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There is more going on in the pedestrian zones
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According to estimates by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), at least every second corona infection in the current week is likely to be due to the more contagious Delta variant. It is to be expected that the mutant first discovered in India currently "accounts for at least half of all new infections," writes the RKI in a report on Wednesday evening. Delta's share of a sample from June 14th to 20th is estimated at around 37 percent. That is more than twice as much as the week before, when it was 17 percent. Once a week, the RKI evaluates the proportions of the reported virus variants that are classified as worrying.
Overall, the significant increase in the delta share since the end of May has continued.
RKI boss Lothar Wieler had already commented on the development on Monday in a switch from the federal and state health ministers, as the German press agency had learned from participants.
The incidence of delta has also increased
With regard to the absolute numbers of verified delta cases, the RKI speaks of a "slight increase".
After 410 such infections were recorded in the week from May 31 to June 6, the RKI received 724 reports from June 14 to 20.
However, not every positive sample is examined for variants.
Overall, the seven-day incidence in Germany is falling. However, experts fear a trend reversal as the delta spreads. The development so far is mainly due to the massive decline in cases due to the most recently predominant variant alpha: for them, the RKI reports a decrease in the estimated seven-day incidence from 76 to around 5 over a period of six weeks. The incidence of delta increased in the past three weeks observed: from 2.0 to 3.2.
You assume that Delta is already predominant in certain areas, maybe even across Germany, said the Frankfurt virologist Sandra Ciesek on Tuesday in the podcast "Coronavirus Update" (NDR Info). The fact that the delta shares have increased relatively sharply is also due to the currently very low number of cases. Outbreaks - which according to the RKI affect households, workplaces and schools - played a role. If it spreads further, the nationwide seven-day incidence could rise again, the expert expects.
For Ciesek, it is now a matter of rapid containment: "Delta is even less forgiving than the other variants if you don't act quickly enough." You have to get a grip on outbreaks, for example through quick retests and quarantines. Ciesek assessed reports of alleged infections with Delta within ten seconds with reluctance: As a rule, one could not investigate this very precisely.
As the RKI report shows, almost every tenth case of the cases reported so far in June can be traced back to a possible infection abroad.
The most frequently mentioned countries were Afghanistan (44 cases), the Russian Federation (26) and Italy (22).
Ciesek said you could also get infected when traveling within Germany.
Because of the widespread use of the Delta variant, Portugal and Russia have now been classified as virus variant areas, which has resulted in a far-reaching ban on transport and strict quarantine rules for travelers.
Complete vaccination protection is important
To protect against severe courses caused by Delta, complete vaccinations - i.e. receiving the first and second dose - are important, as data from England show, among other things.
So far, a little more than a third of the population in this country has been fully vaccinated.
According to Ciesek, there is still a lack of data on Delta and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is only intended for one dose.
In the USA, however, it is discussed whether vaccinated people should receive a booster with another vaccine.
mar / dpa
