949 new corona infections: incidence continues to rise

The seven-day incidence of corona infections increased on the third day in a row.

It was 5.5 new infections in seven days per 100,000 inhabitants.

For comparison: a day ago it was 5.2, two days ago it was 5.1.

The health authorities in Germany reported 949 new corona infections to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within one day.

This is evident from the numbers from Friday morning, which reflect the status of the RKI dashboard at 04.15 a.m.

For comparison: a week ago the value was 649 infections.

The highest seven-day incidence in the third wave was on April 26, 2021 at 169.3.

After that, apart from a few outliers, it initially fell quite steadily.

However, at the beginning of July it fluctuated around the value 5.

So on the Friday of the previous week it was 5.0.

According to the new information, 49 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours.

A week ago there were 69 deaths.

The RKI has counted 3,734,468 detected infections with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic.

The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections are not detected.

The seven-day R-value also increases

The RKI stated the number of those who had recovered at around 3,633,300.

The number of people who died with or with a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 rose to 91,190.

The number of reproductions, which is decisive for the speed of spread of the coronavirus, recently increased significantly and, according to the latest data from the RKI, was above the threshold of 1.The RKI gave the so-called seven-day R value on Thursday as 1.09 (previous day: 1 01).

This means that 100 infected people infect an additional 109 people.

The R-value represents the occurrence of the infection 8 to 16 days ago.

Dreyer for further relaxation

Despite the further spread of the Delta virus variant, the Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (SPD) advocates further easing of corona restrictions.

"We also have an obligation to the citizens to lift restrictions if there is currently no risk of the health system collapsing," said Dreyer of the Rheinische Post.

“In Rhineland-Palatinate, we are analyzing the development in our neighboring countries Belgium and Luxembourg, where the number of infections is rising again.

"But we cannot close Germany either," said Dreyer.

The SPD politician campaigned for the vaccination against Covid-19.

“The best protection against a fourth wave is if everyone who can also get vaccinated.” In Rhineland-Palatinate, all opening steps are accompanied by protective measures.

NRW is returning to almost normal life

Because of the particularly contagious delta variant, possible further easing of the applicable corona measures are controversially discussed. This is also the case in the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia: There, SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans criticized the relaxation of corona measures as an election campaign maneuver by NRW Prime Minister and CDU Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet. "What Armin Laschet is doing now is not based on reason, but rather fair weather policy with a view to the federal election," said the SPD chairman of the Rheinische Post. For further relaxation, the vaccination rate must be higher, he said. "If the state government is now pretending to be normal, it is almost a signal to the undecided not to take vaccination seriously," he said.

As of Friday, a new corona protection ordinance will apply in North Rhine-Westphalia, which provides for the extensive normalization of many areas of life in view of the low number of infections.

Discos, fairgrounds and folk festivals are allowed again with small editions.

In many areas there are also contact restrictions, mask and follow-up obligations - but not everywhere.

Masks should fall at a vaccination rate of 85 percent

Intensive care physicians argued similarly. They call for the mask requirement to be adhered to until 85 percent of adults are vaccinated. "As long as a vaccination rate of 85 percent among adults has not been achieved, we should refrain from further relaxation and stick to the mask requirement," said the President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive and Emergency Medicine, Gernot Marx, the editorial network Germany. Otherwise there is a risk of a “fourth wave” in autumn.

The intensive care doctor was referring to concerns about the more contagious delta variant of the corona virus, which is now also dominating in Germany.

Marx said: "We will only be able to declare the pandemic to be over with a vaccination rate of 85 percent among those over 18 years of age." Until then, you have to continue testing a lot, tracking chains of infection and complying with hygiene rules.

This includes "at least wearing surgical masks in all interior rooms", including in schools.

In Germany, more than 40 percent of the population are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Almost 58 percent received at least one injection.