Despite an overall decline in corona numbers, the delta variant of the virus, which is considered more contagious, is also on the rise in Germany. After several German states have already reported that the variant’s share of new infections has recently risen noticeably, new data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) – the federal agency for infectious diseases – are expected this Wednesday evening.
It is expected that the mutant, initially discovered in India, has continued to spread in many parts of Germany – albeit at an overall low level. In light of the development, virologist Christian Drosten advocates raising awareness about the importance of vaccination. “That’s really what we need to do now,” the expert from Berlin’s Charité hospital said in the podcast “Coronavirus Update” (NDR-Info).
Importance of vaccination among parents of schoolchildren.
He did not specify whether there could be a trend reversal already in the summer or only in the fall because of the spread of the delta variant. In any case, the incidence will rise again in the fall, Drosten said, stressing the importance of vaccination among parents of school children. “We just have to vaccinate quickly,” is the virologist’s appeal. If this is not enough, he said, it will again be necessary to counteract with contact restrictions. “But there are also good reasons to think that this will not be necessary in Germany.”
In England, where the Corona situation has worsened again because of the Delta variant, the seven-day incidence has risen again from a level of 25, he said. “You hadn’t slowed down as far as we have now in Germany already.”
The latest figure in Germany was 7.2 infections per week per 100,000 population, according to RKI data released Wednesday morning (previous day: 8.0; previous week: 13.2). Health departments reported 1,016 new infections to the RKI within one day (previous week: 1,455). In Germany, the proportion of the delta variant in a random sample according to data from the RKI had last been a good six percent (week of May 31 to June 6).
— source: kurier.at/picture: pixabay.com
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