For the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in Germany, the seven-day incidence rate has exceeded the 200-mark, new figures show. The news has prompted calls for tougher restrictions and a resumption of free COVID tests. 

Germany’s seven-day COVID incidence rate hits 201,1

Germany reached a record high of 201,1 new cases of coronavirus per 100.000 people on Monday morning, after health authorities reported a further 15.512 new infections to the Robert Koch Institute. This is the highest daily value ever recorded by the RKI. The previous record rate of 197,6 was set on December 22, 2020. 

While alarming, the statistic does not reflect the fact that, unlike a year ago, many people are now vaccinated, and the vaccination rate is particularly high among very old and vulnerable people. Experts therefore assume that the German healthcare system will be able to cope with a higher number of infections, as fewer people will now suffer a serious course of the virus. 

Indeed, the number of people admitted to hospital with a COVID infection over the past seven days is fewer than four per 100.000 people. During the previous peak in December 2020, it was more than 15. 

Doctors and teachers sound the alarm over rising case rate

Nonetheless, doctors are warning that intensive care units could soon face an influx of patients, as hospitalisation rates catch up with the ballooning infection rates. Christian Karagiannidis, head of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), told the Augsburger Allgemeine that the number of COVID patients in intensive care could double. “With an incidence of 300, we expect about 4.500 COVID patients nationwide, with wide regional variations,” he said. 

The German Teachers’ Association has also expressed alarm at the rising number of cases in primary and secondary schools. “There are frightening rates of infection among children and young people,” said president Hans-Peter Meidinger. “There’s a great danger that we will lose control of the pandemic in schools,” he added, calling for face masks to be reintroduced for students, and for teachers to be tested daily if case numbers remain high. 

Rules tightened in Saxony & Bavaria, calls for free testing to resume

In some federal states, ministers have already responded to the rise in case numbers by tightening restrictions. On Monday, the state of Saxony introduced some of the toughest restrictions nationwide, with 2G rules now applying to indoor dining and indoor events, meaning only those who are vaccinated or recovered are permitted to enter. 

In the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, the seven-day incidence rate rose to 924,3 on Monday, meaning that nearly 1 percent of the district’s total population contracted coronavirus within the last seven days alone. 

In Bavaria, tougher restrictions also came into effect on Sunday, with the so-called “3G plus” rule now applying to many indoor public spaces. This means that only vaccinated, recovered or PCR-tested people will be admitted. 

Meanwhile, the three parties likely to form Germany’s next government - the SPD, Greens and FDP - are planning to restart free testing. The scheme was scrapped less than a month ago in an attempt to encourage more people to get vaccinated with 3G rules in place nationwide, but now ministers are considering a U-turn. “The abolition of the free tests was a mistake,” said FDP parliamentary leader Marco Buschmann.