Omicron subtype BA.2 is increasing: Lauterbach warns of "Freedom Day" and has bitter news for those who have recovered

Created: 02/26/2022, 08:37

By: Yasina Hipp, Martina Lippl

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and RKI boss Lothar Wieler at a press conference in Berlin.

© JOHN MACDOUGALL/afp

Omicron subtype BA.2 is growing.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and RKI boss Lother Wieler informed about the current corona situation at a press conference in Berlin.

• Lauterbach warns of "Freedom Day": There is "no leeway at all" in the opening steps that have been decided.

• Current Corona * situation: Health Minister Lauterbach and RKI boss Wieler made statements at a press conference this Friday in Berlin.

• You can read the live ticker here.

Update from February 25, 11:40 a.m.:

In the federal press conference on Friday morning, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach warned of a "Freedom Day" and commented on the Omicron subvariant BA.2.

He announced a new infection protection law.

The SPD politician wants to be prepared for a wave of infections in the fall.

The minister hopes for a consensus in the Bundestag on the law on compulsory vaccination.

Here is a summary of the most important things:

"The corona virus is not impressed by a Freedom Day," said Lauterbach at the press conference in Berlin.

Germany cannot be compared to countries like Denmark or Great Britain.

In the over 60 age group, the number of unvaccinated is much higher.

In these countries, the unvaccinated does not exist to the same extent.

There are "very high numbers of cases that we may even underestimate".

He therefore appeals to the heads of government of the countries not to go beyond what has already been decided when easing.

"We have no leeway to speed up the opening," said the minister.

The omicron wave is over, but the number of infections could rise again because of the more contagious subvariant BA.2.

And bitterly: Infection with omicron does not protect against further infection with the subvariant.

Unvaccinated people should be vaccinated at least once.

Lauterbach announces a "substantial infection protection law".

It is important to prepare for possible relapses or a wave of infections in the fall.

Before March 20, the Bundestag must vote on a new regulation in the Infection Protection Act.

The Infection Protection Act expires on March 19.

The Infection Protection Act should contain classic protection concepts, such as distance requirements, contact restrictions and hygiene concepts, but also special rules for "infection hotspots" and for the recovered and vaccination status.

PK on the current Corona situation with Lauterbach and RKI boss Wieler: The live ticker to read

Update from February 25, 11 a.m

.: The press conference by Health Minister Lauterbach and RKI boss Wieler on the corona situation has ended.

Update from February 25, 10:57 a.m

.: Lauterbach assumes that a new virus variant would arise.

The SPD politician warns of the fall, especially with regard to the low vaccination rate.

Strict corona measures, such as closing restaurants and schools, are in the room.

Lauterbach continues to hope for a solution on the subject of compulsory vaccination.

Update from February 25, 10:46 a.m

.: RKI boss Lothar Wieler is asked about speculation about his position and his absence.

He was at a doctor's appointment at the last appointment and I apologize for that.

Wieler doesn't seem to understand the question.

Stresses that the RKI and his person are dealing with the corona pandemic and that is important now.

Update from February 25, 10:30 a.m

.: When asked by a journalist, Lauterbach emphasizes that in his opinion not all corona measures will be taken on March 20.

The SPD politician refers to the current corona numbers, which are slowly falling after a sharp increase.

This is due to the Omikron variant BA.2.

And precisely, the unvaccinated over 60-year-olds are a factor in this development.

Update from February 25, 10:22 a.m

.: KBV boss Uwe Gassen also emphasizes how important vaccination is.

In his opinion, occasion-related citizen tests should be reconsidered.

Especially since these antigen tests hardly worked at Omikron.

In his opinion, the number of unreported cases of corona infection is very high.

Gassen hopes that Corona will be vaccinated in combination with influenza in the fall.

Update from February 25, 10:19 a.m

.: A fourth vaccination - a booster vaccination - is now recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission for certain groups of people, according to RKI boss Lothar Wieler.

However, it is important to note the intervals between vaccinations.

Omikron BA.2 is significantly more contagious

Update from February 25, 10:15 a.m

.: "5 million people have been infected since the beginning of the omicron wave," says RKI boss Lothar Wieler.

Even more will become infected with the BA.2 subvariant.

There are many factors.

"We're on the right track, but we'll have to take care of ourselves for the next few weeks," emphasizes Wieler.

However, the number of infections is increasing in the over 60 age group.

The RKI boss fears that the number of deaths could continue to rise.

Vaccinations would protect against infections and also against long-Covid.

Data from Israel would also show this.

Lauterbach warns of "Freedom Day" and announces new infection protection law

Update from February 25, 10:11 a.m

.: Lauterbach announces a new infection protection law.

Especially with a view to autumn.

He's expecting a new wave.

"The corona virus is not impressed by a Freedom Day," says Lauterbach.

Germany cannot be compared to countries like Denmark or Great Britain.

In the over 60 age group, the number of unvaccinated is much higher.

In these countries, the unvaccinated does not exist to the same extent.

It is a misjudgment that Omikron is not that dangerous, or to wait for an Omikron vaccine - which does not yet exist.

Omicron-infected people should definitely be vaccinated at least once.

An omicron infection hardly protects against further infection.

Lauterbach: "We have no leeway to accelerate the opening."

Update from February 25, 10:04 a.m

.: Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach begins the PK with a statement on the Ukraine conflict.

His sympathy goes in particular to the children "whose childhood is interrupted and who have to fear for their own life and that of their parents here in fear and terror."

“We underestimate the number of infections.

The corona pandemic is not over yet,” emphasizes Lauterbach.

The omicron subvariant BA.2 is increasing and is even more contagious.

The number of deaths is extremely high at over 200.

"My warning, my appeal to the prime ministers not to go beyond the easing that has been decided." Lauterbach warns: "We have no leeway to accelerate the opening."

Update from February 25, 9.32 a.m

.: How is Germany currently doing in the corona pandemic?

According to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, the omicron wave was already over a week ago.

A press conference is scheduled for this Friday in Berlin.

Lauterbach was critical of the easing in advance and continues to insist on compulsory vaccination.

KBV boss Andreas Gassen has already warned of supply bottlenecks due to the facility-related vaccination requirement from March 15th.

• Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr.

  Karl Lauterbach

• Prof. Dr.

  Lothar H. Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI)

• dr

  Andreas Gassen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV)

Omicron subtype BA.2 causes scientists concern - Lauterbach and Wieler express themselves

First report from February 24, 2022

Berlin – The corona situation in this country seems to have eased a bit for a few days.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) repeatedly publishes falling values ​​for the seven-day incidence.

Nevertheless, the number of new infections is still at a high level with more than 200,000 reports.

A total of over 14 million infections with the corona virus have been recorded in Germany since the beginning of the pandemic.

Experts suspect an even higher number of unreported cases.

Not only is the seven-day incidence falling slowly but steadily, but so is the hospitalization rate (as of February 24th: 6.27).

This means a decreasing burden on hospitals and intensive care units.

Corona virus: omicron subtype BA.2 could become dangerous - press conference with Lauterbach and Wieler

Despite all the optimism, scientists, especially a team led by mathematician Kai Nagel from the Technical University of Berlin (TU), are sounding the alarm.

The BA.2 subtype of the omicron virus variant is even easier to transmit than the BA.1 omicron subtype, which has been widespread in Germany to date.

According to the scientists, there is currently an overlap between the waning BA.1 wave and the possible rising BA.2 wave.

The development of this new wave depends on leisure activities and cross-immunity.

In the worst case, the coming wave could exceed the mid-February level by up to 2.5 times, according to a report by the TU experts.

Corona loosening: Further opening steps are pending - Lauterbach and Wieler comment

The news about the omicron subtype BA.2 comes at a bad time.

Just a few days ago, politicians announced far-reaching easing.

Large openings are planned for one week in particular, on March 4th: more spectators are to be admitted to major national events, including sports, discotheques and clubs should be able to open again under 2G-plus and 3G will apply again in restaurants and hotels .

From March 20th, the plan is to lift almost all of the measures that are still in force.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), RKI boss Lothar Wieler and Andreas Gassen, chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) appear in front of the press on Friday to discuss further developments in the corona pandemic.

It remains to be seen whether the new information on the omicron subtype BA.2 will have an impact on further relaxation steps.

We will report on the results of the federal press conference from 10 a.m. in the live ticker.