The seven-day incidence of coronavirus in Germany has reached its highest level since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the value rose to 528.2 on Monday, January 17. Despite this, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units continues to decline. For virologist Klaus Stöhr, there is reason for optimism. In an interview with ntv he stated: “The end of the pandemic is approaching.”
Infection after vaccination a way out of a pandemic?
Nevertheless, experts are warning of an extreme number of new cases of infection in the coming weeks. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that within two months, more than half of Europe’s population could be infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. “And this could be the way out of a pandemic for everyone, especially for the vulnerable: get vaccinated and thus be better protected later in the event of an unavoidable infection,” – Stöhr comments on the WHO forecast in an interview with ntv. He added that from the beginning of the pandemic it was clear that over time everyone would become infected.
Vaccination against coronavirus plays an important role in this. According to the virologist, the vaccination and the subsequent infection will result in long-term immunity. A booster vaccination in the autumn would then already be recommended for only the most at-risk groups.
Lauterbach: Omicron does not mean end of pandemic
Still, experts such as Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbauch warn against infection, especially when it comes to unvaccinated people. “An unvaccinated person who becomes infected with the Omicron variant now will have little protection against other variants in the fall,” – The politician warned Sunday on Twitter.
Source: www.rtl.de