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Corona Expert Council fears "explosive spread" by Omikron - "emergency plan" should come

2021-12-21T08:36:52.871Z


Corona Expert Council fears "explosive spread" by Omikron - "emergency plan" should come Created: 12/21/2021, 09:24 AM From: Andreas Schmid Michael Müller, Olaf Scholz and Hendrik Wüst at the Corona summit in early December. They want to meet again on Tuesday (December 21). © Michael Kappeler / dpa The critical infrastructure in Germany is at risk, warns the Corona Expert Council. The federal


Corona Expert Council fears "explosive spread" by Omikron - "emergency plan" should come

Created: 12/21/2021, 09:24 AM

From: Andreas Schmid

Michael Müller, Olaf Scholz and Hendrik Wüst at the Corona summit in early December.

They want to meet again on Tuesday (December 21).

© Michael Kappeler / dpa

The critical infrastructure in Germany is at risk, warns the Corona Expert Council.

The federal government is therefore already preparing the first emergency plans.

Berlin - The Federal Government's Corona Expert Council is sounding the alarm about Omikron.

In a letter about the new coronavirus variant that

IPPEN.MEDIA

has received, there is talk of "the fourth and so far strongest

wave of

infections after almost two years of the corona pandemic".

Omikron threatens "extreme stress on the health system and critical infrastructure"

The 19-member expert council, which supports Chancellor Olaf Scholz * (SPD) and the federal government in pandemic policy, warns of a "new dimension" in terms of pandemic events.

The experts already see a “need for action” in the coming days.

Because: "If the spread of the Omikron variant in Germany continues, a relevant part of the population would be ill and / or in quarantine at the same time."

The Expert Council fears that "the health system and the entire critical infrastructure of our country will be extremely strained" if Omikron continues to expand at this rapid pace.

The critical infrastructure, or KRITIS for short, refers to those facilities that are essential for social life.

This includes professional fields such as hospitals, police, fire brigade, rescue service, telecommunications, electricity and water supply as well as the corresponding logistics.

The Expert Council also fears “further collateral effects” in the care of children or people in need of care.

Critical infrastructure at risk: Wüst already speaks of an "emergency plan"

Politicians should not turn a blind eye to the impending collapse in the area of ​​KRITIS.

"In the coming days, preparations for the first months of 2022" are already needed.

It is also about the involvement of the Bundeswehr, THW or other aid organizations.

The demand of the Expert Council: “Activation channels and control mechanisms must be available at short notice and sufficient test capacities and supply chains must be ensured.

The hospitals have to maintain adequate stocks of materials and medicines.

The ability to act politically quickly must be guaranteed at all times, including during the holidays. "

Much therefore points to a kind of contingency plan. North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) has already spoken of a corresponding scenario in the event that a large number of people fall ill with Omikron at the same time. “There must be contingency plans in order to continue stable operation of everything that is services of general interest,” he said in the ARD's “Morgenmagazin”. He cited electricity and water supply, garbage disposal and the health sector as examples. The Bundeswehr and the technical relief organization could provide support in an emergency. A government spokesman said on Monday that the Bundeswehr's ability to operate and work is currently "absolutely guaranteed."

With regard to the health system, the federal government is apparently already working out the first emergency plans.

As the

picture

reports, appropriate reserve plans are currently being prepared in the event that Omikron's nursing staff are absent.

It must be ensured that the health system does not come to a standstill.

The new variant combines several unfavorable properties.

Position paper of the Corona Expert Council of the Federal Government.

Corona Expert Council speaks of "explosive spread" by Omikron

According to current scientific knowledge, the omicron variant appears to be far more contagious.

"Omikron is characterized by a greatly increased transferability and undermining existing immune protection," writes the Expert Council.

“This means that the new variant combines several unfavorable properties.

It infects significantly more people in a very short time and also includes those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated more in the infection process. "

There is a threat of an "explosive spread", as has been seen in other countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and, in particular, Great Britain.

"Even if the severity of the disease cannot be conclusively assessed in this early phase of the omicron wave, hospitalization in hotspots such as London is already increasing significantly."

Corona expert advice: contact restrictions inevitable

The omicron wave is reaching Germany in an already tense phase.

“In addition to a consistently high number of Covid 19 patients with high levels of exposure, especially in the intensive care units, the care of those not suffering from Covid is already limited in parts.

Serious losses in the personnel area of ​​the hospitals have occurred and will continue to increase. ”The Expert Council warns urgently that the situation could worsen and speaks of a“ new quality of the pandemic ”.

Modelers also sit on the Expert Council, which includes virologists Christian Drosten and Hendrick Streeck. Her prognosis: “The doubling time of the omicron incidence assumed in Germany is currently in the range of around two to four days. Due to the measures currently in force, this doubling time is a little slower compared to England, but significantly faster than with all previous variants. "

The Expert Council therefore advocates tightening the corona measures.

The applicable rules need to be quickly adjusted, for example in the area of ​​contact reduction.

"According to the mathematical models, an overload of the health system and the restriction of the critical infrastructure can only be contained together with strong contact reductions." On Tuesday, Germany's corona course will be discussed at Christmas and New Year's Eve at a summit meeting between the federal and state governments.

Restrictions are already becoming apparent - even for those who have been vaccinated.

(as) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-12-21

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