Lauterbach calls for voluntary mask wearing
Created: 06/17/2022Updated: 06/17/2022 09:10
By: Carina Blumenroth
The corona numbers in Germany are increasing — the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are on the rise.
They could cause a new corona wave.
Berlin — The corona virus is not history yet, at the moment the corona numbers in Germany are skyrocketing.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) calls on the short message service Twitter to voluntarily wear a mask indoors.
A summer wave, writes Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) on Twitter, was to be expected.
In his opinion, wearing a mask indoors and the fourth corona vaccination are “the best antidotes”.
Seven-day incidence skyrocketed
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is still in favor of wearing a mask.
(Iconic image) © Kay Nietfeld / dpa
The seven-day incidence in Germany has been increasing steadily for days.
The seven-day incidence records the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.
From Monday to Tuesday there was a jump from 385.4 to 447.3 – according to information from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
The scientists at the RKI have also found that there is currently a drastic increase in corona infections among people between the ages of 15 and 59.
There was an increase of over 300 in the seven-day incidence in this age range compared to the previous week.
In the case of the seven-day incidence in Germany, only the infections that were detected with a PCR test are counted.
According to the RKI, there were 105,840 new infections within 24 hours on Tuesday.
Asymptomatic courses or infections that can only be detected by a rapid test are not counted.
Therefore, a higher number can be assumed.
According to studies and research reports, the omicron variant is much more contagious than the delta variant, but those boosted with omicron have significantly shorter symptoms.
Nevertheless, it is safer to protect yourself from an illness in the best possible way.
Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 in Germany
In Germany, the omicron variant of the corona virus still dominates at 99 percent.
The subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 currently show the most growth.
This emerges from the weekly report of the RKI.
According to the scientists, this is an indication that these variants will soon account for the majority of infections: "In all likelihood, these two sublines will spread more widely, so that there will be an overall increase in the number of infections and a renewed increase in infection pressure on vulnerable groups of people already in the summer can come."
Corona virus: vaccination as protection?
"The fourth vaccination protects against serious illness and reduces the risk of infection for a few months, albeit incompletely," writes Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) on Twitter, appealing for people to protect themselves as best they can against a possible infection.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, around 5.3 million people in Germany have received a second booster vaccination.
There is currently no approved vaccine for around four million people, including children up to four years of age.
Corona: National Vaccination Conference in Wiesbaden
Other politicians also rely on vaccination, at the national vaccination conference, ministers from Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse campaigned for corona vaccination.
"Vaccination saves lives" tweeted Hesse's Minister Kai Klose, and he also advocates scientific analysis of the virus: "Facts > Beliefs".
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No adapted Omicron vaccine yet
There is currently no adapted corona vaccine against omicron.
The BioNTech group has been working on a clinical study since January.
The first results should be available in the next few weeks.
The federal and state governments expect that the adapted vaccine can be delivered in September at the earliest.
“Hopefully adapted vaccines can avoid infection in the fall.
The studies are ongoing," tweeted Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) in connection with the fact that the possible secondary disease and new "widespread disease" Long Covid has so far caused a lot of ambiguity, such as therapy and healing.
Accordingly, more studies are to be expected.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
