- More cases of coronavirus - Authority: Not a cause for concern
Last July, Hamburg recorded a small COVID-19 wave. From July 15 to 21, 224 infections were counted, as reported by the Infection Info of the Hamburg Institute of Hygiene and the Environment. The week before, 210 COVID-19 cases were recorded, and the week after, 187.
A spokesperson for the health authority described these numbers as not very informative, as testing was only being done in doctor's practices. Sewage analyses, however, were more informative, according to the Robert Koch Institute, showing a stable trend in Hamburg. In the second half of June, an increase in viral load was observed.
Risk from Coronavirus low
"Although we are observing a slight increase in infection numbers with Corona, the numbers are still at a low level, and the situation is not currently concerning," said the spokesperson. The risk posed by the virus is low due to the numerous vaccinations and previous infections. There is now a basic immunity of the population to Corona. Moreover, the current understanding is that the coronavirus leads to less severe illness, as shown by information from hospitals and care facilities.
Increase in Sick Leave
According to Techniker Krankenkasse, general sick leave in Hamburg in the first half of 2024 only slightly increased. Statistically, insured employees missed 9.43 workdays. In the first half of the previous year, the average absence was 9.40 workdays. The most common diagnoses for sick leave were colds (2.3 days), mental illness (2.1 days), and muscle and skeletal diseases (1.2 days). Since June, it seems a cold wave has been spreading, but the reasons for this can only be speculated upon, such as large events like the football Euros or music festivals causing more infections.
COVID-19 infections play a minor role
Barmer Krankenkasse recorded unusually many sick leave cases due to respiratory infections between late May and early July, but the trend has since reversed. In more than 80% of cases, these were so-called "other" or common respiratory infections. COVID-19 infections played a minor role, accounting for 7 to 14%.
Authority recommends booster shots
The Hamburg health authority emphasized the personal responsibility of citizens: "If you're sick, please stay home and avoid contact, especially with people from risk groups." Vaccination remains the most important protection against certain pathogens. People for whom the Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends vaccination should refresh their COVID-19 vaccine protection, especially older people who still have a higher risk of severe illness after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The Robert Koch Institute, a renowned public health institution in Germany, indicated that sewage analyses showed a stable trend for COVID-19 in Hamburg, despite a slight increase in infection numbers. According to the RKI, this stability suggests a low risk from the Coronavirus due to numerous vaccinations and previous infections, leading to a basic immunity in the population.
