Germany's infection curve could be flattening off, public health chief says

Record ID: 1466405

  • Title: Germany's infection curve could be flattening off, public health chief says
  • Date: 23rd March 2020
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 23, 2020) (CORONA POOL) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, ARRIVING FOR NEWS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, SAYING: "We are seeing signs that the exponential growth curve is flattening off slightly. But I will only be able to confirm this trend definitively on Wednesday. But I am optimistic that the measures are already having an effect, which is very early because they have only been in place for a week." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, SAYING: "One core element is the ability to keep track of contacts, the quarantine of contacts for a duration of 14 days and the isolation of infected people. These measures must be kept up and strictly adhered to for the coming weeks and months. They are important and will remain important." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, SAYING: "At midnight last night, we had 22,672 Covid-19 cases in Germany electronically submitted to Robert Koch Institute via the portals of the various health authorities. Compared to the previous day, this was an increase of 4,062, in other words, as expected, a rising number." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, SAYING: "I must add however that not all health authorities and not all German states submitted data last weekend so that the reported increase of cases does not reflect the actual increase in numbers." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, SAYING: "Among the 22,672 ill people, 86 deaths were officially reported." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF ROBERT KOCH INSTITUTE FOR DISEASE CONTROL, LOTHAR WIELER, SAYING: "Overall it can be said that numbers are increasing and that the epidemic is quickly expanding. I can also tell you that by now 182 countries are affected by this pandemic. But there is also good news: overall, 98,840 have been declared healed." WIELER SHUFFLING PAPERS
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2020 10:40
  • Keywords: coronavirus numbers rise rising robert koch institute for disease control
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Health/Medicine
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C69V7EV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: There are signs that the exponential upwards curve in new coronavirus infections in Germany is flattening off for the first time thanks to social distancing measures in force, the head of the country's public health institute said on Monday (March 23).
    "We are seeing signs that the exponential growth curve is flattening off slightly," said Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute. "But I will only be able to confirm this trend definitively on Wednesday."
    He said he was optimistic that measures taken so far in Germany, including school closures, instructions on hand-washing and strict warnings against public gatherings, were already having an effect.
    (Production: Welt, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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