Health Minister Jens Spahn and RKI boss Lothar Wieler dampened hopes for quick openings at the press conference.
An incident causes a stir in Düsseldorf.
The Biontech vaccine is also effective against the mutant from Great Britain and can also prevent infections.
Ugur Sahin explained that in an interview.
(see update from February 26th, 6 p.m.)
RKI President Wieler and Spahn advocate the use of AstraZeneca's corona vaccine.
(see update from February 26, 10:53 a.m.)
Corona mutation: In Düsseldorf, a medical employee went to work despite corona symptoms
(see update from February 27, 6.40 p.m.)
.
This news ticker is updated regularly.
Update from February 27, 6:37 p.m.:
A Düsseldorf medical specialist is said to have worked despite Corona symptoms.
The highly contagious Corona variant B.1.1.7, which first appeared in Great Britain, has now been detected.
The woman is said to have come into contact with up to 450 people.
The city of Düsseldorf announced this in a press release.
The follow-up of the contacts is in full swing and the practice has been closed.
Entry into Germany: SMS with information about corona rules in Germany
Update from February 27, 1:43 p.m
.: Post on smartphone from the top position: Anyone entering Germany * will receive a greeting text from Monday with information from the federal government about the applicable corona rules.
The short message contains a link to a website that explains, among other things, entry and quarantine regulations as well as general hygiene regulations such as the mask requirement.
This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Health * under Jens Spahn (CDU *) on Saturday.
The SMS is therefore sent by the cell phone providers as soon as a cell phone logs into a German network.
The text reads: “The Federal Government: Willkommen / Welcome!
Please note the test / quarantine rules;
please follow the rules on tests / quarantine: https://bmg.bund.de/covid19 ".
The new measure goes back to the Corona entry ordinance from mid-January.
In it, mobile network providers are obliged to send corresponding short messages from March 1st.
You have to do this if your customers log into their home network for more than 24 hours after using a foreign mobile network, or if customers from foreign mobile networks register in the German network.
Corona in Germany: 7-day incidence increases for the third day in a row
Update from February 27, 7:39 a.m
.: The 7-day incidence * has risen again in Germany * according to the RKI * and is now 63.8.
The previous day the value was 62.6.
Within one day, 9,762 new infections with the corona virus were registered in this country.
In addition, 369 other deaths related to an infection were reported.
The seven-day incidence has been hovering around the 60 mark for days. During the hard lockdown * that began in December, the value had fallen for weeks before rising again over the past few days, then falling again and now increasing again for the third day in a row .
Corona in Germany: German hospital society calls for relaxation
Update from February 26, 10:17 p.m.:
Even Dr.
Gerald Gaß, the head of the German Hospital Society (DKG), is now calling for the
image to be
relaxed.
He contradicts the argument that the hospitals and intensive care units could be overloaded as a result.
“We can cautiously allow more where infection protection is feasible.” According to the sheet, 2848 patients are currently being treated in intensive care.
It was at its peak in January, when the number was double that of 5,745 patients.
Gaß sees four important positive developments in the clinics.
The vaccinations in health and care professions make the system a little more resilient.
Staff absences due to infections and quarantine orders would increasingly be eliminated.
In addition, the number of intensive care patients is falling continuously.
This relief would "continue for at least three to four weeks because the waves of infection only arrive at the clinics with a delay in the form of corona patients."
Added to this are the empirical values that the nursing staff has already been able to collect.
Strategies were developed on how to deal with corona patients.
"Almost 3,000 patients were a huge burden in the first wave, new processes have now been established, the teams work differently and more efficiently together, this number of patients no longer brings us to the limits of our capabilities." The fourth point is the decline in severe Course of disease named with the same incidence.
"How difficult are the courses and what can we expect in the clinics?" This warns against just "staring" at the incidence values.
Update from February 26, 9:40 p.m.:
The number of new infections in Germany has risen again.
With 9,997 confirmed cases, the Robert Koch Institute reports almost 800 more than a week ago.
Throughout Germany, the 7-day incidence is 63 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The RKI still rates the risk as very high.
The scientists can also provide a slightly more gratifying value.
394 people died, around 100 fewer people with or from Corona than in the previous week.
A trend that will hopefully continue.
Unfortunately, the 4-day R-value and the 7-day R mean that the numbers could rise again in the coming weeks.
Both values have risen just above the important limit of 1.
This indicates that the virus is continuing to spread in Germany.
Update from February 26th, 6 p.m.:
Biontech founder Ugur Sahin gave
positive updates on the effectiveness of his corona vaccine
in a
picture
interview.
“We know that our vaccine protects against most known mutations, including B1.1.7.
This variant is currently also dominant in Israel. ”A study was recently carried out there in which more than 560,000 Biontech-vaccinated people were tracked and which showed“ that there is almost complete vaccination protection against this variant. ”
The result also shows that the vaccination can not only prevent the symptomatic disease, but also the pure infection by 92 percent.
"Vaccinated people can protect not only themselves, but also others, because the vaccine can also reduce infection." Sahin himself would not have expected these positive findings.
“The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.
And it's not the oncoming train. "
Nevertheless, Sahin warns of the spread of the mutations.
The speed of the British mutant is worrying.
The pandemic could “really pick up speed again”.
The South African variant could also cause problems in the future.
Of 25 virus variants tested, it was namely in which a slight decrease in neutralization was observed.
However, this can be solved by a third vaccination, the so-called booster vaccination.
Another bite could then "produce such a strong immune protection that the variants no longer get through."
Update from February 26th, 11:25 am:
"This virus will no longer go away," Wieler clarified.
You cannot eradicate the coronavirus, but you can get it under control and learn to live with it, the RKI President concluded.
This ends the press conference.
Update from February 26, 11:22 a.m.:
Spahn explains that, unlike vaccines, rapid tests are available quickly and in large quantities.
You only have to set a central framework.
Update from February 26, 11:17 a.m.:
With an EU vaccination card, you have to distinguish between two things, explains Spahn.
On Monday it was decided in the Corona cabinet that an electronic vaccination certificate should also be developed in Germany.
Another question must be discussed in the Bundestag.
"Does something follow from the vaccination certificate?
And if so, what? "
RKI boss Wieler explains that an electronic vaccination certificate is "nice".
What follows from this must be discussed in committees, said Wieler.
Corona in Germany: RKI boss defends himself against allegations of "only looking at a number"
Update from February 26th, 11:08 am:
The spread of the corona mutation cannot "yet be conclusively defined," explains Spahn.
With a view to the infection rate in Germany, he currently does not see the target incidence value of 35 within reach.
“We always took many factors into account”, Wieler defends himself against the accusation that one would “only look at one number” - the incidence.
“There isn't just one number that we can all make decisions about,” said Wieler.
Update from February 26th, 11:02 am:
"The RKI can also think for itself," said Wieler.
The RKI has been working on the published opening concept since December.
The employees of the RKI website are "simply overloaded," said Wieler.
They “simply forgot” to tweet the important document.
Therefore it only appeared on the homepage.
The RKI boss apologized for this.
Update from February 26, 10:56 a.m.:
The new mutations from California and New York have not yet been discovered in Germany, according to Wieler.
He appealed again, even with possible openings, to continue to be careful and to adhere to the rules.
Corona in Germany: Spahn and Wieler advocate AstraZeneca vaccine
Update from February 26th, 10:53 am:
"This vaccine is safe and effective, it protects", assures Spahn about the AstraZeneca corona vaccine.
There are enough citizens: inside priority group 2 who would also accept the offer with AstraZeneca, Spahn is certain.
The particularly vulnerable groups should also receive a second vaccination, every nine to twelve weeks.
A second vaccination after twelve weeks may have an “even better vaccination”, says Spahn.
Wieler enthusiastically reports on a number from Scotland.
500,000 people are vaccinated there.
The vaccine from AstraZeneca reduces the rate of hospitalizations there by 94 percent, according to Wieler.
"This is excellent news." Side effects such as headaches are normal vaccine reactions.
"Personally, I wouldn't be happier about anything than if I could soon use this Astrazeneca vaccine myself," the RKI boss clarifies.
+
Health Minister Jens Spahn seeks trust in AstraZeneca's corona vaccine.
© Wolfgang Kumm / dpa
Update from February 26, 10:46 a.m.:
In future, the currently remaining PCR test capacities in Germany are to be used for retesting in self-tests and rapid tests if the test result is positive, explains Federal Health Minister Spahn.
Corona in Germany: testing “indispensable” for further openings
Update from February 26, 10:40 a.m.:
Dr.
Lisa Federle is the chief emergency doctor and pandemic officer for the city of Tübingen.
She explains the "Tübinger Weg".
The Swabian city started comprehensive tests in hospitals, schools and daycare centers at an early stage.
Driving schools and hairdressers will soon be tested on a regular basis.
“I've been fighting for the rapid tests for months and I'm convinced that this is a very important step,” explains Federle.
She is pleased about the financial support from the federal government and that more and more federal states, including Spahn, are relying on a comprehensive test strategy in the future.
Testing is "indispensable" for further openings, "if we don't want to run into a third wave with oomph," says Federle.
Testing has to become an everyday process; she compares it to brushing your teeth.
"Self-tests are not a silver bullet" - RKI boss Wieler continues to urge caution
Update from February 26th, 10.30 a.m.:
The number of infections among those over 80 is falling.
Wieler explained that this was a first effect of the vaccination.
"B.1.1.7 is more contagious, spreads faster and is more dangerous in all age groups," explains RKI boss Wieler about the British corona mutation.
The 7-day incidence is increasing again in some federal states.
He warned of a third wave of the corona pandemic.
He appealed to the population to continue to comply with the rules and to reduce contacts, “especially in closed rooms”.
The RKI boss is happy about the quick and self-tests that are available.
"A negative test result is not 100 percent certain," explains Wieler.
Even if a test is negative, you cannot meet with others without protection, according to the RKI boss.
"Self-tests are not a silver bullet, but they are a useful tool."
The most important tool, however, continues to be the people themselves. "And that also means that we get vaccinated," said Wieler.
Corona in Germany: Spahn names "caution, vaccination, testing" three important components for the further path
Update from February 26, 10:25 a.m.:
Increased testing will help in the future to be able to live better with the corona virus.
There is now a sufficient range of rapid tests.
"Rapid tests can be part of our further strategy if we offer them free of charge or at low prices," said Spahn.
Tübingen is a positive example.
"Self-tests provide security for certain situations," says Spahn.
He cites concerts as an example.
“I am convinced that self-tests will be part of our everyday life in the future,” said the Minister of Health.
However, they do not provide 100% security.
"The PCR test remains the gold standard."
"Caution, vaccination, testing: these are three important components for our further path," explains Spahn.
Update from February 26th, 10:20 am:
First of all, Health Minister Spahn takes the floor.
"Almost all residents: inside of old people's and nursing homes have now received a vaccination offer," begins Spahn.
The majority would have accepted this offer.
“That is having an effect,” explains the Minister of Health.
The strategy of first vaccinating the risk groups is working.
A total of 160,000 vaccinations were carried out in the last two days.
In the future, in addition to the vaccination centers in the federal states, medical practices will also be included in the regular corona vaccination.
"We are currently preparing well," explains the Minister of Health.
Update from February 26, 10.15 a.m.:
The press conference with Health Minister Spahn and RKI President Wieler begins.
Corona in Germany: Press conference with Spahn and RKI boss Wieler
Update from February 26, 9.55 a.m.:
Around 10.15 a.m., Federal Health
Minister
Jens Spahn (CDU), RKI boss Lothar Wieler and Dr.
Lisa Federle, chief emergency doctor and pandemic officer from Tübingen, report on the current corona situation in Germany.
In addition to the current corona numbers, quick and self-tests as well as the corona vaccination should also be an issue.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) announced after an EU summit yesterday that an EU vaccination card would be developed by the summer.
+
Jens Spahn (r, CDU), Federal Minister of Health and Lothar Wieler (M), President of the Robert Koch Institute, after a press conference two weeks ago.
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
First report from February 26th:
Berlin - vaccinate, test, loosen: This is a triad that seems to be conclusive to many.
But in Germany it's not that easy at the moment.
"Announcement minister", "Vaccination and test debacle", "Snout full": Such words have graced the headlines of the last few days.
Even the
New York Times
now says: The Germans are waiting.
Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) is someone who is currently in the spotlight again and again for good and bad developments.
He remained “steadfast” in the government survey, also because the questions posed by the MPs seemed soft rather than critical.
But above all the SPD seems to have chosen Spahn as a target.
This Friday, Spahn will be back for his routine appointment at the federal press conference.
From 10.15 a.m., he and the President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) *, Lothar Wieler, will answer questions about the corona situation in lockdown.
In the last week, the gentlemen mainly talked about the trend reversal that is once again emerging.
The numbers in Germany remain at the same level, in some cases they are rising again.
The next nationwide easing step in Germany is the opening of hairdressers.
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) expected at the last Corona summit that an incidence of 50 would be achievable on March 1st.
In the current RKI numbers from Friday morning, however, the value is 62.6.
It is unlikely that this will decrease in this way by Monday.
Spahn and Wieler at the federal press conference on the corona situation: RKI dashboard not available in the morning
Rapid tests and self-tests * are currently also finding a large place in the debate.
Merkel was cautious on Thursday, however, about a rapid relaxation of corona restrictions on their use.
Merkel said after an EU summit, it must first be assessed what effect increased testing would have.
"And then you can think about whether we also have a little more space to open." The procedure, however, cannot be "that we first define the opening and then see whether the testing helps us," said the Chancellor .
"In my opinion that would be too dangerous."
During his appearance in the Bundestag on Wednesday, Spahn emphasized how important it is for him to look at several figures in context in order to consider the situation.
"This pandemic cannot be reduced to a number," said the Minister of Health.
In connection with the rapid tests, Merkel said: In her opinion, it is not generally possible to do without observing the incidence values of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, she considered it possible that a “buffer” would be created through increased testing, “so that the incidence could go slightly higher than 35”.
RKI President Wieler may also comment on what was going on with the RKI dashboard that morning.
There seemed to be inconsistencies in the information on the counties.
For Bavaria, values are sometimes reported that are almost twice as high as the day before.
Then the dashboard was inaccessible for a while.
"The data is currently being updated," it said.
It should be available again from 10 a.m.
Then it will show whether the numbers are still that high.
Corona in Germany: vaccination sequence remains an issue
The debate also remains heated when it comes to vaccination.
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) suggested a new prioritization of the Astrazeneca vaccine, which many people are reserved about and of which only a fraction of the available doses have so far been administered.
“If this continues, we will be left sitting on a mountain of AstraZeneca vaccination doses.
Nobody can want that with a vaccine that protects well, ”said the CSU boss to the
editorial network Germany
.
“If the trend at AstraZeneca continues, there is no point in constantly re-prioritizing.
It would then make sense to immediately infiltrate AstraZeneca through the medical profession.
Because we should inoculate everything that works as quickly as possible, ”said Söder.
Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) replied that AstraZeneca was well received in his state.
"In addition, it is not helpful if this very good vaccine is now completely unjustifiably given a slow-moving image," Ramelow told the
RND
.
(cibo / dpa / AFP) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network.
List of rubric lists: © Marijan Murat
