Germany reports rise in COVID-19 infections with 6,215 new cases for epidemiological week 36

Coronavirus News: Germany has seen a notable rise in COVID-19 cases for the 36th epidemiological week of 2024 (1st September to 7th September 2024), with 6,215 new cases reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). This increase is part of an ongoing trend observed since early August, contributing to the overall stabilization of acute respiratory infections (ARE) in the population. Despite this uptick, the situation remains under control, with hospitalization rates staying relatively low. However, a large majority of the population appears to be sickly with many GPs reporting a variety of symptoms plaguing many including chronic fatigue, mobility issues, body pains, cognitive issues, sleep and eating disorders and breathing issues.


Germany reports rise in COVID-19 infections with 6,215 new cases for epidemiological week 36

This Coronavirus News report delves into the key findings from the latest RKI report and provides an overview of the current respiratory disease landscape in Germany.
 
COVID-19 on the Rise: A Closer Look at the Numbers
According to the RKI’s latest weekly report, the number of new COVID-19 cases has risen from the previous week’s total of 5,706 to 6,215 in epidemiological Week 36. This increase is consistent with a gradual upward trend that began in Week 32 of 2024. While COVID-19 cases are rising, it is important to note that severe cases, particularly those requiring hospitalization, remain manageable. Of the newly reported cases, only 26% were hospitalized.
https://influenza.rki.de/Wochenberichte.aspx
 
https://influenza.rki.de/Wochenberichte/2023_2024/2024-36.pdf
 
The increase in COVID-19 cases has also been reflected in the country's wastewater monitoring system. Since early August, the aggregated SARS-CoV-2 virus load in wastewater has shown a modest increase, signaling that more individuals are likely becoming infected with the virus.
 
It should be noted that that actual COVID-19 infection rates could be much higher than that reported as there is very little COVID-19 testing being conducted and test conducted in homes using rapid test kits are not included in any data and most hospitals or clinics do not run any COVID-19 test for very mild symptoms.
 
General Respiratory Illness Trends in Germany
In addition to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the RKI report indicates that the overall activity of acute respiratory infections (ARE) in Germany has remained stable compared to the previous week. Across both outpatient and inpatient settings, there has been no significant change in the number of doctor visits related to respiratory infections. The number of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) has also remained steady, and the percentage of SARI cases diagnosed with COVID-19 has been stable at 9%.
 
The report estimates that around 4.4 million individuals in Germany experienced acute respiratory infections during this period, with rhinoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 being the predominant pathogens. Interestingly, the ARE rate among children has decreased, while rates among adults have risen slightly. Despite these changes, the overall ARE activity remains higher than usual for this time of year.
 
The Role of Sentinel Surveillance: Key Pathogens Detected
Germany’s National Reference Center for Influenza Viruses (NRZ) continues to play a vital role in tracking respiratory pathogens. In Week 36, a total of 62 sentinel samples were collected from 30 medical practices across the country. Of these, 32 samples tested positive for respiratory viruses, with rhinoviruses accounting for 24% of cases and SARS-CoV-2 for 21%. Parainfluenza viruses (PIV) made up 8% of positive cases, while human coronaviruses (hCoV) and adenoviruses each represented 2%.
 
Notably, no influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), or human metapneumoviruses (hMPV) were detected during this period. The lack of influenza and RSV detections suggests that these viruses may not be significant contributors to respiratory illness during the late summer months. However, rhinoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 remain active and continue to cause respiratory infections across the country.
 
This report highlights the importance of ongoing sentinel surveillance, which provides valuable data on the circulating respiratory viruses and helps inform public health responses.
 
Hospitalization Rates: A Stable Situation
The number of hospitalizations due to severe respiratory infections (SARI) has remained stable during epidemiological Week 36. About 9% of SARI cases were diagnosed with COVID-19, and fewer than 1% of cases were linked to influenza or RSV. The stability in hospitalization rates is encouraging, suggesting that the healthcare system is not currently under significant strain due to respiratory infections.
 
However, the report notes that the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred in older populations, particularly those aged 60 and above. This trend underscores the continued vulnerability of older adults to severe outcomes from COVID-19, even as the overall case numbers rise.
 
Wastewater Monitoring: Tracking the Virus’s Spread
The RKI’s wastewater monitoring system provides an additional layer of surveillance for tracking the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Since early August 2024, the aggregated SARS-CoV-2 virus load in wastewater has shown a slight but steady increase. This increase aligns with the rise in reported COVID-19 cases, suggesting that the virus is spreading more widely in the community.
 
The viral load in wastewater in North Rhine-Westphalia has been steadily increasing, with wastewater testing in Düsseldorf revealing a consistent rise in detected corona pathogens for the third consecutive time. In Bonn, this upward trend has persisted for nine weeks, while other measuring stations in Bielefeld, Dortmund-Scharnhorst, and Wuppertal also report growing numbers, according to the RKI.
https://www.bild.de/regional/nordrhein-westfalen/coronawelle-in-nrw-zahlen-steigen-mehr-menschen-als-sonst-krank-66e0170cabbac57dd20e6610
 
Wastewater surveillance is a valuable tool for detecting trends in virus transmission, as it can provide early warning signs of increasing infection rates before they are fully reflected in clinical case data. In Week 36, data from 125 wastewater treatment plants were analyzed, and the findings suggest that the virus is becoming more prevalent in certain regions of the country.
 
Impact on Different Age Groups
The ARE and COVID-19 trends observed in Week 36 differ across age groups. While the incidence of acute respiratory infections has decreased among children, it has risen slightly among adults. In particular, younger adults (aged 15-34 years) have experienced a higher incidence of SARI, a trend that has been observed throughout the summer months.
 
At the same time, school-aged children (5-14 years) have also seen a resurgence in SARI cases after a brief decline in earlier weeks. The rise in SARI cases among these younger populations may be linked to increased social interactions following the summer holidays, as fewer restrictions and more indoor gatherings facilitate the spread of respiratory viruses.
 
Conclusion: The Current State of COVID-19 and ARE in Germany
Germany's COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, with 6,215 new cases reported in Week 36. While case numbers are rising, the healthcare system is managing the situation well, with stable hospitalization rates and a relatively low incidence of severe cases. The dominance of rhinoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 as the main respiratory pathogens underscores the importance of ongoing public health measures to reduce transmission, particularly among vulnerable populations such as older adults.
 
The increase in wastewater SARS-CoV-2 levels is an early indicator that COVID-19 may continue to spread in the coming weeks, although the overall impact on the healthcare system remains moderate. The RKI’s comprehensive surveillance systems, including sentinel monitoring and wastewater analysis, are critical in providing up-to-date information on respiratory disease trends and helping guide public health responses.
 
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