Germany has set a new record, registering 1,5 million COVID infections in just one week. Experts at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) suggest the high infection rate is being facilitated by the BA.2 Omicron subtype.

Omicron subtype gaining prevalence in Germany

Over the past week, health authorities and doctors in Germany have recorded more than 1,5 million cases of coronavirus in just one week. Experts at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) believe that the high number of infections is being driven by the BA.2 Omicron subtype, although the lifting of contact restrictions and lockdown rules has undoubtedly also played a role.

The RKI said in its weekly report that the new variant is fast increasing its share of infections, while the role of the BA.1 Omicron subtype, which was previously the dominant variant in Germany, has been reduced significantly. The most recent data, which is from two weeks ago, shows that the share of infections relating to the BA.2 subtype has risen from around 64 percent to 72 percent.

RKI calls for people to get vaccinated

The authors of the report emphasised the need for people to be careful when out and about, and take the appropriate precautions, which includes getting vaccinated. “Vaccination has not lost its importance due to its high effectiveness against a severe course, even in cases of disease caused by the Omicron variant,” they said.

The RKI has also called on people to get vaccinated. The institute has said frequently that vaccinations, particularly booster shots, help stop people from getting seriously ill after being infected, as well as helping to reduce the severity of the infection.