NewsCorona incidence soon no longer relevant? RKI has new...

Corona incidence soon no longer relevant? RKI has new plans

In the case of the corona pandemic, the infection rate is measured on the basis of the incidence. But that could change soon.

Dortmund – In the fight against the corona pandemic, the incidence has so far been the benchmark for new measures and rules *. But that could change soon, as reported by RUHR24 *. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has long since defined a concept.

Surname Coronavirus, Covid-19
Pathogen SARS-CoV-2
Symptoms Fever, dry cough, tiredness

Corona incidence: RKI has already developed a new concept – policy discussed

The debate has been going on for weeks about whether the incidence is still useful as an indicator for corona measures. The federal government had already suggested in July that in future not only look at the cases of proven corona infections * when it comes to laying down rules.

As the Business Insider magazine reports, the RKI is probably not convinced that it will continue to only consider the incidence level. Accordingly, the Federal Government has had an alternative concept for the institute since the end of July. So far, however, it has been ignored. But what exactly is in the draft of the RKI?

RKI concept on incidence: How Corona could soon be measured

The Influenza Working Group of the RKI has drawn up the six-page paper on the new warning level concept. According to this draft, three factors are to be taken into account in the future, with which “the health, social and economic consequences of a fourth wave of infections of the Covid-19 pandemic are to be contained as much as possible”.

However, the incidence is not fully written off, it should continue to be a factor. In the draft of the RKI it is also referred to as the “seismograph of the speed of spreading” of the coronavirus * (read more current news on the coronavirus in NRW * at RUHR24).

As already proposed by the federal government, the hospital occupancy rate should also play a role. The so-called seven-day hospitalization incidence is intended to serve as the “protective value of the burden of disease”. In addition, the intensive care unit capacity should also be taken into account. In the RKI draft, it is also referred to as the “stress value for the utilization of the health system”.

Three corona indicators: Incidence should continue to be taken into account

Instead of one value, three values could in future decide which corona measures apply where. According to the concept, easing should only be tightened again if the criteria for the next warning level have been met for at least two of the three indicators. At the moment, the incidence level alone decides the rules *. These are the indicators of the RKI at a glance:

  • Incidence from measurement of virus spread
  • Seven-day hospitalization incidence to measure hospital load
  • Number of Covid patients in intensive care units

RKI concept: How the corona measures could be determined in the future

Does the determination of the corona warning level automatically become more complicated with three values? A concrete example could look like this: With an incidence of over 200 and more than twelve seriously ill patients per 100,000 inhabitants, warning level three would apply. If only one of these two limit values is exceeded, but the number of Covid patients in intensive care units increases to more than twelve percent, level three also applies.

From level three, stricter protective measures should apply again. For example, unvaccinated people should no longer be allowed inside restaurants. Not even if they test negative. It is still unclear whether the RKI’s proposal will be implemented in this way. * RUHR24 is part of the IPPEN.MEDIA editorial network.

Rubriklistenbild: © Michele Tantussi / AFP

Corona loosening from March 20: Stricter rules are planned for hotspots

Most of the Corona rules in Germany will no longer apply on March 20th. In so-called hotspots, a few of them still exist.

Corona rules from March 20th: These rules are planned for hotspots

Most of the Corona rules in Germany will no longer apply on March 20th. In so-called hotspots, a few of them still exist.

Corona measures from March 20: These rules should apply to hotspots

Most of the Corona rules in Germany will no longer apply on March 20th. In so-called hotspots, a few of them still exist.

Corona tests will soon cost money for unvaccinated people – but there are exceptions

If you don't get vaccinated, you will have to pay for your corona test yourself in the future. After a long discussion, this decision has been made. But what does it mean?

Corona tests will soon cost money for unvaccinated people – but not for everyone

If you don't get vaccinated, you will have to pay for your corona test yourself in the future. After a long discussion, this decision has been made. But what does it mean?

More