RKI boss Wieler warns of a corona wave due to the holiday season in autumn. The flu could worsen the situation.
Berlin / Munich – While the corona incidence in Germany is at such a high level * as it has not been for weeks, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) cannot give the all-clear. Lothar Wieler expects a further increase in infections with the corona virus in autumn.
Due to the holiday traffic during the autumn holidays, “there will be more infectious entries from abroad”, Wieler told the newspapers of the Funke media group. The “severity and duration of such a wave” is difficult to predict, however. After there was an increase in infections originating abroad in the summer, “there will be a significant increase in the numbers again now,” said RKI boss Wieler. The more life moves indoors in the coming weeks, the greater this corona increase * will be. Another expert also warns urgently.
| Day | Nationwide incidence |
|---|---|
| Sunday (10/17/2021) | 72.7 |
| Saturday (16.10.2021) | 70.8 |
| Friday (15.10.2021) | 68.7 |
| Thursday (10/14/2021) | 67.0 |
| Wednesday (13.10.2021) | 65.4 |
| Tuesday (October 12th, 2021) | 65.8 |
| Source: RKI |
Corona incidence in Germany is increasing – experts predict a further increase
“In the autumn and winter that lie ahead of us, we must assume that the infection rate will worsen significantly. Our lives are shifting inwards, ”said Oliver Keppler, head of virology at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. This will likely accelerate the previously mild increase in new corona infections.
The virologist does not recommend tightening the corona measures again: “Basically, in this phase of the pandemic we have to try easing in various areas in order to see what is well acceptable and where hygiene measures or tests have to be maintained to ensure security.”
Corona pandemic in Germany: can a flu wave also be expected?
Contrary to some fears, according to the virologist, Germany is not facing a major simultaneous wave of flu. “I don’t expect a severe flu season,” said Keppler. “The flu moves alternately from the southern to the northern hemisphere and back again” – always in the respective winter half-year. But worldwide influenza viruses have been pushed back in the population by the corona hygiene measures.
“In the southern hemisphere, there were hardly any infections for two winters in a row. I therefore consider it unlikely that the virus will enter us efficiently in the coming winter, ”said Keppler. “Covid-19 must also be our main focus this winter.”
Spahn calls for a flu vaccination: RKI expects a higher risk
Nevertheless, according to Keppler’s opinion, the presumably relatively relaxed situation with the flu should not be a reason for carelessness for people at risk: “All people to whom the Standing Vaccination Commission has recommended the flu vaccination in previous years should be vaccinated as before.” other people over the age of 60, pregnant women, previously ill and medical staff.
Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) had called on people in Germany to be vaccinated against influenza in particularly large numbers this autumn. Because there was almost no flu in Germany last year as a result of the partial lockdown, the risk of a flu epidemic this year is all the higher, he said recently. According to the Robert Koch Institute, our immune system could be less well prepared for the coming influenza viruses because of the failed flu epidemic. (slo / dpa / AFP) * fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
