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| Coronavirus: negligence driving increase in cases – German agency | Coronavirus: negligence driving increase in cases – German agency |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Head of disease control agency ‘worried’ by Germany’s 557 new cases every day | Head of disease control agency ‘worried’ by Germany’s 557 new cases every day |
| Negligence is to blame for a worrying rise in coronavirus cases in Germany, the head of the country’s disease control agency has said in his first news conference in weeks. | Negligence is to blame for a worrying rise in coronavirus cases in Germany, the head of the country’s disease control agency has said in his first news conference in weeks. |
| Over the past seven days, Germany has registered an average of 557 new cases a day, up from around 350 in early June. | Over the past seven days, Germany has registered an average of 557 new cases a day, up from around 350 in early June. |
| “We must prevent the virus from once again spreading rapidly and uncontrollably,” Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said on Tuesday morning. | “We must prevent the virus from once again spreading rapidly and uncontrollably,” Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said on Tuesday morning. |
| “The new developments in Germany make me very worried,” Wieler said. “The rise has to do with the fact that we have become negligent.” | “The new developments in Germany make me very worried,” Wieler said. “The rise has to do with the fact that we have become negligent.” |
| Germany has fared better than many of its neighbours in suppressing the virus, but Wieler urged citizens not to squander the progress following the recent rise in numbers. | Germany has fared better than many of its neighbours in suppressing the virus, but Wieler urged citizens not to squander the progress following the recent rise in numbers. |
| “It’s in our hands how the pandemic evolves in Germany,” Wieler said, calling on Germans to stick with prevention measures such as washing hands and keeping a safe distance. | “It’s in our hands how the pandemic evolves in Germany,” Wieler said, calling on Germans to stick with prevention measures such as washing hands and keeping a safe distance. |
| Face masks should be worn not only indoors, but also outdoors, if the recommended 1.5-metre (5ft) distancing cannot be maintained, he said, in a subtle update of the prior advice. | Face masks should be worn not only indoors, but also outdoors, if the recommended 1.5-metre (5ft) distancing cannot be maintained, he said, in a subtle update of the prior advice. |
| The warning comes as countries around the world grapple with a surge in infections, fuelling fears of a dreaded second wave. | The warning comes as countries around the world grapple with a surge in infections, fuelling fears of a dreaded second wave. |
| The World Health Organization on Tuesday warned against complacency about new coronavirus transmission in the northern hemisphere summer, saying that this virus did not behave like influenza that tended to follow seasonal trends. | |
| “People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and … this one is behaving differently,” Margaret Harris told a virtual briefing in Geneva, urging vigilance in applying measures to slow transmission that is spreading via mass gatherings. | |
| She also warned against thinking in terms of virus waves, saying: “It’s going to be one big wave. It’s going to go up and down a bit. The best thing is to flatten it and turn it into just something lapping at your feet.” | |
| Holidaymakers returning from abroad have stoked particular concern in many European countries. | |
| Germany’s foreign ministry updated its travel advisory on Tuesday, recommending against travel to three regions in northern Spain grappling with renewed outbreaks. | Germany’s foreign ministry updated its travel advisory on Tuesday, recommending against travel to three regions in northern Spain grappling with renewed outbreaks. |
| “Non-essential, tourist travel to the autonomous communities of Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre are currently discouraged due to renewed high levels of infections and local lockdowns,” a statement said. | “Non-essential, tourist travel to the autonomous communities of Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre are currently discouraged due to renewed high levels of infections and local lockdowns,” a statement said. |
| The RKI chief said Germans bringing the virus back from their summer holidays was one reason for the surge in cases, but he also pointed to outbreaks happening at workplaces and open-air parties. | The RKI chief said Germans bringing the virus back from their summer holidays was one reason for the surge in cases, but he also pointed to outbreaks happening at workplaces and open-air parties. |
| Germany has so far recorded a total of 206,242 coronavirus cases and 9,122 deaths. | Germany has so far recorded a total of 206,242 coronavirus cases and 9,122 deaths. |
| Berlin has taken great pride in keeping the fatality numbers low, crediting its world-class health system and widespread early testing for the success. | Berlin has taken great pride in keeping the fatality numbers low, crediting its world-class health system and widespread early testing for the success. |
| But Wieler said other countries such as Israel had shown how quickly the situation could change. | But Wieler said other countries such as Israel had shown how quickly the situation could change. |
| “We don’t know yet if this is the beginning of a second wave but of course it could be,” Wieler said. “But I am optimistic that if we follow the hygiene rules we can prevent it. It’s up to us.” | “We don’t know yet if this is the beginning of a second wave but of course it could be,” Wieler said. “But I am optimistic that if we follow the hygiene rules we can prevent it. It’s up to us.” |