According to the RKI, the incidence should continue to serve as a leading indicator for infection dynamics. Numerous country leaders wanted to use other criteria. According to RKI boss Wieler, the “fourth wave has already started”.
Berlin – In the opinion of the Robert Koch Institute, the incidence should remain the leading indicator for the infection dynamics. This emerges from a paper that RKI boss Lothar Wieler presented on Monday at a switching conference with the heads of the state chancelleries of the federal states.
“Incidence is the leading indicator for infection dynamics (high incidences have numerous effects)”, says the paper that is available to the German Press Agency and which was first reported by “Bild” and “The Pioneer”. The 7-day incidence remains important for assessing the situation in Germany and initiating control measures at an early stage. According to information from “Bild”, there should have been major discussions in the magazine because many countries want to abandon incidence as the most important criterion.
“Fourth wave has started”
Regarding the current situation, the paper says that the incidences have been rising again for around three weeks, the proportion of hospitalizations for around two weeks. “The fourth wave has started.”
High vaccination rates alone are not enough to keep the fourth wave flat, it continues. Additional “basic protection measures” are necessary in order to reduce the fourth wave so that the number of patients in hospitals does not become too high. The paper names a reduction in contacts and a reduction in mobility as measures. dpa
