Mass testing, empty ICUs: Germany scores early against virus
BERLIN — Late last year — long before most people had heard of the new coronavirus now sweeping the globe — scientists in Germany sprang into action to develop a test for the virus that was causing an unusual respiratory disease in central China. Coupled with Germany’s large number of intensive care beds and its early social distancing measures, it could explain one of the most interesting puzzles of the COVID-19 pandemic: Why are people with the virus in Germany currently dying at much lower rates than in neighboring countries? “The reason why we in Germany have so few deaths at the moment compared to the number of infected can be largely explained by the fact that we are doing an extremely large number of lab diagnoses,” said virologist Dr. Christian Drosten, whose team developed the first test for the new virus at Berlin’s Charité hospital — established over 300 years ago to treat plague victims. “We are well prepared today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,” said Dr. Uwe Janssens, who heads Germany’s Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s disease control center, has suggested that strong measures imposed almost three weeks ago, including closing schools and restaurants, and later barring more than two people from gathering outside, seem to have slowed the rate of new infections.
New Covid record set with over 75,000 infections; Hospital total up 6% in a week
42,472 Covid cases shatters yesterday's record; New hospitalizations at 12-week low
US sees record hospitalisation of kids under 5, UK says 4th Covid jab not needed
Vaccines, pills and data offer some Christmas cheer in face of Omicron advance
Discover Related
Is a mystery Covid-like virus spreading in Russia? What health officials say
Measles outbreak at Amsterdam school: 16 children test positive, 4 hospitalized
MSF warns of ‘rapidly spreading’ outbreak as cholera kills 31 in Ethiopia
Germany had intelligence reports about laboratory origin of COVID-19 in 2020
Did Covid-19 leak from Wuhan Lab? German spy agency thinks so
Doctors sound alarm as mystery 'crying disease' deaths rise to 60 with 1,000 infected
Covid five years on: three kisses are out, IC shortage remains
The measles situation worldwide: Fewer vaccinations and more outbreaks
A Deadly Unidentified Disease Has Emerged in the DRC
As measles cases mount in the U.S., what’s the situation worldwide?
Congo's mystery disease spreads rapidly, over 50 die within hours of falling ill
Mystery disease kills more than 50 in DRC: What we know so far
First symptoms of mystery illness that killed 50 people within hours revealed
Hemorrhagic fever' symptoms, but no Ebola: Congo battles mystery outbreak
Ebola cases in Uganda rise to 9, while 265 others are being monitored under quarantine
Netherlands residents with flu symptoms urged to stay home as infections rise
World-first warning system launched in UK in bid to stop future pandemics
Uganda confirms Ebola outbreak after patient dies in capital city
Number of flu cases in the Netherlands increases again; now an official epidemic