“We have very clear indications for the fact that the third wave has already begun in Germany,” said RKI boss Lothar Wieler.
“I am very worried,” he said in conversation with journalists in Geneva, adding that it was important that people kept wearing masks and maintaining a safe distance from other people.
On Thursday, 14,356 new confirmed infections were recorded in a 24-hour period, an increase of 2,444 on the previous week and a level not seen since the beginning of February.
The 7-day incidence also rose from 65.4 to 69.1 infections for every 100,000 residents of Germany. A month ago the 7-day incidence was 64.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
A further 321 deaths were recorded, while intensive care occupancy was at 2,736 beds, down from 5,762 at the high point in winter.
At the last lockdown summit the federal states and the government agreed upon a tentative re-opening of the economy, but they tied it to the 7-day incidence level.
If the incidence rates were to rise significantly to a level above 100, it could lead regional governments to “pull an emergency brake” and shut businesses back down.
Wieler said on Thursday that Germany’s vaccine campaign was a race against new, more transmissible, variants of the virus.
“We see effects already in those who are over 80. The incidence is on the decline, tremendously,” he said.
He expressed confidence that 80 percent of the population could be immunized by the autumn as long as constant supplies of the vaccines were maintained.
“If we achieve that then we can lift all of the measures.”
SEE ALSO: How freely will people be able to travel to and from Germany this summer?
Entirely the fault of the German government. There wouldnt be a third wave if they had a functional vaccine rollout.
That would help, but if people stopped disregarding the rules & the advice, very few people would become infected. Everywhere you see the “It doesn’t really apply to me” attitude. And then the surprise when they get it and pass it on.
That’s true – “It doesn’t really apply to me” altitude is a big problem. But looking at how German government handles the situation and vaccine rollout it seems like they have the very same altitude too.
The while EU rollout was a mess. I agree with them being careful about the efficacy of certain vaccines, but they just ordered too few, & don’t have a good enough policy for getting peole vaccinated even if they had enough
Very true.
I’m shocked every time I see people – especially teenagers – grouped together on the streets with no respect for social distancing…and no masks!
I have been following the rules – set by the government – from the very start.
And still…no vaccine and certainly no access to Neustarthilfe (the online link is ridiculous and throws you out every time)….and, yet, I have to watch as people (who have a salary or parents paying for them) prolong this hardship and loss of money for so many with their selfish behaviour.
Yep, my area of work has been closed for a Year, but no help from the Government
It is stupid and naive to say that it’s a fault of government. People don’t follow the rules and they are paying the price.
Not at all stupid. Have a look at the UK right now. They have a successful vaccine rollout and cases are dropping dramatically. No threat of a third wave there. We would not be having a third wave if a good proportion of the population were immune to the virus.
No luck if you are self-employed and trying to access the Neustarthilfe application link.
It has been unresponsive for days now.
It feel like the government does not want to help on any level – no aid and no vaccine.
I find it strange that numbers were dropping dramatically and all of a sudden they are rising again. I listened to a vaccine developer called Geert Vanden Bossche being interviewed and also read his letter to the WHO and other organisations its on twitter.com/GVDBossche/
Life here in the USA isn’t any better. They want to vaccinate everyone but the supply isn’t there and there is much waste and churn. They haven’t even finished all the nursing homes yet.