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LATEST: Nearly three-quarters of new Covid-19 cases in Germany from more-contagious variant

On Thursday, German health authorities registered a leap in new Covid-19 infections, as the percentage of cases coming from mutations also shot up.

Published: 18 March 2021 13:43 CET
LATEST: Nearly three-quarters of new Covid-19 cases in Germany from more-contagious variant
Two signs in Dresden on Thursday direct people to either a centre for a coronavirus vaccine, or test. Photo: DPA

The more contagious B.1.1.7 variant originally detected in the UK now accounts for 72 percent of all cases in Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Thursday. 

Last week, the RKI was still talking about a B.1.1.7 share of about 55 percent. At the beginning of the RKI survey about one and a half months ago, the share of the mutant stood at only about six percent. 

A rapid increase in Germany had been feared following similar experiences in other countries, including the UK, South Africa, Czech Republic and Slovakia. 

Due to the now high proportion of B.1.1.7, an exponential increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Germany is to be expected, said the RKI earlier this week. They predicted that by Easter, numbers would be higher than they were around Christmas, when Germany first introduced a harder shutdown.

READ ALSO: German coronavirus cases ‘will be higher at Easter than before Christmas’

What are the current Covid-19 numbers?

The number of new infections as of Thursday (17,504) is 3,000 higher than a week ago, reported the RKI. However, the number of deaths from or with the coronavirus stood at 272, down from 321 a week ago.

The 7-day incidence of new infections per 100,000 residents grew to 90 as of Thursday, up from 86.2 on Wednesday, and 69.1 exactly a week before. The incidence rate marks the highest level since February 2nd. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, German health authorities have counted 2,612,268 coronavirus infections, and a total of 74,132 deaths from or with the virus. 

This graph shows where in Germany has had the highest 7-day incidence as of Wednesday. Credit: DPA

Could Germany introduce a new vaccine?

After the temporary halt of AstraZeneca jabs on Monday, more German politicians are promoting the Russian vaccine Sputnik V in order to more quickly vaccinate the population. 

Earlier this year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised every resident a vaccine by September, but a slow start to the vaccine campaign and fears over whether the widespread AstraZeneca jab could cause blood clots has cast doubt on the speed of the roll out. 

READ ALSO: Germany suspends AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot concerns

“The (Sputnik V) vaccine should be approved. Russia is a great country of science, and I have not the slightest doubt that the science there is capable of producing a powerful vaccine,” Saxony’s state premier Michael Kretschmer (CDU) told the newspapers of the Funke-Mediengruppe on Thursday. 

Like Kretschmer, Saxony-Anhalt’s state premier Reiner Haseloff (CDU) pointed out that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) would first have to decide on the approval.

“Basically, however, the following applies: in the fight against coronavirus, we welcome any vaccine that is safe and effective and thus helps us to overcome the pandemic,” he told the Funke-Zeitung. 

“When it comes to people’s health, origin should not play a role.”

Thuringia’s state premier Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) told the Funke-Blättern: “For a long time, I’ve been wishing for much more pressure from the federal government to get more alternative vaccines approved.”

The EMA was set to release its decision on AstraZeneca Thursday afternoon at 4 pm. 

READ ALSO: German vaccine boss praises Russian vaccine as ‘clever’

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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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