Timo Lenzen / DER SPIEGEL
Dear readers,
The current figures from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) confirm a fear that experts had long voiced: If not enough adults get vaccinated and the virus is not adequately contained, the coronavirus will turn into a pandemic for children and adolescents.
According to data from the RKI, the incidence in some parts of Germany in the age group between 10 and 18 is currently over 500.
Until the recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) in August, only a few 12-17-year-olds were vaccinated; no vaccine has been approved for younger children in the EU to this day.
So you are unprotected - the virus can circulate unrestrainedly in this age group.
The risk of dying from Corona is very low for them.
According to the RKI, a total of 14 deaths between the ages of 0-17 years in connection with Covid-19 were recorded between March 2020 and August 2021.
Of these, however, five children were already receiving palliative treatment.
Covid-19 has been unequivocally identified as the cause of death in six children.
In comparison to adults, children are also better protected from severe disease, but the number of hospitalizations is growing. According to the RKI, 54 infected children under ten years of age had to be treated in hospital in calendar week 33. For comparison: In the same calendar week of the previous year there were eleven - even though there were still no vaccinations that could slow down the spread of the virus in adults and over twelve year olds and thus also protect the unvaccinated - but stricter countermeasures overall.
In addition, there is also the risk of children suffering from long-covid symptoms after a corona infection.
The consequences of the high incidences in this age group, how the virus spreads there and what risks this entails, in short: What questions arise from the current RKI figures, my colleagues will describe and answer in an article, which is expected to appear on Friday evening SPIEGEL.de appears.
The new SPIEGEL, now digital and tomorrow at the kiosk
"Cheese, coke and killers - how Holland became a Mafia paradise through lax drug policies," is the title of the new SPIEGEL. You will receive the digital copy from now on and from Saturday at the kiosk.
Goodbye quick test
End of free rapid tests: From now on, bills will be charged.
For many people, the corona test is now chargeable.
What effect will lower test numbers possibly have in the future?
Experts consider this to be bearable in the vast majority of cases - but there are exceptions.
Corona in Germany: Federal government has paid more than five billion euros for free tests so far.
As of this week, free citizen
tests
are a thing of the past.
So far, the federal government has spent 5.2 billion euros on corona tests.
According to the government, the stop is being made out of "fairness to taxpayers."
End of the free corona tests: are these eight euros worth talking about?
Many centers have closed, as of today most have to pay for their rapid corona test themselves.
Is that fair?
Survey in a pharmacy.
Italy has the faxes thick
Italy argues over Green Pass: no vaccination? No work!
From today, anyone who has not been vaccinated, tested or recovered is no longer allowed to go to the office or factory in Italy.
Prime Minister Draghi wants to finally free his country from the pandemic - and risks violent protests.
Are the corona drugs coming now?
Experimental drug Molnupiravir: what can the pill do against Covid-19?
The US pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck & Co. has published promising interim results of a Covid-19 drug study.
However, there are still unanswered questions.
What the remedy can do - and what it can't.
The desperate search for a corona drug: "Eight deaths versus zero deaths, that sounds interesting"
Doctors speak of the "game changer of the pandemic": research is being carried out worldwide on a pill against Covid-19.
Initial studies give reason for hope - but possible side effects are worrying the experts.
Means against Covid-19: Antibody cocktail from AstraZeneca apparently achieves positive results
Will there be a cure for Covid-19 soon?
The pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has developed an antibody compound that, according to initial results, could reduce severe courses and deaths.
Experts in danger
"I wish the situation would be more pleasant": RKI President Wieler complains about death threats
The head of the Robert Koch Institute is sometimes blamed for corona restrictions - and sometimes seriously threatened.
Now Lothar Wieler has spoken about the risk of his work.
Threats against corona scientists: "I hope you die"
Not only prominent virologists like Anthony Fauci and Christian Drosten are massively attacked.
A survey shows: Every second Corona expert experiences hostility up to physical attacks.
Covid-19 in worldwide numbers
Confirmed Cases: 239,642,888
Deaths: 4,882,474
Germany: 4,354,158 confirmed patients, 94,526 deaths
Sources: CSSE / Johns Hopkins University, as of October 15, 2021, 11:21 am;
Robert Koch Institute, as of October 15, 2021, 3.11 a.m.
Research news
Covid-19 vaccinations for adolescents: The one-dose strategy
Great Britain and Norway recommend children and adolescents between 12 and 15 years only one dose of the Covid-19 vaccines for the time being.
How useful is the restriction?
From Julia Merlot
Vaccination breakthroughs: Vaccinated people in the intensive care unit almost always have previous illnesses
The president of the intensive care medicine says which patients become seriously ill despite a full vaccination: They are often older and have chronic diseases.
Most intensive care patients are not vaccinated.
What else was important
100th episode »
Corona
virus update«: campfire with Christian Drosten
For one and a half years
Christian Drosten
has been informing about the pandemic in the NDR podcast »Corona update«.
Have all questions been resolved by now?
A tribute to the 100th episode.
Have a nice weekend
Yours Michail Hengstenberg