Drosten warns against early contamination
Created: 2022-01-14Updated: 2022-01-14 2:29 PM
Virologist Christian Drosten considers an infection to be dangerous at this point in time.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Health Minister Lauterbach, virologist Drosten and RKI boss Wieler appear together in front of the press.
Christian Drosten warns about Omikron: There are still far too many unvaccinated people in Germany.
Berlin – The virologist Christian Drosten warns against early contamination in Germany given the rapidly spreading omicron variant of the corona virus.
According to the current state of knowledge, the virus variant is milder, but because there are too many cases, this gain will be “wiped out again,” said the scientist from the Berlin Charité on Friday in Berlin. There are still far too many unvaccinated people in Germany, especially in the over-60s group. In addition, many people have not yet received a booster vaccination, which, however, is the most effective means in the fight against omicron, according to Drosten.
The virologist spoke of several “difficult double messages” in the current discussion. It is considered certain that the virus itself will have to "update" the immunity of the population again and again and eventually have to "run". "But we don't know at the moment whether we can afford that in Germany given the vaccination gaps," warned Drosten. "We're flying a bit blind there."
He assumed that the endemic situation would be largely reached by the end of the year.
He promised that the vaccination against the omicron variant would probably have to be readjusted.
"There will have to be an adapted vaccination, and from the second quarter we may then have to provide large parts of the population, maybe even everyone, with an update vaccination against Omicron." Drosten reiterated his appeal to the unvaccinated to immunize themselves urgently allow.
Lauterbach: Slow down the wave
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach expects the number of corona infections to increase even more, but is counting on containment through further everyday restrictions and more vaccinations.
The strategy is to slow down and stretch the omicron wave and to boost as many people as possible with booster vaccinations during this time, the SPD politician said in a press conference.
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The pandemic is now “in difficult waters” in Germany.
More people would have to be treated with infections, hospitals would be more heavily burdened.
At the same time, the restrictions that were already in place were having an effect - for example with a longer doubling time for the number of infections.
In addition, there are now even stricter access rules for vaccinated and recovered people with additional tests (2G plus) in the catering trade.
Karl Lauterbach (SPD), Federal Minister of Health, speaks at the federal press conference on the current corona situation.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The goal now is “to make a hill out of the otherwise expected steep wall of infection numbers or that the wall is not that high,” said Lauterbach.
However, it is a special problem in Germany that there are many unvaccinated people in the particularly vulnerable group of older people.
For the time being, Lauterbach sees no reason for additional tightening.
From his point of view, "the right package of measures is in place at the moment," he said.
However, if the number of cases increases significantly and medical care is expected to be overloaded, other countermeasures must also be taken.
"We're not at that point."
Wieler: "New phase of the pandemic"
According to the President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Lothar Wieler, Germany is entering a “new phase of the pandemic”.
“The pure number of cases will be less decisive.
It is more important how many people become seriously ill with Covid-19 and how heavily the health system will then be burdened," said Wieler.
Virologist Christian Drosten (lr), Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and RKI President Lothar Wieler at the federal press conference in Berlin.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
However, he also warned that even if infections caused by Omikron were milder overall, "due to the mass of infections, we unfortunately have to be prepared for the fact that the number of hospitalizations and deaths will of course increase again".
Wieler again called on the population to be vaccinated and boosted.
"Vaccinations don't necessarily prevent infection, that's true.
But they are the best protection against a severe course.” Vaccinations would help prevent the health system and all other social systems from being overloaded.
The RKI gave the number of new corona infections on Friday morning as 92,223 - a new high.
The seven-day incidence also peaked at 470.6.
In addition, 286 further deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours.
dpa
