In the development of the Corona summer wave in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) continues to give no all-clear. "Furthermore, a sideways movement rather than a decreasing trend can be observed," says the institute's weekly report on Covid-19 on Thursday evening.

The nationwide seven-day incidence last week fell only slightly compared to the previous week, he said. The overall picture, it said, was one of already falling incidences in most western German states and Berlin - with incidences still rising slightly in the other eastern German states and Bavaria.

The RKI speaks of a total of an estimated 800,000 to 1.5 million Corona infected with symptoms of acute respiratory infection in the past week. There continues to be high infection pressure in all age groups.

"Therefore, cases and, especially in the older age groups, hospitalizations, increase in intensive care treatment and deaths can still be expected in the coming weeks." In terms of deaths linked to the virus, the RKI says there has been a plateau of just over 400 each week.

As the report indicates, the omicron subline BA.5 has gained widespread acceptance in this country: According to the most recent data available, the line has been found in just under nine out of ten positive samples.

The RKI continues to call for "unconditional" compliance with the recommendations for avoiding infection. The values for acute respiratory diseases in the overall population, as well as the number of doctor's visits, continue to be higher than in previous years at this time.

Photo by Steven Cornfield