There Are Four Cases Of The Omicron Variant, Germany Records The Highest Daily Death Due To COVID-19 In The Last 9 Months

JAKARTA - Germany reported its highest death toll from COVID-19 since mid-February on Wednesday, when hospitals warned the country could have 6.000 people in intensive care by Christmas, above last winter's peak.

The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's state infectious disease agency, reported 67.186 new cases on Wednesday, up 302 from a week ago, and 446 deaths, the highest daily figure since February 18, bringing the overall death toll to 101.790.

However, the seven-day incidence rate per 100.000 fell for a second day to 442.9 people, from 452.2 people on Tuesday.

Germany's federal and regional governments agreed on Tuesday to take action against the fourth wave of COVID-19, including increasing vaccination campaigns and limiting contact, especially for people who were not vaccinated.

Drawing criticism from scientists for acting too late, leaders agreed to take firm decisions on Thursday on proposals, such as forcing customers to show proof of vaccination or recovery in stores and limiting the number of people at large events.

Meanwhile, Gernot Marx, president of DIVI's association for intensive care medicine, warned the country could still have 6.000 people in intensive care by next Christmas, regardless of what action politicians now decide.

That compares with the previous high of 5.745 coronavirus patients in intensive care on Jan 3. Germany also has fewer beds available now due to a shortage of nursing staff.

"The situation is really getting tighter. We need to save the clinic from being destroyed," Marx told ZDF television, calling on the government to consider a temporary lockdown. Citing Reuters, December 1

To note, four people in southern Germany have tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 even though they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the public health office in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said.

Three of the infected people returned from a business trip to South Africa on November 26 and November 27, respectively. While the fourth person is a family member of one of the returnees. All four showed moderate symptoms.