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Berlin (dpa) - In Germany, there are increasing indications of a possible further exacerbation of the corona pandemic.
After the so-called reproduction number of the coronavirus was below one for weeks, it has now exceeded this important threshold for the first time, according to the Robert Koch Institute.
The RKI gave the nationwide seven-day R-value on Friday evening as 1.01.
This means that 100 infected people infect 101 more people.
This could indicate that the more contagious virus variants are spreading faster despite the lockdown.
RKI President Lothar Wieler said on Friday that the proportion of virus variant B 1.1.7., Which, according to conservative estimates, is 35 percent more contagious, is increasing rapidly in Germany.
“We may be at a turning point again.
The downward trend of the last few weeks is apparently no longer continuing, ”said Wieler.
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In terms of new infections and the seven-day incidence, there had been hardly any changes in the past few days - despite the persistently strict lockdown.
The increase in the R-value is now making people sit up and take notice.
If it is below 1 for a long time, the infection process subsides.
If it is above 1, it gains momentum.
On Wednesday, the RKI had given the R value as 0.85.
The British mutant has already gained the upper hand in Flensburg.
In the city on the Danish border, according to Mayor Simone Lange (SPD), almost only infections with the variant that initially appeared in England are found.
Flensburg is now one of the Corona hotspots nationwide.
Denmark has therefore closed several smaller border crossings to Germany.
Important transitions such as Frøslev, Kruså and Padborg should remain open.
The Ministry of Justice announced on Friday in Copenhagen that the controls there are being “much more intensive”.
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In Flensburg itself, corona requirements have been tightened again since midnight.
Nightly exit restrictions will come into effect on this Saturday between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
In addition, private meetings are prohibited there for the time being.
There are exceptions, for example on the way to work or to the doctor.
In view of the dangers posed by the virus mutations, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil warned against a hasty relaxation of the corona requirements in Germany.
“The federal and state governments must jointly develop a sensible opening concept,” said the SPD politician to the editorial network in Germany (Saturday).
"It has to be so sure that after a few weeks we don't have to close everything that we just opened."
With an opening strategy, it is important to proceed carefully step by step.
"All measures must go hand in hand with a good test strategy and we must keep an eye on the progress of the vaccination," said Heil.
"Just because we're all annoyed by the lockdown, we can't end it with a bang."
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210220-99-517663 / 2
RKI management report from February 19