Science - Omicron on Progress in Germany

BERLIN (DPA) – Given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (both SPD) have again called for caution over the holidays.

The proportion of Omicron cases “will increase very rapidly in the next few days,” wrote Lauterbach on Twitter. “Please avoid/avoid infection in festival. Even vaccinated people should get themselves tested”. Scholz wrote on Twitter: “At Christmas that means once again: Lose contact. I know it’s especially hard right now. But if we stand together and get vaccinated, we can get through this crisis. Will recover.”

Omicron in all federal states

The Omicron version is now out in all the federal states. Even if the majority of infections are still caused by the delta version of the coronavirus, the number of detected omicron cases has increased significantly in recent weeks, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported in its weekly report. is written in.

RKI president Lothar Weiler told the editorial network Germany: “The outbreaks in Omicron are impressive. Many people who are in a room with an infected person can become infected. Many of them also become ill.” This is a different dimension than what is known from the delta. Delta has been the dominant coronavirus version in Germany for months.

According to the RKI, 441 Omicron infections confirmed by genome sequencing had been transmitted as of 21 December. According to a specific PCR test, it is suspected in 1438 cases. In Germany, however, only a small fraction of samples positive for Omicron are tested.

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RKI: So far, the curriculum at Omicron has been light

On the Omicron edition, the RKI wrote in its weekly report published Thursday evening: “Previous reporting data on symptoms indicate a mild course, rather than full vaccination or booster vaccination, in infected people.” However, experts have always emphasized that with the expected high numbers of people infected during the rapid spread of omicrons, a large number of people will become more seriously ill at the same time and need to be treated in hospital. .

In an interview with “Sudetsche Zeitung”, virologist Christian Drosten said in response to the question whether a lockdown was needed in Germany, it was necessary to wait and see “whether and how the measures are now in place and what are to be followed.” Gaya will work again”. If contact restrictions don’t work as expected, one might consider restrictions to which only people already increased have access – which he called “1G”.

“Twice-vaccinated people are protected from severe courses even with Omicron,” said virologists from the Berlin Charité, “but practically not against infection.” The transmission of the virus is also rarely reduced in the event of infection. “But those that have been promoted recently are less likely to contribute to the spread and are largely protected from the disease. In Delta, 2G and 3G may be sufficient, but now Omicron is writing the rules. Is.”