The Robert Koch Institute has urged people in Germany to get themselves tested for coronavirus, even if they are fully-vaccinated or only experiencing mild cold-like symptoms, after case numbers increased drastically last week.

Get tested to prevent spread of COVID, RKI urges

Germany’s disease protection agency said in its weekly report on Thursday evening that it was important for children, vaccinated people, and those with only mild symptoms to get themselves properly tested with a PCR (laboratory) test, in order to prevent coronavirus from spreading more widely in Germany. 

The call came as new figures showed that the number of PCR tests taken at test centres and doctors’ surgeries has fallen sharply in recent weeks - but that the proportion of positive results is already starting to increase once again. 

Case numbers up in all German states

As was the case last week, the RKI’s data shows that infections are currently most prevalent among people under the age of 50 in Germany, and that the 15 to 24 age group currently has the highest seven-day incidence rate, at almost 60 per 100.000. 

Accordingly, the median age of COVID-19 patients treated in hospital has fallen significantly since the beginning of the year. Eight months ago, the median age of patients in critical condition was 77; last week, it was just 48 years. 

With the exception of Bremen, the number of new cases increased last week in comparison to the week before in all German federal states. The growth rate is double-digit practically across the board, with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where cases are up 110 percent, posting the highest rate.