The number of cases of corona infections has been increasing for weeks, as current figures from the RKI show. One variant is becoming increasingly popular.
Autumn is the season for colds: this is confirmed by the current figures on respiratory diseases from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Accordingly, numerous colds plague people. What is striking, however, is that while the number of cases of illness is at the same level as the previous year, corona infections continue to increase.
There has been a significant “increase in SARS-CoV-2 activity” in the past two weeks, according to a report now published by the RKI. In the week starting September 23rd, there were estimated to be around 8,600 respiratory illnesses per 100,000 inhabitants (previous week: 9,100). Of these, around 1,400 were Covid-19 diseases.
According to the RKI report, this corresponds to a total of around 7.3 million acute respiratory diseases in the population, a “comparatively high level for this time of year”.
The numbers from the Ministry of Health’s infection radar also show that more people are becoming infected with the corona virus again. An increase in the 7-day incidence can be seen in twelve federal states. Only in Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt do the numbers remain the same. Bremen is the only country where cases are falling.
In addition to the SARS-CoV-2 subline KP.3.1.1 with a share of 43 percent, the XEC subline is also circulating in Germany, whose share is now 28 percent (previous week: 21 percent), as the RKI also reports.
XEC was therefore recorded in this country for the first time in July. However, the risk to public health posed by both sublines is still classified as low.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) recommends that people aged 60 and over and adults with underlying illnesses get a booster vaccination against Corona in the autumn. A flu vaccination is also particularly recommended for certain groups of people.
