Lauterbach gives hope in the corona pandemic – another attack on his office follows on New Year's Eve

The RKI reports more than 26,300 new corona infections – the incidence is also increasing. Lauterbach gives hope for 2022. The news ticker.

Corona demonstrations in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf on New Years

Update from January 1, 6:26 p.m.: On the New Year, there were again demonstrations in connection with the corona pandemic. In Frankfurt, opponents of the measures ran through the city center in several groups. The police estimated the total number to be around 400. The action began around 3:00 pm. The unregistered “strollers” were partly with candles on the Römerberg and around the main guard, as a police spokesman announced. The action was over in the early evening. The officials had made people aware of the applicable corona rules such as distance and mask, said the spokesman. Initially, nothing was known of any incidents.

Thousands of opponents of compulsory corona vaccination and pandemic measures demonstrated in Düsseldorf as well. The police estimated the number of participants towards the end of the event at around 6500. The march through the city center was peaceful, said a spokesman. The participants also complied with the request to wear masks. In the three weeks before, between 2000 and 4000 opponents of the corona policy had already taken part in the Saturday demonstration in the state capital.

German cruise ship hangs in the port of Lisbon due to corona cases

Update from January 1, 2022, 5.40 p.m.: Almost 3,000 cruise passengers from Germany, among others, had to spend New Year’s Eve unplanned on land in Lisbon due to Corona. 52 of the 1353 crew members had tested positive, which delayed the continuation of the cruise ship “Aida Nova” until the new year, the Portuguese news agency Lusa quoted the Lisbon port director as saying. The infected are now in hotels in Lisbon for isolation. There are 2844 tourists on the ship, among whom there is no positive case. A trip to the New Year’s Eve fireworks near Madeira was planned.

According to Aida Cruises, it is not yet clear when the ship will continue its voyage to the Canary Islands, despite the departure permit. The company pointed out that all passengers aged 12 and over and the crew had been vaccinated and that both an antigen and a PCR test had to be carried out before starting the journey.

Attack on Karl Lauterbach’s office

Update from January 1, 2022, 3:48 p.m .: On New Year’s Eve, an attack was carried out on Karl Lauterbach’s Cologne office. Rioters smashed the window panes. The state security determined, reports express.de . The SPD constituency office in Cologne-Mülheim was already the target of chaos on December 10, 2021. Back then, the vandals sprayed “murderer” on the facade and wrote “LOL” on the window pane. Before that, there had been a demonstration in front of Karl Lauterbach’s house *. In the spring a paint attack was carried out on the car of the SPD politician.

Lauterbach told the German Press Agency on New Year’s Day that due to previous damage to property with slogans and corresponding threatening emails, he assumed that the renewed attack on his office was carried out by the ranks of radicalized vaccine opponents and corona deniers. “These people do not represent society, where the overwhelming part is really sticking together and trying to do everything against the pandemic,” said the minister. “You represent a very small splinter group that self-righteously believes that they have to take a different path here and that got lost in the process. That’s just sad. “

Vaccination rate in Germany now at 71.2 percent – Hamburg offers New Years boosters in the town hall

Update from January 1, 2022, 12:50 p.m .: Vaccinated on New Year’s Eve: On the last day of the year, at least 112,000 people received another vaccination against the corona virus. This means that a total of 71.2 percent of citizens have basic immunization, which generally requires two doses. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI / as of Saturday, 9:01 am), 38.7 percent of the population received a booster.

25.8 percent have not yet been vaccinated, i.e. every fourth citizen or 21.5 million people – including around four million children who are four years or younger and for whom no vaccine has yet been approved.

In Hamburg there was a vaccination campaign under the First Mayor Peter Tschentscher instead of the classic New Year reception. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hamburg residents came to the Kaisersaal for a booster vaccination. At lunchtime, a long line with around 450 people formed up to Neuer Wall and Jungfernstieg. This is what the ndr reports .

Corona incidence in Germany is increasing again – Lauterbach gives hope

Update from January 1, 2022, 10 a.m .: How will Corona 2022 continue? Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has been cautiously optimistic. For next year there will be “light at the end of the tunnel,” said the SPD politician on Friday evening in the ZDF New Year’s Eve show from the Brandenburg Gate.

“Light at the end of the tunnel”

The Omikron variant would be another difficult challenge. “But it looks like this variant is a little less dangerous than the Delta variant.” That is a ray of hope. It is not yet known exactly whether this also applies to the unvaccinated.

Several virologists had recently seen cause for cautious optimism about the further development of the corona pandemic in Germany. In the ZDF “heute journal”, researcher Christian Drosten referred to data from South Africa, where the particularly contagious Omikron variant had initially spread: “In a way, that can calm us down. South Africa is certainly a glimpse into a future, into an endemic situation that is just emerging there, ”said Drosten. “Unfortunately, we are still a long way from it.”

Lauterbach said on Friday evening that he shared Drosten’s assessment that “we have this chance”. “But it is only a chance, it is not a certainty,” said Lauterbach, who was connected via video. He was asked about the difference between pandemic and endemic. If the virus became endemic, there would be “at no point in time” the risk that the health system would be overwhelmed. You would then be able to live with the virus; there would be no situation to fear that “would get out of our hands”. “And we have this possibility,” said Lauterbach, who, in his own words, was celebrating the New Year with a small group of friends.

The omicron variant may form a bridge. “But we do not yet know for sure, because we do not yet know how dangerous the Omicron variant is for those who are completely unvaccinated”.

Corona just like the flu at some point?

Lauterbach said the infection will always be slightly different from the flu, so the comparison is not really helpful.

“But: I do believe that we can live with the corona virus. That we can get our normal life back completely. That’s what we’re fighting for. And the next year will be decisive for that. ”Lauterbach appealed to people to get vaccinated. He had also advised to be careful on New Year’s Eve.

Corona incidence in Germany continues to rise

Update from January 1, 2022, 8:05 a.m .: The incidence in Germany increased further to 220.3 for the third day in a row (previous day: 214.9). This comes from the data from the Robert Koch Institute on New Year’s morning. 26,392 new corona infections and 184 other deaths have been recorded. However, the RKI points out on its website that when interpreting the number of cases, it should be noted that, due to the holidays and the turn of the year, less test and reporting activity can be expected. The data therefore provided an incomplete picture of the epidemiological situation.

Corona incidence in Germany is rising again – Lauterbach surprises with irony: “Don’t overdo it”

Update from December 31, 7:22 p.m.: Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, known as a reminder and warner in the corona pandemic, practiced irony on New Year’s Eve. The SPD politician commented on the New Year celebrations with a photo on Twitter. “Don’t overdo it. I see you. Greetings, your Karl, ”says a meme that he linked, on which he secretly peers through a window from outside.

The edited photo was not entirely wrong, wrote the minister and wished him a “nice last evening in 2021”. He “appeal to everyone, one last time, to be careful,” he wrote. “Testing, very small groups, face masks where necessary and watching TV alone if there are symptoms.”

Update from December 31, 7:18 p.m.: The police in Germany are facing a busy weekend – because of the usual problems with fireworks accidents, but also because of possible corona protests. The police union in Bavaria warned of this on New Year’s Eve.

Corona in Germany: districts demand tough crackdown on violent protests

Update from December 31st, 12.30 p.m.: The corona pandemic continues to cause great concern for many experts and politicians, the RKI also reported increasing numbers of infections on Friday (see original message below). In order to keep the infection rate under control, numerous measures should be followed over New Year’s Eve, but not everyone can be enthusiastic about the Corona rules. Hundreds of people are increasingly taking to the streets as part of Corona demonstrations. The Corona protest is not always used peacefully.

The German districts have now called for tough action by the state against violent Corona demonstrations. Although the right to take to the streets against the Corona policy is protected by the Basic Law, District Assembly President Reinhard Sager told the newspapers of the Funke media group . “But it has to be done peacefully,” he emphasized. As soon as this limit is crossed or even politicians and their families are threatened or attacked, “the rule of law must intervene decisively,” demanded the CDU politician and district administrator of the Ostholstein district. “It also means that violent demonstrations will be broken up.

In the past few weeks there have been riots in various places during protests against corona rules or threats against politicians. In many places right-wing extremists took part in the demonstrations or even organized them. Very often, requirements such as distance rules or the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection were not complied with.

Update from December 31, 12.15 p.m.: Although there are positive new data on the new Corona variant Omikron, one thing is causing Virologist Drosten concern. The problem is a specifically German one.

Update from December 31, 11.00 a.m.: Omikron cases in Germany are increasing. The share is growing. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has published data on the most common omicron symptoms.

Corona situation after the holidays: RKI reports increasing numbers of infections – and another leap in incidence

Original message from December 31, 2021: Berlin – Christmas is the best time of the year for many people, but family visits in particular could now cause increasing numbers of infections within the corona pandemic. And indeed: the RKI is now reporting rising corona numbers after the holidays, and the incidence has also made a significant leap again. Is the situation now threatening to escalate?

Corona situation after the holidays: RKI reports increasing numbers of infections – significant jump in incidence

On Friday, December 31, the Robert Koch Institute reported a nationwide higher seven-day incidence than the day before. The RKI also points out that the data may provide an incomplete picture due to the low test and reporting activity during the holidays. The value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week climbed to 214.9 in the morning. For comparison: the day before the nationwide value was 207.4, a week ago it was 265.8.

The health authorities in Germany also reported higher numbers of infections to the RKI than a week ago. According to official information, 41,240 people tested positive for the corona virus within one day. Exactly one week ago there were 35,431 infections. According to the new information, 323 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours. A week ago there were 370 deaths.

Many people also want to spend New Year’s Eve with their loved ones. Numerous corona restrictions must be observed in Bavaria. The rules cause confusion, especially in gastronomy. An overview*. * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA