BERLIN, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Germany's healthcare system could face a double burden from influenza and COVID-19 during fall and winter, Robert Koch Institute (RKI) President Lothar Wieler said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Although it is generally impossible to predict how severe a flu epidemic would turn out, Wieler is expecting that the number of COVID-19 cases in Germany would increase in fall and winter.
"If many COVID-19 and flu cases occur at the same time, then the hospitals will be massively burdened," warned Wieler, adding that the development would also be dangerous for all other patients who need these hospital beds and doctors.
"We must therefore prevent too many COVID-19 cases and many influenza cases occurring at the same time in winter," said Wieler. The more people and those at-risk get vaccinated and keep the current hygiene measures, "the better we will get through this fall and this winter."
Minister of Health Jens Spahn stressed at the press conference that the government has procured additional flu vaccines in time. "Once again, more than for the 2020 flu season," said Spahn, adding that a total of 27 million doses are available in doctors' offices.
To date, more than 53.9 million people in Germany have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, bringing the country's vaccination rate to 64.8 percent, according to the RKI.
The country's seven-day COVID-19 incidence rate declined slightly on Wednesday to 62.3 cases per 100,000 people, down from 63.6 cases on the previous day, according to the RKI.
The number of daily COVID-19 infections in Germany was also slightly below the level a week ago as 11,547 new cases were registered within one day, around 230 fewer than last Wednesday, according to the RKI. Enditem