Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
Exactly two years to the day after the first ever case of coronavirus was confirmed in Germany, the infection rate has reached a new record high. For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 200.000 new cases have been reported within 24 hours. The news came as politicians debated a possible general vaccine mandate.
Health authorities in Germany reported 203.136 new COVID cases to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in the 24 hours to Thursday morning - the first time the 200.000-mark has been surpassed since the coronavirus pandemic began and a marker of just how firmly Omicron has the federal republic in its grip.
This has also brought the seven-day incidence rate to a new high of 1017,4 new cases per 100.000 inhabitants, up from 940,6 the day before and 638,8 exactly a week ago. It is also likely that the number will be adjusted upwards during the course of the day, as the heavily-overburdened health authorities often report new cases with a delay.
In eight federal states the incidence rate has now surpassed 1.000 new cases per 100.000 inhabitants. Berlin currently has the highest rate of 1.863,2, followed by Hamburg with 1.616,2. The lowest incidence rate is currently being recorded in Thuringia, which has a value of 371,8.
Exactly two years ago, on January 27, 2020, Germany’s first coronavirus case was officially confirmed in Bavaria. Since then, more than 9,2 million people nationwide have contracted the virus, while 117.314 have died in connection with an infection.
So far, around 73,7 percent of Germany’s population is fully vaccinated. On Wednesday, the possibility of imposing a general vaccine mandate was debated in the Bundestag for the first time in a so-called “orientation debate” which explored the pros and cons of the move. While many MPs were in favor of making jabs compulsory for all adults, others called for a “middle ground”, or rejected the plan entirely.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called for a decision to be made as soon as possible, to avoid unnecessary delays. FDP MP Andrew Ullman called for mandatory educational talks and, if necessary, compulsory vaccinations for people above the age of 50. Other MPs also spoke in favour of imposing the mandate for elderly people only.
SPD parliamentary group leader Dagmar Schmidt and Greens health expert Kirsten Kappert-Gonther spoke in favour of compulsory vaccination for all adults who are not exempt for medical reasons. “We need a very high vaccination rate to get out of the pandemic,” Schmidt said, adding that she believed a compulsory vaccination was the best way to achieve this.
On the other side of the debate, Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki rejected the proposal. “There are good reasons for vaccination, but they don’t convince me that vaccination is compulsory,” the FDP politician said. Gregor Gysi, of the Left party, pointed out that other countries like Portugal, Spain and Denmark have achieved higher immunisation rates without making vaccines compulsory. The AfD party spoke clearly against any kind of vaccine mandate.
After the debate, MPs were due to come together to submit motions to be debated in mid-February. So far, three options are on the table: compulsory vaccination for all adults, compulsory vaccination from the age of 50, and no compulsory vaccination. A decision is expected in March.