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Germany’s coronavirus infections rise for first time in four weeks

For the first time in weeks, Germany's 7-day incidence of new coronavirus infections increased compared to the previous day on Sunday.

Published: 4 July 2021 13:14 CEST

Germany's coronavirus infections rise for first time in four weeks

PCR test results are examined in a laboratory in Ingelheim am Rhein. credit: dpa | Boris Roessler

The Robert Koch Institute reported an increase to 5.0 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 4.9 the day before.

According to the figures, Germany’s local health offices reported 559 new infections to the RKI within 24 hours. That was a slight increase on a week ago, when 538 new infections were reported.

The last time that an increase in infections was reported was on June 2nd, which followed a similar slight increase on June 1st. Both of those days proved to be blips in a downward trend that started in late April, when the 7-day incidence stood at 169.3.

With the more contagious Delta variant rapidly becoming the dominant strain of the virus in Germany, epidemiologists expect that the downward trend in cases will slow down in the coming weeks.

A further seven deaths were reported on Sunday. Some 3.7 million people in Germany have now tested positive for an infection with Sars-Cov-2 since the pandemic began earl last year.

The number of people who have died from or with the involvement of a confirmed infection with Sars-CoV-2 now stands at 91,030.

Most Germans expect new restrictions in autumn

A large majority of Germans expect rising levels of infection and new government restrictions in the autumn despite the fact that the vaccine campaign is progressing roughly on target.

In a survey conducted by the opinion research institute YouGov on behalf of DPA, 76 percent said they expect the number of infections to go back up again in the autumn.

Seventy-four percent expect measures against the pandemic to be tightened in the autumn. Only 16 percent think there will be no new restrictions. Ten percent did not know.

The German government pledged last week that fully vaccinated people would not be subjected to another lockdown in the future.

READ MORE: Germany recommends mRNA Covid vaccine after AstraZeneca

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Italy's constitutional court upholds Covid vaccine mandate as fines kick in

Judges were asked this week to determine whether or not vaccine mandates introduced by the previous government during the pandemic – which applied to healthcare and school staff as well as over-50s – breached the fundamental rights set out by Italy’s constitution.

Italy became the first country in Europe to make it obligatory for healthcare workers to be vaccinated, ruling in 2021 that they must have the jab or be transferred to other roles or suspended without pay.

The Constitutional Court upheld the law in a ruling published on Thursday, saying it considered the government’s requirement for healthcare personnel to be vaccinated during the pandemic period neither unreasonable nor disproportionate.

Judges ruled other questions around the issue as inadmissible “for procedural reasons”, according to a court statement published on Thursday.

This was the first time the Italian Constitutional Court had ruled on the issue, after several regional courts previously dismissed challenges to the vaccine obligation on constitutional grounds.

Photo by Pascal GUYOT / AFP

One Lazio regional administrative court ruled in March 2022 that the question of constitutional compatibility was “manifestly unfounded”.

Such appeals usually centre on the question of whether the vaccine requirement can be justified in order to protect the ‘right to health’ as enshrined in the Italian Constitution.

READ ALSO: Italy allows suspended anti-vax doctors to return to work

Meanwhile, fines kicked in from Thursday, December 1st, for almost two million people in Italy who were required to get vaccinated under the mandate but refused.

This includes teachers, law enforcement and healthcare workers, and the over 50s, who face fines of 100 euros each under rules introduced in 2021.

Thursday was the deadline to justify non-compliance with the vaccination mandate due to health reasons, such as having contracted Covid during that period.

Italy’s health minister on Friday however appeared to suggest that the new government may choose not to enforce the fines.

“It could cost more for the state to collect the fines” than the resulting income, Health Minister Orazio Schillaci told Radio Rai 1.

He went on to say that it was a matter for the Economy and Finance Ministry, but suggested that the government was drawing up an amendment to the existing law.

READ ALSO: Covid vaccines halved Italy’s death toll, study finds

The League, one of the parties which comprises the new hard-right government, is pushing for fines for over-50s to be postponed until June 30th 2023.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had promised a clear break with her predecessor’s health policies, after her Brothers of Italy party railed against the way Mario Draghi’s government handled the pandemic in 2021 when it was in opposition.

At the end of October, shortly after taking office, the new government allowed doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to return to work earlier than planned after being suspended for refusing the Covid vaccine.

There has been uncertainty about the new government’s stance after the deputy health minister in November cast doubt on the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, saying he was “not for or against” vaccination.

Italy’s health ministry continues to advise people in at-risk groups to get a booster jab this winter, and this week stressed in social media posts that vaccination against Covid-19 and seasonal flu remained “the most effective way to protect ourselves and our loved ones, especially the elderly and frail”.

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