Amidst a surge in coronavirus cases across Germany, some regions are more affected than others, as evidenced by health insurance data. According to Barmer's findings, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt reported the highest number of corona-related absences, with 118 and 117 cases per 10,000 insured individuals, respectively, during the 46th week from November 13 to 19.
On the other hand, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg had the lowest instances of coronavirus-related sick leave, with 57 and 71 cases per 10,000 insured individuals, respectively. This trend was also visible in the number of absences due to respiratory diseases, with Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia leading, and Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg having the lowest rates.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach referred to an "wave of infections," predicting an incidence of 1700 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also acknowledged a "very high level of activity in respiratory tract infections," attributing the rise to COVID-19 and other common pathogens. The number of flu cases is expected to increase as well, but there's no indication of an impending epidemic.
Amidst these ongoing infections, vaccination for risk groups remains crucial. Recently, RKI announced that the wave of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) cases has begun in Germany. This was retroactively dated to the week starting November 20, based on the RKI's weekly report on acute respiratory diseases.
As health insurance companies process an increased number of claims related to Coronavirus infections, the role of Corona vaccinations in mitigating their impact on the workforce becomes more apparent. The rise in coronavirus-related absences coincides with the vaccine rollout, underscoring the importance of vaccination for individuals and the broader community.
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Regional Differences and Measures:
The pandemic response varied by region, with some states, like Bavaria, implementing stricter measures to combat the virus and its associated health risks. For instance, the Bavarian premier enforced a statewide "2G" rule, limiting access to certain venues for unvaccinated individuals effectively creating a de facto lockdown for them.
Various support measures were implemented to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic, which included subsidies, loans, and social benefits related to the Kurzarbeit scheme, providing financial support to workers who were temporarily laid off due to the pandemic.
The German government introduced various health measures, including the "3G" rule, which granted access to certain venues for those who were fully vaccinated, had recovered from COVID-19, or had a recent negative test result. The "2G" and "2G+" rules further restricted access based on vaccination status and recent testing.
For precise data on the highest and lowest rates of corona-related sick leave as of November 13-19, 2021, you would need to refer to specific statistical reports or studies from that period, which are not detailed in the provided sources.
