The Robert Koch Institute has reported the nationwide seven-day incidence as of Saturday morning at 477.0. That's according to figures reflecting the RKI dashboard as of 05:00. The previous day, the value of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week had been 485.7 (previous week: 544.0; previous month: 1015.7). However, the incidence does not provide a complete picture of the infection situation. For some time, experts have been assuming a high number of cases not recorded by the RKI - due to overburdened health offices and because not all infected persons have a PCR test done. Only these count in the statistics. In addition, subsequent reports or transmission problems can lead to a distortion of individual daily values.

Health offices in Germany last reported 61,859 new Corona infections (previous week: 72,252 registered infections) and 144 deaths (previous week: 184) to the RKI within one day. Comparisons of data are again limited due to testing behavior, late reporting, or transmission problems. In general, the number of registered new infections and deaths fluctuates significantly from weekday to weekday, as more and more federal states do not transmit to the RKI, especially on weekends, and subsequently report their cases in the course of the week.

The RKI counted 25,723,697 confirmed infections with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the pandemic. The actual total number is likely to be significantly higher, as many infections are not detected.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach believes a return of the more dangerous delta variant of the corona virus is possible. "The pandemic is not over yet. An Omicron wave in the fall is indeed likely. But even the more dangerous delta variant could return," Lauterbach told the "Rheinische Post" newspaper, referring to an Israeli study according to which the delta variant was also detected in wastewater. Both scenarios must be prepared for, the SPD politician said. "We need vaccine against both variants. It will be very expensive."

In Germany, the Omicron subvariant BA.2 currently dominates with a good 97 percent. The delta variant, which is often associated with more severe consequences, is currently only rarely detected, according to the latest weekly report of the Robert Koch Institute.

Lauterbach called on people to continue to be cautious. "Even in summer, we should remain vigilant," the minister warned. This includes wearing masks on public transport and in airplanes, he said. "Anyone who deludes people now that Corona is history will bitterly regret it in the fall," Lauterbach warned.

Meanwhile, the German Association of Towns and Municipalities appealed to the federal and state governments to make preparations for a new wave of Corona. Vaccination facilities must be maintained, Chief Executive Gerd Landsberg told the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe. While it does not make sense to operate largely vacant vaccination centers on a large scale, he said. Necessarily however a planning is, when one under which circumstances again additional inoculation possibilities to create is necessary. Landsberg referred to a vaccine expected in the fall that is adapted to the Omicron variant.

Image by Fernando Zhiminaicela