Germany’s “corona cabinet” has agreed to look at a broader range of factors when deciding upon future measures to combat coronavirus. In particular, the rate of hospital admissions will be taken into account. 

Hospital admissions to count in deciding future COVID measures

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn announced on Monday that the government planned to move away from using the seven-day incidence rate as a key indicator of how the pandemic is burdening the German healthcare system. Instead, the government will look to the number of people being admitted to German hospitals to determine whether new measures are necessary. 

Previously, the government set thresholds for the seven-day incidence rate, such as 35, 50, or 100 new infections per 100.000 people, which determined whether restrictions on public life should be tightened or relaxed. The government will now move to delete this from the Infection Protection Act.

“The 50 incidence in the law has had its day,” Spahn told public broadcaster ZDF on Monday. “The new parameter is hospitalisation. This means the number of COVID-19 patients who are admitted to hospital for treatment.” 

The measure also received support from Armin Laschet, state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Union candidate for chancellor. “We have learned: incidence alone is no longer meaningful,” he said on Bild TV, adding that, “50 is not the same today as it was a year ago, because so many people have been vaccinated.” 

No further lockdowns for vaccinated people in Germany

Jens Spahn also confirmed on Monday that there will be no further lockdowns, like those imposed in the spring and autumn of 2020, for individuals who have been vaccinated or recovered from coronavirus. 

“No curfews, no contact restrictions,” he told RTL. “That is the current legal situation.” He did, however, leave the question open as to whether there might be measures for unvaccinated people. “It’s in our own hands,” he said, urging people to get vaccinated in the coming weeks to help prepare the country for the autumn and winter.