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LATEST: German Health Minister tests positive for coronavirus

According to the Ministry of Health in Berlin, Jens Spahn, of the Christian Democrats (CDU) tested positive for the virus early Wednesday afternoon.

Published: 21 October 2020 17:38 CEST
LATEST: German Health Minister tests positive for coronavirus
Jens Spahn at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Photo: DPA

Immediately afterwards he went into domestic isolation, a Health Ministry report said. 

“So far he has only developed cold symptoms. All contact persons will be kept informed,” it read. However, it did not provide any information on how Spahn might have been infected. 

READ ALSO: How and where coronavirus cases are rising in Germany

Photos show that Spahn attended a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning at the Chancellor's Office, but he was wearing a face mask. 

A government spokesperson later said that cabinet members would not have to go into quarantine, as social distancing and hygiene measures continued to be maintained. 

Spahn has been lauded for his calm handling of the virus crisis, and was once seen as a contender to take over as chancellor when Merkel stands down next year.

Spahn has welcomed stronger restrictions imposed by some states in Germany as the country tries to curb a second wave of Covid-19.

The Alpine district of Berchtesgaden in southern Germany, a beauty spot popular with tourists, on Tuesday became the first area to return to strict lockdown since the height of the pandemic earlier this year.

Last week, Germany reported its highest number of new virus cases in a single day as numbers surged across Europe.

On Wednesday Germany exceeded the coronavirus critical value of more than 50 infections per 100,000 residents in seven days on Wednesday. 

The current value on Wednesday afternoon stood at 51.3, up from 48.6 on Tuesday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

READ ALSO: 'There's a danger of Covid-19 getting out of control in Germany': Bavaria orders tougher measures

Recently, top politicians had to quarantine themselves because of encounters with those who tested positive for the virus. 

On Saturday German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier also went into self-isolation following a positive coronavirus test from his bodyguard. Two tests at the head of state have since been negative.

On Monday Labour Minister Hubertus Heil of the Social Democrats (SDP) also went into quarantine because of a warning he received on Germany’s Corona-Warn-App.

At the end of September, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) and Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) also temporarily isolated themselves, after one of Maas’ bodyguard’s was infected.

As a precautionary measure, Altmaier went into quarantine after an EU minister who was present with him at an EU Council meeting in Berlin tested positive.

Back in March, German Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine after her doctor tested positive for the coronavirus. However, the Chancellor confirmed she was not infected following two negative test results.

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HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Published: 20 September 2023 12:05 CEST
Updated: 20 September 2023 22:22 CEST
Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

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