Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has expressed concern about the current increase in the number of corona infections.

"Unfortunately, the announced summer wave has become reality," said Lauterbach of the "Rheinische Post".

"That also means little relaxation for the next few weeks."

Because the current virus variant is very easily transmittable and almost all precautionary measures have expired, the summer effect of the pandemic will fizzle out this year, the minister explained.

"I therefore strongly recommend that older people and those who have previously been ill be vaccinated again," said Lauterbach: "It doesn't necessarily prevent an infection, but it does prevent serious illnesses."

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 5.2 million people in Germany have received a second booster vaccination so far.

That is 6.3 percent of the population.

The seven-day incidence has recently skyrocketed again: Last Tuesday, the Robert Koch Institute gave the number of new corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants within a week as 447.3, after 331.8 the day before.

Omicron variant BA.5 is spreading

According to experts, the increasing numbers despite mild temperatures have several reasons.

On the one hand, there is the omicron subtype BA.5, which has recently been increasing steadily in Germany.

"The sub-variant BA.5 is even more contagious than all previous variants, so it can also spread under the adverse conditions for the virus in summer," explains epidemiologist Timo Ulrichs from the Akkon University of Human Sciences in Berlin.

According to the current state of knowledge, BA.5 can also escape the immune system, even if it has already had contact with omicron variants, Ulrichs warns.

Even fully vaccinated people are not immune to infection.

"This means there are a large number of potential hosts for dispersal."

After waves in countries like Portugal, many experts also expect that BA.5 will soon become dominant.

According to the last RKI weekly report, the BA.5 share is about ten percent from two weeks ago - but it should now be much higher.

For this week, based on the speed of spread so far, it can be assumed that BA.4 probably accounts for around 15 to 16 percent of the infection process and BA.5 40 to 50 percent, said Michael Müller, Chairman of the Association of Accredited Laboratories in Medicine (ALM). Tuesday.

More carefree behavior than in previous years

A general change in the behavior of many people is also important.

Against the background of the fallen corona restrictions, Hajo Zeeb from the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology in Bremen points to greater mobility and more contacts - and with significantly less protective behavior such as wearing a mask.

The vaccination, which is now long in the past for many, also plays a role in the increasing spread again: "The immunity has decreased on average, but there should still be clear protection against serious illnesses," says Zeeb.

Incidences will remain high in the summer

Immunologist Watzl is certain: There will be no single-digit incidences like last summer this year.

“As can currently be seen, the incidences will be in the hundreds.

Omikron is too contagious for that.” He assumes that around half of the population has not yet been infected with Omikron.

"Since the vaccination does not protect so well against pure infection, the virus still has sufficient potential to infect people."