New Coronavirus News from 13 Mar 2022

Lauterbach expects corona case numbers to continue to rise [The Germany Eye, 13 Mar 2022]

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has warned against carelessness ahead of the planned imminent abolition of Corona restrictions in Germany. "The situation is objectively much worse than the mood," the SPD politician said in Berlin on Friday, referring to a renewed sharp rise in infection figures.

He called the situation critical and objected to sweeping assessments that the Omicron variant is milder. The variant can be fatal, he said, affecting unvaccinated people, "but even those who are vaccinated can become seriously ill and develop long-term consequences."

And, "We cannot be satisfied with a situation where 200 to 250 people die every day." This, he said, is an unsustainable situation that needs to be addressed.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Friday reported the ninth consecutive day of increase in seven-day incidence to now 1439.0 new infections per 100,000 population in seven days.

Accordingly, the health offices reported 252,836 new cases in one day, and 249 additional deaths were also registered within 24 hours. For comparison, the previous day the value had been 1388.5. A week ago, the nationwide incidence was 1196.4 (previous month: 1472.2).

The new version of the Infection Protection Act therefore provides that measures such as masking and testing obligations could continue to be taken in hotspots, Lauterbach said.
Hotspots could certainly be large areas and not just individual cities or regions.

Such protective regulations could then "also affect an entire state." Action will be taken where there is an outbreak, Lauterbach said.

However, the new Infection Protection Act, which is to be passed by the Bundestag next week, does not specify a concrete limit value for hotspots. This is always dependent on the current Corona variant, he said, which is why the states need leeway here. "There is no other way."

It would be best for the states to coordinate. Cologne is currently a hotspot, he said, which is probably related to Carnival. As a result, scheduled operations had to be postponed at the university hospital, for example.

The president of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, also considers the current corona situation in Germany to be tense and urges great vigilance. "Far too many people still fall seriously ill with Covid and too many people still die from this disease. And still many people also suffer long-term consequences from Covid," Wieler said at the joint press conference with Lauterbach.

Especially in the older age groups, the hospitalization rate is rising; in about half of the current Covid patients in intensive care units are over 70 years old, Wieler said. This is also due to the gradual relaxation of infection control measures in many places and the associated change in behavior of many people, he said.

He also focused on possible long-term consequences after infection, which could affect adults and - although probably less frequently - adolescents and children as well. Some of these people remain severely limited in the long term. However, the data available on the long-term consequences is still limited.

"So the situation remains tense, but we can influence the incidence of infection with our behavior," Wieler said. Reiterating his calls for vaccination, he stressed that many severe courses, deaths and long-term sequelae can be avoided through vaccination. "Vaccination remains the best and safest path to immunity," he said. He also urged all people to adhere to other known protective measures, maintain vigilance and pay particular attention to vulnerable groups.

Lauterbach said four scenarios are conceivable for the fall, which variants of the coronavirus dominate in Germany. Under all scenarios, he said, the general vaccination requirement under discussion is necessary because the genome of the coronavirus is 96 percent identical regardless of the variant. "We absolutely need the general vaccination requirement," Lauterbach said. The arguments against it are scientifically wrong, he added.

‘Pandemic is not over’: ministers criticised for scrapping UK Covid surveillance [The Guardian, 13 Mar 2022]

by Linda Geddes

Schemes coming to an end is ‘yet another example of short-term thinking’

Ministers have been accused of “turning off the headlights at the first sign of dawn” after scrapping nationwide Covid surveillance programmes, with scientists saying it will almost certainly end up costing more money in the long run.

Last week, scientists announced that the React study – which randomly tests about 150,000 people across England each month to see how many are infected with coronavirus – will be scrapped at the end of March, and no further data will be collected beyond that point.

Funding is also being withdrawn from the Zoe covid symptom study, the Siren and Vivaldi studies (which monitor infections in health workers and care homes) and the CoMix social contacts survey, while mass free testing is due to end on 1 April.

The Office for National Statistics’ Covid infection survey, which regularly samples the same 180,000 people to estimate what percentage of the UK populations is infected, will continue.

It comes as growing numbers of new infections in multiple countries led one expert to prompt speculation that Europe could be at the start of a sixth wave of Covid infections, partly driven by the “stealth” BA.2 Omicron variant.

Dr Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, said the decisions on Covid surveillance would slow the country’s ability to respond and adjust to future waves or surges of infection, making the current reliance on emergency booster programmes progressively less viable, and were at best “shortsighted”.

Griffin said: “At worst, it is symptomatic of a policy-driven movement to ignore the fact that the pandemic is not over, and that we remain in a highly dynamic situation with respect to immunity versus infection and virus evolution. This is about as far from ‘following the science’ as you can get.

“Losing these programmes will almost certainly end up costing more in terms of disruption than saved. It is a false economy, and yet another example of short-term thinking.”

Stephen Reicher, a psychologist at the University of St Andrews, said the decisions made no sense on public safety or public health grounds. “It is like turning off the headlights at the first sign of dawn. You can’t see what’s coming and you don’t know when it makes sense to turn them on again,” he said.

Earlier this month, the government announced that its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) would no longer regularly meet to discuss coronavirus. Reicher, who sat on the Sage behavioural science subcommittee, said the decision to stop funding these surveillance studies was “far more significant than standing down Sage”.

He said: “Those scientists are still working and can reconvene quickly. But how can they work – or know if they need to reconvene – if the data isn’t there?”

The ending of free mass testing on 1 April could make the situation even worse. “Johnson’s insistence that ‘tests will be available for anybody to buy’ completely misses the point,” said Dr Kit Yates, a mathematical biologist at the University of Bath. “Many people in the UK will not be in the position to spend a significant portion of their budget on testing each week. Others will simply be put off by the cost.

“The consequence will be that testing drops significantly, people become less aware when they are infectious, and consequently less able to take the ‘personal responsibility’ that the government has been highlighting so vociferously in the aftermath of their removal of other Covid mitigations.”

According to the latest ONS figures, the percentage of people estimated to have tested positive for coronavirus rose in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the week ending 5 March, while the percentage of infections compatible with the Omicron BA.2 variant also increased across all countries.

Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and many other European countries have also seen a sharp increase in daily confirmed cases since the start of March.

Dr Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, US, said the uptick could mark the beginning of a sixth wave of Covid infections in Europe, driven by a combination of the BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron variants and the relaxation of restrictions in many countries.

Topol said: “There are definitive signs of a new wave starting throughout many countries in Europe, some of which also are also showing increases in Covid hospitalisations. It is hard, at this point, to determine if the cause is reducing or eliminating restrictions, BA.2’s higher rate of transmission, or waning of immune protection from vaccines.

“Right now is the last time that countries like the UK and US should be cutting funding or abandoning any surveillance and testing measures. As much as we all would like it to be, the pandemic is far from over.”

Hong Kong leader vows more help for 300,000 residents stuck in home quarantine [South China Morning Post, 13 Mar 2022]

by Natalie Wong, Rachel Yeo and Jack Tsang

The government has vowed to step up assistance for an estimated 300,000 Covid-19 patients and their close contacts quarantining at home in Hong Kong, as the number of deaths related to the virus surpassed the total recorded in the mainland Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged.

With the rest of the nation is battling its worst outbreak in two years, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor sought to reassure residents on Sunday that the mainland’s support in tackling the city’s fifth wave of infections would continue and the supply of goods and resources would be unaffected.

But her comments came as Shenzhen authorities announced that Hong Kong truck drivers would no longer be allowed to cross the border and people could not leave the mainland city unless they provided a negative Covid-19 test result.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong business leaders warn of mass closures, bankruptcy as city’s universal testing plan remains uncertain

• Business leaders across different sectors are angry over inconsistent timeline for mass testing, concerned by possible prolonged closures
• Without detailed plans from government, owners cannot plan recruitment and logistics, catering group chairman says

Struggling Hong Kong businesses are stuck in limbo and cannot make plans for the future amid rising fears of shutdowns or bankruptcy after government proposals for mass Covid-19 testing were left hanging in the balance.

Various industry leaders told the Post that many businesses and their employees felt angry and frustrated over the government’s “inconsistent and self-conflicting” anti-Covid-19 measures, which created financial uncertainty during the ongoing outbreak.

They also warned of waves of bankruptcies, business closures and job losses as postponed mass testing was likely to further delay the resumption of operations. Currently, 16 types of premises are temporarily shut down under social-distancing measures which were expected to be lifted on April 21 after mass testing was completed.

Industry leaders said they were concerned after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced a policy U-turn on Wednesday to focus on “reducing deaths, severe cases and infections”.

Lam has refused to provide a definite timetable for mass testing, after previously saying it would be conducted in March.


Joseph Ho Shiu-chung, chief supervisor of the Cosmetic and Perfumery Association of Hong Kong, whose members include beauty parlour owners, said some operators were upset by the government’s inconsistent decision to allow only hairdressers to reopen on Thursday.

“Many manicure salon operators were angry hearing the news and reduced to tears,” he said.

“They were very disappointed over why they could not reopen but hair salons were allowed to do so.”

The government cited “residents’ actual demand” for hairdressing services as the reason for lifting the temporary shutdown.

But Ho accused the government of using odd reasoning.

“The government’s rationale is very strange. People also have manicure needs and I know many patrons have had their nails broken and badly need manicure services,” he said.

Ho said Hong Kong’s 11,000 beauty and manicure salons were fully prepared to reopen on April 21, with all employees fully inoculated to meet the requirements for the city’s vaccine pass, which restricts entry to various premises for people who have not received Covid-19 jabs.

“If they can’t reopen on April 21, the consequences will be unimaginable. There might be a lot of bankruptcies,” he warned.

Beauty and Fitness Professional General Union chairwoman Amy Hui Wai-fung said workers in the sector felt they were stuck in limbo.

“The constant change in policy doesn’t make sense. We need a clear timetable about when we can really work again,” she said. “The government can’t expect us to stop working for an indefinite period. Without any income how can we survive?”

Members of the catering sector were also left frustrated, with Ray Chui Man-wai, chairman of the industry group Institute of Dining Art, saying he felt angry about the government’s contradictory Covid-19 policies.

“Originally we envisage that from April 21 onwards the government would further relax the dine-in curbs at restaurants from the present 6pm to 10pm,” he said.

“But given the change in the government’s stance on universal testing, I am afraid there will be no end in sight on the further relaxation of restaurant operations.”

Chui, who also serves as chairman of Kam Kee Holdings and operates 44 restaurants, said the uncertainties had made it impossible for the industry to plan ahead.

“During the mass testing, restaurants may need to suspend operations. Without a specific timetable, we can’t make business plans such as manpower, purchases of food and supplies, and rental negotiations with landlords,” he said.

The catering industry leader said more than 2,000 outlets could permanently close next month. “Where does our future lie? We have no idea,” he said.

Crucindo Hung Cho-sing, chairman of the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association, said he did not expect cinemas to reopen next month.

“I am very pessimistic. I don’t think the city’s cinemas can resume operations on April 21. The earliest possible time will be in June,” he said.

He said Hong Kong’s movie industry had received the smallest amount of government support during the pandemic.

“We are the most miserable industry,” he said. “The government has offered no financial aid to the related businesses such as film distribution, production, advertising and public relations.

The employees can only be on their own.”


Without any hope of decisive measures from authorities, Small and Medium Enterprises Association honorary chairman Danny Lau Tat-pong warned of waves of business closures and bankruptcies.

“If [business owners] can’t see the future, they might give up on their businesses. The city’s economy will be on the brink of collapse and everyone has to pay a heavy price,” he said. “If you don’t let firms open doors, how can they survive?”

A spokeswoman for the Food and Health Bureau said the government would closely monitor the Covid-19 situation and review social-distancing measures from time to time.

“When the epidemic situation permits, we will suitably adjust our social-distancing measures having regard to factors including public health risk assessment, vaccination progress, economic situation and social acceptance, etc,” she said.

Lockdown announced in Shenzhen city as Corona cases surge in China [Uttarakhand News Network, 13 Mar 2022]

Corona has once again returned to China. The situation has become such that the administration has started imposing restrictions like lockdown in many cities. Corona lockdown has been implemented in Shenzhen city. After which 1.7 crore people living in the city have been confined to their homes. Earlier, the local administration of China has started Corona Rapid Tests for the first time.

Corona virus is once again wreaking havoc in China. More than 3,300 Covid-19 infections were found here on Saturday, which is the highest daily cases in the last two years. The National Health Commission has informed that 1,807 local infections and 1,315 asymptomatic cases have been confirmed. The northeastern province of Jilin recorded more than 2,100 cases. During this, 200 Covid patients coming from outside were confirmed. In this sequence, now a lockdown has been imposed in Shenzhen city of China.

Restrictions also apply in Beijing
Schools and parks have been closed in Shanghai, while in Beijing, entry into residential areas has been banned. After receiving new cases, the administration in Beijing asked people not to come out of their homes.