The sixth corona wave seems to be slowing down: the nationwide seven-day incidence of new infections has continued to fall.

As the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Thursday morning, the value is now 1625.1.

It was 1663.0 on Wednesday and 1752.0 a week ago.

The value quantifies the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over a period of seven days.

As the RKI further reported, citing data from the health authorities, the absolute number of new infections reported within 24 hours on Thursday was 274,901.

268,477 new infections were reported the day before, compared to 318,387 a week ago.

The total number of registered cases of infection in Germany since the beginning of the corona pandemic has increased to 21,104,509.

According to the RKI, 279 further deaths related to the corona virus were registered within 24 hours.

The total number of corona deaths recorded in Germany rose to 129,391.

In the fight against corona infections, the offer of free quick tests for everyone will be extended until early summer.

The test ordinance, which originally applied until March 30th and which also regulates these “citizen tests”, will remain in force until June 29th inclusive.

This provides for changes by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), which were announced in the Federal Gazette on Wednesday.

This means that all citizens, even without symptoms, are still entitled to at least one quick test per week at test sites by trained staff.

The aim of the offer is to recognize and prevent infections given the continued high number of infections.

The test certificates can also serve as proof of access rules for indoor spaces and events, which can no longer be ordered across the board from this Sunday.

Quarantine only for five days

In the current corona wave in Germany with many, but mostly lighter infections, the quarantine rules are to be simplified.

The duration should generally be reduced to five days, as proposed by the Federal Ministry of Health and the RKI.

The concept, which was sent to the federal states on Wednesday, is available to the German Press Agency.

Shortly before the end of most everyday requirements, the dispute over more protection rules in regions with a critical situation continues to smolder.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) said in Berlin that the requirements for separations are not really practicable in the current wave.

The point is to solve this pragmatically.

The aim is to be able to work with a new regulation in the next week.

The background is also to avoid staff shortages, especially in important care areas, in view of the many infections.

In the future, if you are infected yourself, isolation should last five days, according to the proposal.

It should be recommended to voluntarily reduce contacts and - starting after five days - to carry out repeated tests or self-tests.

In addition, “no strict isolation” should no longer be specified.

A formal order from the health department, which is often no longer given, should be omitted.

So far, secretions have usually lasted ten days and can end with a negative test after seven days at the earliest.