Advertisement

Germany sees more than 300,000 Covid infections in 24 hours

The Local Germany
The Local Germany - [email protected]
Germany sees more than 300,000 Covid infections in 24 hours
A person holds a FFP2 mask in Bremen. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sina Schuldt

Germany has reported more than 300,000 Covid infections within a day for the first time since the pandemic began.

Advertisement

For the first time in the Covid pandemic, German health authorities logged 318,387 new infections within 24 hours on Thursday.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also said 300 people died from or with the virus within the latest 24 hour period. 

The nationwide 7-day incidence increased further to 1,752 infections per 100,000 people. That's up from an incidence of 1,734.2 the previous day.

As The Local reported earlier this week, hospitals in Germany are struggling with staff shortages due to people going off sick or having to quarantine with Covid.

But Covid hospitalisations are not rising as fast as the infection rate.

On Thursday, the RKI said the 7-day incidence of hospitalised Covid cases is 7.28 per 100,000 population. Meanwhile, around 2,335 patients with Covid-19 are in intensive care units with 895 receiving ventilation treatment.  During previous Covid peaks there were more than 5,000 patients in intensive care units. 

The German government is in the process of relaxing Covid restrictions - however states recently extended them as part of a transition period until early April.

Advertisement

'High incidence phase'

It came as high profile health expert Christian Drosten said the current wave of high infections could continue until around mid-April. Experts believe the Omicron sub-type BA.2 is fuelling the wave, as well as people socialising more. 

"Currently, we are in a high-incidence phase," said the scientist from the Charité hospital in Berlin during an interview with Die Zeit newspaper. He said it would likely stay that way until Easter if no action is taken.

With a view to the summer, Drosten said mild measures, such as masks indoors, would be efficient for keeping the spread low.

READ ALSO: How be worried should we be about Germany’s rising Covid infections?

And he said that restrictions could be needed for years to come - at least in the colder months. 

In general, it will take years to build up community immunity as with influenza, said Drosten, who advises the German government on Covid measures. Therefore, "we will have to control the incidence for years to come with relatively mild measures in autumn and winter," he added.

Drosten also said booster vaccinations with a focus on risk groups in autumn could also help contain future Covid waves.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Anonymous 2022/03/25 17:23
What is not reported is how many of the 3000 covid infections have been vaccinated. Also, the number of deaths broken down by age groups and if there were any other underlying health conditions. This information should be reported as well.
Anonymous 2022/03/25 08:58
I can't wait for the next lockdown. Well over due I'd say.

See Also