend due to mutations
The health authorities in Germany reported 7676 new corona * infections to the Robert Koch Institute * (RKI) within one day.
In addition, 145 new deaths related to the virus were registered within 24 hours, according to figures from the RKI on Sunday.
1500 new infections more than a week ago: On Sunday a week ago, the RKI had recorded 6114 new infections and 218 new deaths within one day.
Thus, the number of cases in Germany shows a rising trend again, after having continuously decreased over a long period of time.
According to the RKI, the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants reported within seven days (seven-day incidence *) was 60.2 nationwide on Sunday morning - and thus again higher than the previous day (57.8).
R-value in Germany higher than it has been in weeks - despite the corona lockdown
The RKI gave the nationwide seven-day R-value on Saturday afternoon as 1.07 (previous day 1.01).
That is the highest value in several weeks.
This means that 100 infected people theoretically infect 107 more people.
This could indicate that the more contagious virus variants are spreading faster despite the lockdown.
According to the RKI management report on Saturday, the dangerous trend in all three areas of the reference values is clear: and the trend is rising.
"Germany is in a really difficult phase" of the corona pandemic, said Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) in an online discussion on Saturday.
The rising numbers are now - regardless of the lower guidelines by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) - on a society that believed the first easing was within reach.
But whether easing can be expected in March depends on the development of the spread of the mutation *, said the Minister of Health.
Corona virus in Germany: Spahn lowers hope for easing in March
In the past few weeks, the voices of the people tired of measures have increased.
Even the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), who has repeatedly appeared as a doer in the Corona crisis in recent months - and was thus able to collect plus points across Germany - had fallen in popularity again.
It remains uncertain whether the three-part step-by-step plan, which should be officially announced on Monday, will remain uncertain.
A study from Israel now offers a glimmer of hope - the Biontech vaccinations should not only protect against infection, but also the spread of the virus.
If there is enough vaccine for the population, a return to normalcy is at least conceivable.
Israel was one of the countries with the toughest lockdown rules in the world and has now loosened it again in a snap.
(nai) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network.
