Omikron variant in Germany: Experts are certain - "The wave will come"
Created: 12/15/2021, 6:24 PM
From: Tom Offinger
The Omikron variant does not yet determine the pandemic in Germany, but that could soon change, as epidemiologists fear.
Berlin / Munich - The measures seem to be paying off: The incidence and number of infections in Germany have been falling for a few days, while the booster campaign is running without any major background noise.
But epidemiologists are already warning of the next danger: A wave of Omicron infections is currently sweeping across Great Britain and Denmark and could soon reach Germany as well.
The effects could be severe.
Omicron variant: epidemiologist certain - "wave will come"
So far, the Omikron variant of the coronavirus has been holding back in Germany: Only just under 100 cases are currently known in Germany, but in the long term it should be significantly more. "The Omikron wave will come", epidemiologist Timo Ulrichs is
sure of
ntv.de.
Unvaccinated people and federal states are particularly affected, the expert argues, and the wave is likely to peak in January or February. "We can still influence when it comes and how high the wave will be," says Ulrichs.
Ulrichs is not the only epidemiologist who predicts the situation will worsen. "I fear that Omikron will lead to an increase in the number of infections again in two to three weeks at the latest, probably also in hospital admissions," Gérard Krause from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig recently told the German Press Agency (dpa ). According to Christian Karagiannidis, the head of the DIVI intensive care register, the number of cases could even rise again in time for the Christmas holidays.
The currently valid corona measures would at least give Germany some time to boost as many people as possible, explains Ulrichs firmly.
Ulrichs notes that the booster vaccination is an extremely effective weapon against Omikron.
Boosted people would no longer contribute so much to the infection process, at the same time the burden on the health system would be reduced.
“We currently have around 5000 Covid intensive care patients nationwide.
At no point in the pandemic did we have so few free beds.
The Omikron wave will hit clinics that have long since reached their limits, ”Karagiannidis recently warned the Funke media group.
Omicron variant: Great Britain and Denmark have reached their limits
The effects of the Omikron variant can currently be seen in Great Britain and Denmark.
The British have already had to report 1,800 Omicron cases, while Denmark is now recording more cases than ever since the pandemic began.
270 Danes have already been proven to be infected with the mutant, and 3,000 others are at least suspected.
According to initial observations, however, one thing is certain: the Omikron variant is spreading at extreme speed.
An exact prognosis is still difficult, but studies from Denmark and Great Britain suggest that the number of Omicron infections doubles every three to four days, says Richard Neher from the Biozentrum of the University of Basel in an interview published on the university's website would.
The next few weeks should be a decisive guide in the fight against Omikron and the coronavirus in general.
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