Omikron variant: RKI reports first death in Germany

The Omikron variant is on the rise. In a short time, the mutation should also be predominant in Germany. The corona situation in the news ticker.

Update, 2.45 p.m.: The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has reported the first death after being infected with the Omikron variant of the coronavirus. As can be seen from the RKI’s daily overview of Omikron cases, the deceased was between 60 and 79 years old.

So far, 3198 Covid-19 cases have been assigned to the Omikron variant. This corresponds to an increase in cases of 25 percent (plus 810 cases) compared to the previous day. Only cases are counted in which detection by means of whole genome sequencing or a laboratory diagnostic suspicion by means of variant-specific PCR showed an infection with Omikron.

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Omikron: According to Karl Lauterbach, the fifth corona wave is unavoidable

First report from Thursday, December 23rd, 2021: Frankfurt – The “Omikron wave can no longer be prevented,” warned Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) at the press conference with RKI boss Lothar Wieler on Wednesday (December 22nd, 2021). After the rapid spread of the mutation in Great Britain and Denmark, it is only a matter of time before the fifth wave also reaches Germany.

According to experts, the Omikron variant will strike shortly after the turn of the year in Germany. “The measures we have taken are working,” said Lauterbach, calming down in the same breath with the sad prognosis. By the “measures taken”, the SPD health minister means the tightening of the Christmas holidays and New Year’s Eve decided by the Corona summit.

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Omikron variant: The first week of January is the set day

The Corona rules for the end of the year include stricter contact restrictions and the nationwide closure of bars, clubs and discos. This is intended to slow down the rapid spread of the Omikron variant. The mutation has not yet prevailed in Germany. The German health authorities have reported around 3200 cases so far.

But it won’t stay that way in the long run: “We don’t have a big, fast wave yet. That will change at the turn of the year and in the first week of January, “the Federal Minister of Health at WDR 2 predicted on Thursday (23.12.2021). The most important tool to protect the health system and its infrastructure is the booster vaccination. “What we know for sure is that we need a booster vaccination.” It can be assumed that a third vaccination “prevents 70 to 80 percent of symptomatic cases of illness”. In the course of the year a fourth vaccination is likely to be necessary. Stiko recently created a new framework for booster vaccinations and is now recommending a booster vaccination after three months.

As it is known that the vaccination protection drops rapidly after a second Corona vaccination *, the corrected question arises as to how long a third or even fourth vaccination will last. Could regular vaccination appointments become a routine like with the flu? According to Lauterbach, this question cannot be answered seriously. “You can’t say anything about the vaccination routine yet.” You have to check how long the booster vaccination lasts.

Omicron wave: what’s next for Corona?

Lauterbach cannot predict the further course of the corona pandemic * either: “Nobody knows. That would be a look into the crystal ball. But I assume that new variants will emerge. Nobody can say whether they will become more dangerous. ”As with Omikron, new variants could lead to new waves and new vaccinations.

In any case, you have to maintain “flexibility” and constantly adapt the measures to the respective developments and new medical findings, said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. For 2022, Germany has already ordered 80 million vaccine doses from Biontech *, which should be adapted to the new Corona variant. (aa / dpa) * fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Rubriklistenbild: © National Institute of Infectious Diseases/Imago Images