The nationwide seven-day incidence has again increased significantly.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gave the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week on Sunday morning at 191.5.

The previous day the incidence was 183.7, a week ago it was 149.4.

The highest incidence value in the entire pandemic was in the second wave on December 22nd, 2020 at 197.6.

The health authorities in Germany reported 23,543 new corona infections to the RKI within one day.

This is evident from the numbers that reflect the status of the RKI dashboard at 4 a.m.

On Friday, the number of new infections had reached 37,120, a record since the beginning of the pandemic.

A week ago the value was 16,887 infections.

According to the new information, 37 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours.

A week ago there were 33 deaths.

The RKI has counted 4,767,033 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.

Hospitalization rate increases

The number of corona patients admitted to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days - the most important parameter for a possible tightening of the corona restrictions - the RKI last stated on Friday as 3.91 (Thursday: 3.73).

With the indicator it must be taken into account that hospital admissions are sometimes reported with delay.

A nationwide threshold value from when the situation can be viewed critically is not provided for the incidence of hospitalization, among other things because of large regional differences.

The previous high was around 15.5 around Christmas time.

The RKI stated the number of those who had recovered at 4,365,500.

The number of people who died with or with a proven infection with Sars-CoV-2 rose to 96,525.

With an incidence of 444.0, Saxony has overtaken Thuringia (419.9) as the federal state with the highest value.

Schleswig-Holstein (75.1) has the lowest value.

At the district level, the Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains (865.1) lead the field with the highest seven-day incidences.

Traffic light wants action, but not a lockdown

In view of the high rate of new infections in Germany, the traffic light groups are currently discussing the introduction of additional measures for the successor law for the epidemic emergency. According to a preliminary report by the newspaper Bild am Sonntag, which cites negotiating circles, the SPD, Greens and FDP are planning a daily test obligation for employees and visitors in nursing homes, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or recovered. The corona premium for clinics should be reactivated. Hospitals would receive state compensation if they kept part of their intensive care beds free for possible corona patients.

In order to speed up the booster vaccinations for seniors, doctors should be obliged to write to their elderly patients and inform them about the third vaccination.

However, the traffic light groups wanted to forego a lockdown for unvaccinated people or a nationwide 2-G rule for public life.

Above all, the FDP is strictly against it.

"Correct wrong decisions quickly and courageously"

The German Medical Association is calling for a quick return to free corona rapid tests.

The end of the assumption of costs for so-called citizen tests did not motivate those unwilling to be vaccinated, President Klaus Reinhardt told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

The federal and state governments should therefore have the courage to correct this wrong decision quickly and consistently.

Since October 11, corona rapid tests have only been free in Germany in exceptional cases. The federal government has stopped funding, and many test stations are now closed. The reason for the decision was that everyone now has the opportunity to protect themselves with a vaccination. Since then, free rapid tests have only been available for people who cannot be vaccinated, including children under the age of 12, as well as temporarily for 12 to 17 year olds and pregnant women.

North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst also called for free corona tests for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.

"The high numbers of infections among unvaccinated people are leading to more and more breakthroughs among those who have been vaccinated," said the CDU politician of the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Free rapid tests for vaccinated and convalescent people would make it easier for people with little money to protect themselves and others without exposing the incentive to vaccinate.

Medical President Reinhardt emphasized that, especially in the cold season with many indoor leisure activities, low-threshold, free test offers are needed again in order to curb the spread of the virus.

"The new regulation must now come quickly, if possible with the amendment of the Infection Protection Act in mid-November."

Since the virus can also be spread by those who have been vaccinated, the medical president called for “a functioning and comprehensive test strategy for everyone, including those who have been vaccinated”.

In regions with high incidences, for example, for participants in high-risk events such as club visits, a negative quick test should be an entry requirement in addition to the 2-G rule.

That would mean that vaccinated and convalescent people would only have access with a negative test.