Pandemic in Germany: high with 81,417 new infections

Status: 01/13/2022 07:40 a.m

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The number of new infections reached a new daily high of 81,417 cases. According to the RKI, the incidence increases to 427.7. Health Minister Lauterbach sees the vaccination target again at risk. The head of the crisis team, Breuer, warns of bottlenecks in tests.

The number of new corona infections transmitted to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within one day has again reached a high. According to the RKI, the health authorities reported 81,417 cases in 24 hours. The day before, the number had exceeded the threshold of 80,000 for the first time. A week ago, 64,340 new infections were registered, with gaps in testing and reporting over the holidays.

The RKI gave the seven-day incidence as 427.7. The previous day the value was 407.5. A week ago, the nationwide incidence was 285.9 (previous month: 389.2). On November 29, the RKI reported the previous high of 452.4.

According to the new information, a further 316 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 443 deaths. This increased the number of people who died from or involved a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 to 115,051.

More than 7.7 million corona infections

The RKI has counted 7,743,228 proven infections with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected. The RKI puts the number of people who have recovered at 6,878,100.

In November, the federal and state governments had defined the so-called hospitalization incidence as the decisive benchmark for tightening the corona measures. This value indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants are hospitalized within seven days because of a corona infection. According to the current RKI report, the hospitalization incidence nationwide is 3.13 (previous day 3.34).

Lauterbach sees the 80 percent vaccination target at risk

In order to counter the current omicron wave, the federal government had set the target of an 80 percent quota for first vaccinations by the end of January. Originally, January 7th was named as the date by which the first vaccinations should have reached a rate of 80 percent. The goal was moved in December to the end of January. Now this vaccination goal threatens to fail again. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told the news portal “The Pioneer”: “It will be very difficult, that’s clear.”

So far, 74.8 percent – or 62.2 million people – have received at least one dose of vaccine. Lauterbach said there was a drop in vaccinations over the holiday. “So you have to push it again, but it’s not worth lamenting about,” he said. “We have to work flat out.”

Most recently, more than 710,000 vaccine doses were administered in Germany, including around 48,500 initial vaccinations. The previous day there were more than 520,000 vaccinations, including about 34,700 initial vaccinations. “But I think we can speed it up again,” Lauterbach told The Pioneer.

DKG demands rapid introduction of compulsory vaccination

The German Hospital Society (DKG) calls for the rapid introduction of compulsory vaccination. “The process must now be stringent and quick,” said association head Gerald Gass of the Funke media group. “I think it’s too late for vaccinations to start in the fall.” The topic should not be completely talked down until no broad agreement is possible.

The German Professional Association for Nursing Professions is also in favor of general corona vaccination. A high vaccination rate is the only way to get out of the pandemic and reduce severe disease progression, said association president Christel Bienstein of the “Rheinische Post”. Employees in acute and long-term care are burned out, a high vaccination rate is a central aspect in order to finally protect and support them.

Situation in critical infrastructure still relaxed

The decision on compulsory vaccination lies with the Bundestag and will probably not be made before March. Today the Bundestag is voting on the new corona quarantine rules agreed between the federal and state governments. These should keep important supply areas running, even if the number of infected people increases sharply.

Head of the Corona crisis team warns of test bottlenecks

Due to the rapidly spreading omicron variant of the corona virus, according to the head of the federal government’s corona crisis team, Major General Carsten Breuer, there may be bottlenecks in corona tests. “As with all scarce resources, we will certainly have to pool capacities where necessary. This also applies to tests,” he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. “As soon as things get tight somewhere, I have to prioritize. Employees in critical infrastructure have priority.” The aim, however, is to maintain the previous test regime for as long as possible.

The Bundeswehr general warned against underestimating the danger posed by the omicron variant of the corona virus. “We need a bulwark against Omicron,” said Breuer. Germany must “not be in a position where we have to shut down the critical infrastructure to such an extent that public life is restricted”. Vaccination remains the central remedy against the omicron wave. “For me, every spade counts in an upper arm,” said the general.