German Minister Health: If there is no variant change, Germany will not fall into a state of epidemic

Due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the autumn, Germany is facing difficult times according to Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. With the BA.5 sub-variant of the micron, we will see an increase in the number of cases at least in early autumn, the SPD politician told Welt am Sonntag.

“Then there will be outbreaks in businesses and critical infrastructure, for example in hospitals. So we are in for some tough times.” He stated that this would be especially the case if staying indoors became the norm due to cold temperatures.

There are already between 100 and 150 Corona deaths per day, he said. “My concern is that number could increase.” This, he said, is not justified. Therefore, he said, we must be well prepared. “And we will be if the Bundestag passes the amendments to the infection protection law that have been introduced,” he said.

Lauterbach is hoping for a fall of the coronavirus without a serious mutation of the virus. If there is no variant change, he said, Germany will not fall into a state of epidemic. “However, we need tools for emergency situations,” Lauterbach said. “The fall of Corona will be no walk in the park”.

Many people mistakenly believe that only milder variants always prevail during a pandemic, he said. “This is a misunderstanding.” There is no selection advantage for the lighter variants, he said.

“We have to be ready for anything.” The virus had changed a lot through mutations and was still doing so. That is why the endemic stage has not yet been reached, he said.

The health minister is also calling for more research funding to develop nasal vaccines, which can be sprayed to provide immunity to mucous membranes.

“Germany is not doing well in international comparison when it comes to working on these vaccines,” he said. There is a lack of research funding, he said. Nasal vaccines could potentially reduce infection significantly.