The nationwide seven-day incidence has fallen for the fourth straight day.

This increases the evidence that the omicron wave actually breaks.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gave the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week on Wednesday morning as 1401.0.

For comparison: the previous day the value was 1437.5, a week ago 1450.8, a month ago 515.7.

The health authorities reported 219,972 new corona infections to the RKI within one day.

A week ago there were 234,250 infections.

However, the numbers are of limited value at the moment.

Experts assume a high number of cases that are not recorded in the RKI data.

Test capacities and health authorities are therefore at the limit in many places, and contacts are only tracked to a limited extent.

In addition, the number of people who no longer have their infection confirmed by a PCR test is likely to increase – the infection is therefore not included in the official statistics.

Overloading of the intensive care units could be averted

According to the new information, 247 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours.

A week ago there were 272 deaths.

The number of people who died from or involved a proven infection with the Sars-CoV-2 virus rose to 120,467.

The RKI has counted 12,800,315 infections detected by positive tests since the beginning of the pandemic.

The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections go undetected.

The RKI gave the number of recovered people as 9,153,100.

The number of corona-infected patients who came to clinics per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days was 5.90 (Monday: 5.93) according to the RKI on Tuesday.

These may also include people with a positive corona test who have another main illness.

Before the Prime Ministers' Conference (MPK), Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach opposed a complete reduction in the corona requirements.

Lauterbach told the German Press Agency in Berlin that it was time to relax with a sense of proportion.

However, it is still necessary to be able to react quickly and flexibly to the pandemic.

"The virus will not disappear overnight." Lauterbach said: "That's why we have to formulate the Infection Protection Act in such a way that basic protection is guaranteed and can be extended if necessary." Supplement procedures so that even after March 20th more is possible than mask and distance.”

The MPK is advising on far-reaching openings this Wednesday.

According to a first draft for an MPK draft resolution, the corona requirements are to be largely eliminated by March 20th.

After that, according to the draft proposal, only “low-threshold basic protection measures” should be required – such as compulsory masks indoors.

According to the first draft by the Chancellery and MPK leaders, the Bundestag should create the legal basis for appropriate state measures.

Lauterbach emphasized: "The countries need a larger Corona cutlery."

You also have to adjust to life with Corona in legislation.

"We have reached the peak of the omicron wave," affirmed Lauterbach.

“However, we will have to live with its aftermath for a while.” In the meantime, fewer people have contracted the corona virus.

"But the number of hospital admissions will continue to rise for several days," said Lauterbach.

"In addition, the proportion of older people infected has increased, but their protection is particularly important."

The minister emphasized: "So far we have come through this wave well, also in comparison to other affected countries in Europe." Lauterbach emphasized the booster vaccinations, the contact restrictions - but also "the caution of the people who comply with the requirements have held".

Now is the time to loosen up with a sense of proportion.

But: "We cannot completely reduce the Corona requirements."

In the meantime, the German Hospital Society (DKG) expects a maximum of 3,000 corona patients in intensive care units in the coming weeks in view of the falling incidence.

Around 87 percent of the infected patients are currently being treated in the normal ward, says DKG boss Gerald Gass in the newspapers of the Funke media group.

In previous waves, on the other hand, a quarter of the patients would have been in intensive care.

In combination with an overall significantly lower hospitalization rate, this will “lead to the fact that at the top no more than 3,000 intensive care patients should be feared”.

The prerequisite for this, however, is that there is not a particularly high incidence of infection in the group of two million unvaccinated over 60-year-olds in the coming weeks.

In view of the additional effort involved in infection control measures for patients who have tested positive, it also means that regular operations must remain restricted.

"And this condition will continue for a long time, even after we have passed the peak of hospitalization."