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The number of new infections reported in Germany, 16,774, is higher than ever. In a government statement, Chancellor Merkel wants to comment on the new countermeasures. A prominent virologist lowered expectations for a vaccine.
The number of new corona infections recorded in Germany has reached a new high of 16,774 cases in one day. This comes from the information of the Robert Koch Institute in the early hours of Thursday.
The previous high of the previous day was 14,964 cases. Last Thursday, the health authorities reported 11,287 new infections. The value had passed the 10,000 mark for the first time since the start of the corona pandemic in Germany. The number of deaths related to the virus increased by 89 in 24 hours to a total of 10,272, also a significant increase.
The current values are only partially comparable to those of the spring, as many more tests are now underway and more infections are discovered as a result. However, the high number of infections cannot be explained solely by further evidence.
Government statement on crown rules
To curb the rapid spread of the virus, the federal and state governments decided on Wednesday far-reaching measures: in November, public life in the Federal Republic will be severely restricted. Contact restrictions and restaurant closures are aimed at making the number of infections manageable again. In the morning, Chancellor Angela Merkel made a government statement in the Bundestag on the stricter rules of the crown.
According to the RKI, a total of 481,013 people across Germany have been infected with Sars-CoV-2 since the start of the pandemic (until October 29, 00:00). The RKI estimates that around 339,200 people have recovered.
According to the RKI situation report on Wednesday, the number of views, or the R-value for short, was 1.03 in Germany (previous day: 1.17). This means that one infected person infects slightly more than one other person. The R value represents the infection rate approximately one and a half weeks earlier. In addition, the RKI includes the so-called seven-day R in its management report. The value refers to a longer period of time and is therefore less subject to daily fluctuations. According to RKI estimates, this value was 1.17 on Tuesday. It shows the infection process from 8 to 16 days ago.
Virologist: Comprehensive vaccination will require
According to experts, developing a vaccine will probably not immediately ease the situation either. The chairman of the Standing Commission on Vaccination of the Robert Koch Institute, virologist Thomas Mertens, lowered the corresponding expectations: he assumes that the vaccination of the entire population against the coronavirus will not be completed by the end of 2021, even if a vaccine is rapidly developed. “It will be a long time before we see a noticeable change in the infection process due to vaccination, so that we can say that peace can now return,” Mertens told the Funke media group newspapers.
In early October, Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek announced that she expected a coronavirus vaccine by the middle of next year. The investigation, which also involves several German companies, is currently “gigantic fast”.
If you vaccinate 100,000 people a day, it would take 150 days to vaccinate 15 million people, according to virologist Mertens. In Merten’s opinion, this speed would already be a challenge. “The start of vaccinations should not happen too quickly.” Above all, the transport and storage, the establishment of regional vaccination centers and the simultaneous documentation of vaccinations at the national level, as well as the evaluation of safety aspects and the success of medical vaccination must be well prepared.
Mertens also hopes there will be conflicts over fair distribution in light of an initially scarce vaccine. “It may also be that people who don’t have the opportunity right away complain.” According to the Federal Ministry of Health, people at high health risk must first be vaccinated. Mertens announced that the ethical framework for vaccine distribution will be published early next week. The deliberations of the Permanent Commission of Vaccination, the Council of Ethics of Germany and the Leopoldina would conclude at the end of this week.
