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Corona: Karl Lauterbach infected – slight symptoms

2022-08-05T07:49:05.061Z


Health Minister Lauterbach has tested positive for the corona virus. According to the ministry, the 59-year-old has mild symptoms.


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Health Minister Karl Lauterbach

Photo: FILIP SINGER / EPA

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has been infected with the corona virus.

Lauterbach tested positive for the corona virus on Thursday evening, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday night.

'The minister is fine, with only mild symptoms.

He is temporarily taking his official business out of domestic isolation," the statement said.

The 59-year-old was vaccinated four times, the ministry said.

“This shows that with the highly contagious omicron variant, infection cannot be completely ruled out, even with extreme caution.

The minister therefore once again appeals to everyone to behave prudently and to ensure adequate vaccination protection so that infections and severe courses can be prevented as far as possible.

On Wednesday, Lauterbach and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) presented a new concept to arm Germany against a possible autumn corona wave.

The focus is on wearing FFP2 or medical masks.

An FFP2 mask requirement in long-distance trains and airplanes should continue to apply nationwide, as well as a new mask and test requirement in hospitals and care facilities.

The countries should decide for themselves whether they also require masks in publicly accessible indoor areas such as supermarkets.

In schools, a mask requirement is only permitted if face-to-face teaching is endangered - and then only from the fifth grade.

RKI warns: Infection pressure remains high

According to the Robert Koch Institute, there has recently been a downward trend in new infections, but that is not the all-clear.

The nationwide seven-day incidence fell significantly by a total of 21 percent last week compared to the previous week, according to the institute's weekly report on Covid-19 on Thursday evening.

The incidences have fallen in a weekly comparison in all federal states and age groups.

However, the general infection pressure remains high, the authors warn.

"The associated burden on the healthcare system also remains high, even if the operational situation has improved slightly in the past week."

The values ​​​​for acute respiratory diseases in the general population, such as the number of doctor visits, have fallen compared to those in the previous week - but are still higher than in previous years at this time, the RKI experts point out.

In addition, outbreaks in nursing homes continued to increase.

When it comes to deaths related to the virus, the RKI recently spoke of a fairly stable level – with 444 deaths reported in the last week.

With a view to the next few weeks, the institute expects a “continued high number of hospitalizations, Covid 19 patients requiring intensive care and deaths, especially in older age groups”.

The omicron subline BA.5 has increased somewhat at a high level and, according to the latest available data, has been found in more than 92 percent of the positive samples.

The RKI also calls for “absolutely” complying with the recommendations for avoiding infection.

jul/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-08-05

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