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Intensive care unit in Schleswig-Holstein (archive image)
Photo: Frank Molter / dpa
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), there can be no talk of an all-clear in the corona crisis despite the current development in the fourth wave. The number of new corona infections is not falling sharply or quickly enough in view of the high level of stress in the intensive care units and the impending wave of omicron. The RKI writes in its weekly report from Thursday evening. For this reason, all measures - such as reducing contacts, wearing masks or complying with hygiene rules - would have to be maintained or even intensified.
The number of reported new corona infections fell by 13 percent between December 6 and 12 compared to the previous week, according to the report.
The proportion of samples tested positive did not increase either and is now 19.8 percent (previous week: 20.6 percent).
Despite this development, the number of cases is still very high.
The seven-day incidence has decreased in all age groups compared to the previous week.
Only among 0 to 4 year olds does it stagnate.
The highest seven-day incidences are still recorded in the younger age groups: it was 905 for 10 to 14-year-olds and 888 for 5 to 9-year-olds. However, schoolchildren are also tested particularly frequently.
The stress on hospitals and intensive care units also remains high. Most of the hospital admissions are in the age groups over 60 years. According to the RKI, calculations indicate that the hospitalization rate is stabilizing at a high level. 4805 Covid-19 patients are currently (as of December 15) being treated in an intensive care unit. According to the RKI, at least 102 have been relocated across federal state borders according to the so-called clover leaf concept.
The RKI registered an increase in the number of detected infections with the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
By December 14th, 112 cases of the worrying variant have been detected via genome sequencing.
In 213 other cases there is suspicion based on a specific PCR test.
There are already first outbreaks.
By December 7th, there had been 28 known infections with the Omikron variant.
Clinics must be relieved
In relation to the total number of infections, however, the variant hardly plays a role in Germany: practically all infections are currently still caused by the delta variant, writes the RKI.
For 237 Omicron infections there is information on the symptoms.
The infections were therefore mostly without or with mild symptoms such as runny nose, cough and sore throat.
Deaths have not yet been recorded.
In order to relieve the hospitals before the expected wave of Omikron, a rapid increase in the vaccination rate is urgently required in addition to the intensification of contact-restricting measures, the RKI report continues.
24 percent of the 18 to 59 year olds and 12 percent of the over 60 year olds are still unvaccinated.
Unclear about the vaccine effect against Omikron
The pace of vaccinations had recently increased significantly.
In the past week, according to the RKI, there was a maximum of more than 6.6 million vaccinations.
This week on Wednesday there was almost 1.5 million vaccinations, a daily record since the start of the vaccination campaign.
The majority of these were booster vaccinations (nearly 1.3 million).
How well the vaccinations protect against the Omikron variant is still uncertain.
On Thursday, researchers reported that two vaccinations with the product of the US manufacturer Moderna protect less well against Omikron than against certain earlier variants.
According to this, four weeks after the second dose vaccinated persons had significantly fewer antibodies against this variant in their blood than against others tested.
jok / dpa
