Covid could reach 'sad peak' in intensive care units across Germany by Christmas
December 4, 2021, 1:15 am

Covid could reach 'sad peak' in intensive care units across Germany by Christmas

Coronavirus-Doctor with coronavirus background/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported that German acting Health Minister Jens Spahn said here on Friday, the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic could reach a "sad peak" in intensive care units (ICUs) across Germany around Christmas even if the measures just agreed were implemented immediately.

According to the German Intensive Care Availability Register (DIVI), the number of COVID-19 patients requiring treatment in ICUs is nearing record levels and stood at 4,797 on Friday.

Germany-Christmas market in Frankfurt/Pixabay

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said, the country's seven-day incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants rose to 442.1, while daily infections continue to hit record highs with 74,352 COVID-19 cases reported within one day.

"We have no time to lose, not a single day," RKI President Lothar Wieler said. The new Omicron variant is present in Germany, and could be even more contagious than the Delta variant.

On Thursday, the federal and state governments decided to implement stricter rules for unvaccinated people, extending the so-called 2G rules to the retail sector, the catering industry and cultural events. 2G stands for "geimpft" (vaccinated) or "genesen" (recovered).

Meanwhile, the German Bundestag (lower house of Parliament) is scheduled to hold a vote on whether to make vaccines mandatory. Germany's vaccination rate stood at 68.8 percent on Thursday.

In November, 71 percent of Germans supported the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for adults, 14 percent more than a month earlier, a recent DeutschlandTrend survey found.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.