(International Observation) Has the cumulative number of confirmed diagnoses exceeded 20 million in Germany's epidemic prevention "lying flat"?

　　China News Agency, Berlin, March 26 Question: Has the cumulative number of confirmed diagnoses exceeded 20 million in Germany's epidemic prevention "lying flat"?

　　China News Agency reporter Ma Xiuxiu

　　According to the epidemic data released by the Robert Koch Institute, the German disease control agency, on the 26th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Germany has exceeded 20 million, which means that at least nearly a quarter of the country's population has now been infected with the new crown virus.

　　In the past few days, the new confirmed cases and the incidence of new crowns in Germany have remained high, but the Bundestag still passed a new epidemic prevention and protection law on the 19th of this month, lifting most of the nationwide restrictions.

Accordingly, basic epidemic prevention measures such as wearing masks and testing are only applicable to high-risk groups and facilities.

Masks are no longer required in schools, retail stores and public indoor spaces.

　　The epidemic data is high, why does the government still insist on "unblocking"?

Under the rebound of the epidemic, is Germany safe?

Can the word "lying flat" describe Germany's current epidemic prevention strategy?

"Unblocking": The pursuit of freedom sparks criticism

　　Before the adoption of the new epidemic prevention and protection law, organizations including the German Patient Protection Foundation and the Confederation of German Industry (BDI) believed that "unblocking" was not desirable.

However, the Bundestag passed the new epidemic protection law as scheduled without consultation with the federal states.

　　Many states expressed dissatisfaction with this.

Not only because it has not been "solicited", but also because of the pressure of epidemic prevention that may be brought about by "unblocking".

Stefanie Drese, the social affairs minister of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, complained that the state's burden was higher than ever and that clinics in many parts of Germany were strained.

　　WHO's European Regional Director Hans Kruger also criticized European countries, including Germany, on the 22nd for prematurely lifting restrictions on the new crown epidemic, which led to an increase in the number of infections.

　　Federal Health Minister Lauterbach called on the states to cooperate.

"We cannot continue to cut and limit the liberties of all citizens just because 10% of the population over 60 is not vaccinated."

　　According to the regulations, the original restrictions have a two-week transition period, which can last until April 2.

States could tighten restrictions on so-called Covid-19 "hot spots."

　　Several states want to extend the transition period, which can last until April 2.

The canton of Berlin has been extended until March 31.

The reporter saw on the 26th that people generally no longer wear masks on the streets of Berlin. However, they still need to wear masks when entering indoor places such as shops and supermarkets, and they also need to wear masks when taking public transportation.

Status quo: The epidemic rebounds and medical care is under pressure

　　Recently, the number of newly confirmed cases in Germany in a single day has exceeded 310,000, and the incidence of new crowns continues to rise.

The resurgence of the epidemic has put the pressure on the medical system.

　　Under the Omicron wave, hospitals are facing large-scale staff shortages because many staff have tested positive or are quarantined, and the normal work of intensive care units in many places has also been limited.

　　Gernot Marx, president of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), said on the 22nd that 518 of the current 1,320 intensive care units indicated that their work was restricted.

　　"We also have understaffing problems on a regional scale due to the quarantine." Gerald Ga?, chairman of the board of directors of the German Hospital Association (DKG), shared the same concern.

According to recent surveys, 75% of hospitals are no longer able to provide services within the normal range, and the main reason is the lack of staff.

　　The high incidence is not expected to ease in the next few weeks.

The only positive is that ICU occupancy rates have not improved further.

　　The surge in cases also means higher costs for quarantine, treatment and other aspects.

In order to make up for the funding gap of statutory medical insurance, Lauterbach plans to increase medical insurance fees.

According to the Association of Central Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV), Germany's health insurance funding gap will reach 17 billion euros next year.

　　In view of the record number of infections, the health ministers of the five federal states called on the 25th to extend the original restrictions for another four weeks.

The road ahead: the epidemic has not stopped, and there is a long way to go

　　The vast majority of restrictions will be lifted, does it mean that the epidemic subsides or the epidemic prevention "lays flat"?

Lauterbach expressed his opposition to the full lifting of epidemic restrictions on the day the new epidemic prevention regulations were passed, and repeatedly reminded through the media that "the epidemic is far from over."

　　Experts said that vaccines, testing, effective drugs and other weapons are still needed to deal with the epidemic, and the possibility of taking drastic measures again is not ruled out.

　　At present, Germany is still discussing mandatory vaccination.

Lauterbach called on the elderly to get booster shots as soon as possible, and asked citizens to continue to use the test.

He said additional measures could be decided in so-called "hot spots" of the coronavirus.

　　Drosten, director of the Institute of Virology at the Charité School of Medicine in Berlin, also pointed out that although the epidemic situation has eased based on the Omicron variant and vaccine protection, it is still necessary to remain vigilant about the widespread relaxation of epidemic restrictions, and if necessary make adjustments.

"The virus is not absolutely harmless anymore."

　　He pointed out that in response to the autumn epidemic, effective drugs must be prepared for risk patients, and more stringent measures are likely to be adopted again in winter.

Generally, it takes years to gradually build up herd immunity, such as against influenza.

Therefore, people "must also take relatively mild measures to control the incidence of new crowns in autumn and winter in the next few years." (End)