Course of the pandemic: What the increase in corona variants BA.4 and BA.5 means for the summer

Created: 06/11/2022, 20:55

By: Sandra Kathe

Because many do not do a PCR test after a positive rapid test, the RKI currently expects a high number of unreported cases.

(symbol photo) © Sebastian Kahnert/dpa

The new Omikron variants BA.4 and BA.5 could shape the further course of the corona pandemic and also lead to increasing Covid numbers in summer.

Berlin – With a view to the current number of cases and the increasing severity of Covid courses in Portugal, virologists warn against underestimating the developments in the corona pandemic.

But even if caution is required, most experts in Germany do not currently see any cause for excessive concern.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is currently registering increasing incidences and tens of thousands of new corona cases every day. On Saturday (June 11) there were 65,337 cases reported by the health authorities.

The 7-day incidence on Saturday morning was 348.9, well above Friday's figure (318.7).

However, since many sick people have now dispensed with PCR tests, experts have been expecting the number of unreported cases to increase for some time, which indicates that the actual values ​​are likely to be even higher.

New Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 characterize the development of the corona pandemic

The latest variants of the corona virus, two omicron variants, which experts have given the names BA.4 and BA.5, are also responsible for this development.

Both variants are currently leading the statistics on growth rates in Germany and, according to a forecast by the RKI, could also lead to "an overall increase in the number of infections and a renewed increase in infection pressure on vulnerable groups of people as early as summer".

In the case of BA.5 in particular, experts observed a stronger “immune flight”, i.e. the tendency for vaccinated and recovered people to become ill more frequently due to new developments in the virus genetic material.

The good news: Even if there are concerns about a possible increase in the severity of the disease, according to reports from Portugal, the RKI has not yet seen any evidence of this.

The data so far did not indicate that infections with BA.4 or BA.5 caused more severe disease courses or proportionately more deaths than the sublines BA.1 and BA.2, the institute wrote.

These had caused the past waves.

Corona pandemic: Vaccination also protects against severe courses in BA.4 and BA.5

The Frankfurt virologist Martin Stürmer recently confirmed this to ZDF.

While Stürmer sees the current numbers as a “turning point” and the development of BA.4 and BA.5 as “potential to cause another wave”, he emphasizes at the same time: “The vaccination also protects us with BA.4 and BA. 5 from severe courses and fatalities.

That hasn't changed."

The teachers' association warned against carelessness when preparing for the Corona autumn.

Politicians must act now so that one can react effectively to all possible scenarios at schools, said association head Heinz-Peter Meidinger of the "Rheinische Post".

A sharp increase in infections in schools means an individual health hazard for students and teachers and again the risk of high staff shortages up to lesson cuts and partial closures.

The head of the Education and Science Union (GEW), Maike Finnern, also asked the editorial network Germany: "So that there is no hasty action again in the fall, the preparations must be made and the legal basis created." (ska with dpa )