In many places in Germany, the seven-day incidence is currently low, corona worries may take a back seat.

Virologist Christian Drosten from the Charité in Berlin believes that many people feel like they are in a false sense of security.

In an interview with the German Press Agency, he explained: In order to prevent a severe winter wave, a significantly higher vaccination rate is needed.

“But I am increasingly concerned about the progress of the vaccination. We are not moving fast enough here, although enough vaccine is available. Many people believe that they have a false sense of security in view of the low incidence in Germany. It is important now to do a lot more information work - also in the private sphere, so that the vaccination rate increases faster. ”This reduces the likelihood of painful interventions in winter, says Drosten.

When asked whether the previous vaccination quota was sufficient for the expected decoupling of incidence and intensive care units, Drosten said no.

“If the vaccination rate is not increased significantly, a severe winter wave can be expected.

In 75 percent of those over 60 who are fully vaccinated, a quarter of this particularly vulnerable age group is without protection.

If it stayed that way, we could - in very simplified terms - only allow about four times more infections than before the vaccination campaign.

This quadrupling would be achieved in less than a month with a doubling time of maybe 10 to 14 days. "

Spahn also issued a last warning

Drosten warns that the vaccination does not just want to gain a month, but also wants to cover the whole of autumn and winter, "without causing significant stress on the hospitals and restricting social life".

As the RKI wrote in the management report on Thursday, the health authorities could “understand many chains of infection” due to the “still low overall incidence”.

"Cases with a probable exposure abroad (most frequent information currently: Spain) are also increasingly being reported." Spain has been classified as a risk area again since July 11 and is now in danger of being upgraded to a high incidence area.

This would mean that people who are not fully vaccinated would have to go into quarantine for five days.

The incidence has been increasing for more than two weeks. According to the RKI, the “current increase in the incidence can be observed primarily in the 15 to 34 age group”. The nationwide value is significantly lower compared to winter and spring - especially in eastern Germany, the corona rate is low. Nevertheless, the proportion of the more dangerous and more contagious Delta variant continues to grow. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn also recently warned that the successes of the past few months should not be gambled away. According to Spahn, the 400 mark could be exceeded in September and the 800 mark in October if the current development continues, the minister said in Berlin on Wednesday. On the other hand, only an increasing vaccination rate will help.