The rate of COVID infections in Germany has soared over the past week, exceeding 100 new infections per 100.000 people on Saturday for the first time since May. 

COVID incidence rate in Germany reaches 110

Health authorities reported 6.573 new cases of coronavirus in Germany to the Robert Koch Institute in the 24 hours to Monday morning, taking the seven-day incidence rate up to 110. It first hit 100 on Saturday, after rising from 68,7 just eight days ago. This is the first time the infection rate has risen above 100 since May 2021. 

Previously, the seven-day incidence rate was used as a key indicator to assess whether COVID measures needed to be tightened or loosened. However, with a substantial proportion of Germany’s population now fully vaccinated and thus protected against serious courses of the virus, the infection rate is no longer considered such a meaningful indicator. 

Instead, the government is looking primarily at the rate at which patients are being admitted to hospitals in Germany to determine whether new restrictions might be needed. The rate still remains low, with the RKI putting the number of patients admitted to hospital per 100.000 inhabitants over the last seven days at 2,68. 

Ministers warn of rising infections over autumn and winter

However, Germany’s Federal Health Ministry has warned that infection rates are likely to worsen as the country heads into autumn and winter. “With the rising infection numbers we are seeing an escalation of the situation,” spokesperson Oliver Ewald said, adding that the cases numbers will likely “pick up speed in the further course of autumn and winter.” 

Germany’s DIVI intensive care association has also expressed concern at the latest figure, noting that case rates and hospital admission rates continue to be closely linked despite the high vaccination rate. 

On Friday, the state premiers of Germany’s 16 federal states agreed to push the government to keep nationwide coronavirus restrictions in place, to avoid a patchwork system of varying rules state-to-state.