German health minister expects virus surge around New Year's

3 yıl önce

BERLIN â Germanyâs health minister said Thursday that he expects a surge in coronavirus cases around New Yearâs snd people will likely need a fourth vaccine shot to maintain the best immune response against COVID-19.

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Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told public radio network WDR 2 that Germany hasnât yet seen a big, rapid wave of new infections from the omicron variant like some other European countries.

âThat will change around New Year and in the first week of January,â Lauterbach said.

The government is urging Germans to limit their contacts over the holiday period and to get vaccinated, including with booster shots if theyâve already had their initial vaccines. .

Official figures show 70.7% of the population have received a full course of vaccine, while 35% have had boosters.

Demonstrations against new pandemic restrictions and a planned vaccine mandate have flared up in Germany over the past weeks.

Police said about 5,000 protesters gathered in the center of Munich late Wednesday, with some participants attacking officers. Eleven people were detained.

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