Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
Germany may be reporting record daily coronavirus cases, but the hospitalisation and death rates are remaining stable. A growing number of voices are therefore calling for more restrictions to be relaxed.
Health authorities in Germany reported 208.498 new cases of coronavirus to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, a new daily high. Another milestone was reached as the country’s total number of infections surpassed the 10-million mark, while the seven-day incidence rate rose to a new high of 1.227,5 new cases per 100.000 people.
Despite these record figures, however, the number of deaths and people being admitted to hospital are remaining relatively stable - thanks in part to Omicron’s milder symptoms, and in other part to the protection provided to those most vulnerable to COVID by vaccinations and previous infections.
Responding to these positive signs, a growing number of voices are calling for concrete plans to relax coronavirus restrictions in Germany - propelled by the fact that neighbouring Denmark has recently dropped all restrictions.
In an interview with the Rheinische Post, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann suggested that many measures could be lifted in March, so long as case numbers sink from mid-February, as expected by the Health Ministry and the RKI. He pointed to the 2G rules in shops as one that could be dispensed with relatively quickly. “If a measure is not suitable or necessary, it must be dropped,” he said.
Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Insurance Physicians, also called for politicians to come up with a plan. “Regardless of the fact that at the moment there are still very high infection figures, it is necessary to show citizens perspectives on how we can get out of a permanent state of emergency after the Omicron wave,” he told RND.
Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU parliamentary group, said decisions on relaxing COVID restrictions should come before the end of February, with hospital occupancy rates acting as the major deciding factor.
On the other side of the debate, certain figures are saying it’s too soon to think about dropping restrictions. Gerald Gass, head of the German Hospital Association, told the Rheinische Post that discussions should only start when the peak of the Omicron wave has passed, although he did add that it “looks good at the moment.”
Prominent virologist Christian Drosten also said that it was premature to announce an all-clear in Germany, since the low vaccination rate means many people are still unprotected against the virus. In Denmark, where the vaccination rate is much higher, the situation is different, Drosten argued in his weekly podcast. He indicated that the school holidays over Easter could be a major turning point, arguing that schools are one of the key drivers of the pandemic, with infection rates among 5 to 14-year-olds currently almost three times the national average.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states are due to meet on February 16 to discuss next steps in the pandemic. At the last coronavirus summit on January 24, they agreed that steps to loosen restrictions would only come at the point they can be certain the healthcare system won’t be overwhelmed.