The Robert Koch Institute has been observing an accumulation of corona outbreaks in schools and daycare centers since August - two months earlier than in 2020.
Berlin - The frequency of corona outbreaks at schools and daycare centers is increasing two months earlier than in the previous year.
That emerges from the weekly report of the Robert Koch Institute on Thursday.
Within the past four weeks, the authority received reports of 201 corona outbreaks in daycare centers and 481 outbreaks in schools.
When evaluating the data, the test activities and the delta variant also play a role.
Data show: More corona outbreaks in schools and daycare centers than in 2020
From mid-August to early September, the corona cases in schools and daycare centers increased.
Since mid-September there has been a decline in the number of cases reported by daycare centers and schools.
However, this cannot yet be conclusively assessed, according to the RKI report.
Because late registrations may be possible.
Overall, however, the number of cases increased two months earlier in the past four weeks than in 2020. One age group in particular stands out: the number of cases among the zero to five year olds increased continuously.
In the second wave, 35 percent of this age group were affected in daycare centers, in the third corona wave 45 percent.
In August and September, 65 percent of the positively reported children from daycare centers were between zero and five years old.
"With the increasing trend of outbreaks in day-care centers and schools, the expanded test activities and the easier transferability of the delta variant probably play a role, with (asymptomatic) infections being detected early," the report explains the results.
The outbreaks in schools are already approaching the highs of the second and third waves, while the numbers from daycare centers are significantly lower.
RKI boss Lothar Wieler: "We want schools to stay open, but with protective measures"
The head of the Robert Koch Institute Lothar Wieler spoke out in favor of the schools and daycare centers remaining open. However, not without the appropriate protection against infection. He also called for this for old people's and nursing homes. There, as well as in daycare centers and schools, the expert believes that the corona measures should apply until spring 2022. “We want daycare centers and schools to stay open, but please keep protective measures.” However, several federal states, such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Brandenburg, had. the mask requirement in schools is lifted.
Children with previous illnesses are particularly at risk.
Because they cannot be vaccinated despite the STIKO vaccination recommendation for children from the age of twelve.
The vaccine has not yet been approved for children between the ages of zero and eleven.
"The best protection are vaccinated adults," said pediatrician Axel Gerschlauer in an interview with the
world
on the subject.
Progress has already been made with the vaccine for the youngest, at least in the USA: Biontech and Pfizer applied to the US FDA on Thursday for emergency approval for the vaccine for five to eleven year olds.
