The variants of the coronavirus are spreading faster and faster in Baden-Württemberg, the state health office expects a significant increase in the numbers. Infections are increasing particularly in children.
From the point of view of the State Health Office, Baden-Württemberg is facing a significant increase in the number of corona cases. The number of infections is already increasing significantly and this trend will continue, said the head of the health protection and epidemiology department at the State Health Office (LGA), Stefan Brockmann, to the German press agency.
Third wave is rolling – variants at 70 percent
“We have been seeing an increase in the number of cases in Baden-Württemberg for four to five weeks,” said Brockmann. “At the beginning the increase was moderate, but now the numbers are increasing significantly with around 2,000 new infections per day.” He does not see any evidence that the infection situation would relax.
According to data from the LGA, the proportion of virus variants in all infections in Baden-Württemberg is now around 70 percent. The transmissions with the previous variants of the virus are stagnating or falling. “The infections with the new virus variants, on the other hand, are increasing sharply,” said Brockmann.
Increase in children after schools and daycare centers have opened
At the same time, the LGA’s pandemic expert is observing a sharp increase in infections among children and adolescents. Their share has recently increased significantly and is now around 20 percent of all infections. This is due to the opening of daycare centers and schools.
This development is not surprising for Brockmann. “If we open daycare centers and schools, we also have to accept higher numbers of infections.” At the decision of the state government, numerous students returned to schools in the state on February 22nd, initially only in alternating classes. Since last Monday, fifth and sixth graders have been back to face-to-face classes, and elementary schools have started regular operations. In daycare centers and kindergartens, this had already been the case at the end of February.
Infections in the elderly are on the decline
However, there have also been successes, said Brockmann. In the group of people over 70 years of age, the number of cases is falling or stagnating. Especially with the elderly, this is an effect of the vaccinations. “Over 80 percent of nursing home residents are vaccinated,” said Brockmann.
With regard to the spread of the more contagious virus variants, the health expert points out: “We will have to get by with the measures that we have.” Other countries such as Great Britain or Ireland have shown that the increase in the number of cases can at least be stopped with the existing measures despite worrying virus variants.
Expert recommends: “vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate”
His recommendation to the Baden-Württemberg state government is: “Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.” In addition, the vaccinations would have to be more widespread in the future, according to Brockmann. Associated with this is a clear goal for him: “As soon as a third of the people are vaccinated, this should affect the transferability of the new virus variants throughout society in such a way that we can keep the number of cases constant.” It is possible to achieve this goal in the spring.
The appointment booking for vaccinations in Baden-Württemberg is currently suspended due to the interim stop of the Astrazeneca vaccinations. Bookings are expected to be possible again in the coming week. The vaccinations with Astrazeneca have been running again since the end of the week. According to the plans of the federal and state governments, general practitioners should also carry out vaccinations across the board after Easter.
Politics is focusing on the relaxation and school openings, above all, on the massive expansion of quick and self-tests. “We still have to see how much really helps,” says Brockmann. Basically, it is better to test in a targeted manner. In addition, the LGA’s pandemic expert complains that negative rapid test results are mostly left out of the reporting system. Just like the de facto self-tests, says Brockmann. The data on all rapid test results would help to better assess the effect of the rapid tests. According to a SWR data analysis, mass antigen rapid tests are currently not the reason for the increasing number of infections.
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