It was one of the last countries in the European Union (EU) to drop travel restrictions when entering from another member state for the summer months.
Photo: IANS
The current spike in Covid-19 infections has alarmed Germany’s Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, who has warned that a summer wave has begun.
“Unfortunately, the predicted summer storm has materialised. This also means that for the next few weeks, there will be little relief “Lauterbach spoke to the local press.
According to the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases, the nationwide seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 people jumped to 472.4 on Wednesday, nearly twice as high as a week ago.
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According to the RKI, daily Covid-19 infections in Germany surpassed 100,000 for the first time since April.
The two more contagious Omicron sub-variants, BA.5 and BA.4, are chiefly responsible for the latest surge.
According to the RKI’s latest weekly assessment, BA.5’s market share in Germany doubled in a week to 10%.
Lauterbach urged the elderly and vulnerable to get booster vaccines, which can help prevent serious symptoms while not necessarily preventing infections.
Around 85 percent of Germany’s 69.4 million adults aged 18 and up have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
According to official numbers, more than 69 percent have received one booster shot, with 7.8 percent having received two.
Most Covid-19 restrictions in Germany have been lifted.
It was one of the last countries in the European Union (EU) to drop travel restrictions when entering from another member state for the summer months.
(with inputs from IANS)
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