Germany’s daily coronavirus infection rate continues to rise rapidly. If things do not change soon, the healthcare system could “reach its limits” by April, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn has warned. 

Third coronavirus wave could be more severe than first or second

Jens Spahn has warned that German hospitals will soon become overburdened if the rate of coronavirus infections continues to rise. “At the moment the numbers are rising too quickly and the virus variants make the situation particularly dangerous,” he said at a joint press conference held with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Friday. “If this continues unchecked, we run the risk that our healthcare system will reach its limits during the course of April.” 

The President of the RKI, Lothar Wieler, also painted a gloomy picture. He said there were “clear signals” that the third wave of coronavirus that has now started could “surpass the first and second”, adding that the country must be prepared for the fact that the number of infected people will rise sharply, that hospitals could become overloaded and that “many people will also die.”

People of Germany urged to stay home over Easter holidays

Spahn noted that 10 percent of the German population has now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, but Wieler added that vaccinations alone cannot stop the current exponential increase in case numbers. Both urged people to stay home over the Easter holidays, to not travel, either domestically or abroad, and to ideally only meet with family and friends outdoors. “Mobility and contacts are the drivers of this pandemic,” Wieler said. 

Spahn also called on the population to comply with the pandemic containment rules, and for the federal states to “consistently implement” the agreed emergency brake to planned reopenings. He also encouraged everyone to make greater use of Germany’s free testing offer. Since March 8, everyone has been entitled to one free rapid test per week, which can be undertaken at one of the 10.000 testing stations nationwide, at the doctor, or at a participating pharmacy.

Germany recorded more than 21.500 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Friday morning - an increase of more than 4.000 compared to last Friday. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the seven-day incidence rate per 100.000 inhabitants has now risen to 119,1. “We are facing very difficult weeks,” Wieler said. “Many people are behaving responsibly. I want to thank everyone. It is important that everyone participants. Let’s use the Easter days to slow down the virus.”