How much did the Oktoberfest accelerate the corona autumn wave that was already starting in Munich and Bavaria? When comparing the 7-day incidences, there is currently a certain concentration around Munich, where the Oktoberfest ended at the beginning of the week. Both the city and three of the four directly adjoining districts are now over 1000, the district of Munich only relatively slightly below.
Overall, the Robert Koch Institute reported values over 1000 for nine Bavarian districts and the state capital Munich. The numbers in Munich had already risen sharply in the second week of the Oktoberfest. The incidences are also increasing noticeably nationwide – but only in Saarland in a weekly comparison even more than in Bavaria. On Friday, the Robert Koch Institute reported an incidence of 1119.4 for Saarland and 818 for Bavaria. The nationwide seven-day incidence was given as 577.5 (previous week: 466.0; previous month: 217.2 ).
However, this value only provides a very incomplete picture of the number of infections. Experts assume a high number of cases not recorded by the RKI – mainly because not all infected people have a PCR test done. Only positive PCR tests count in the statistics. In addition, late registrations or transmission problems can lead to a distortion of individual daily values.
Some clinics are complaining about the tense situation
The increase is now also visible in the hospitals in Bavaria: On Friday, Munich reported 552 patients with corona in normal, intensive care and transitional wards, 47 percent more than a week ago. Throughout Bavaria, the number of patients admitted with or because of Corona within a week rose to an all-time high of 1849, according to figures from the State Office for Health and Food Safety.
However, both numbers also include a high proportion of patients who were admitted for other reasons and tested positive in the hospital. Several hospitals even see a majority of patients who come with and not because of Corona.
Some clinics spoke of an already tense situation, among other things because of many employees suffering from Covid-19 themselves. There are restrictions on operations that can be planned and in individual cases there are station closures, according to the clinics of the Ludwig Maximilian University. The Helios Kliniken Oberbayern also report increasing corona numbers – especially in their normal wards – and more infected employees.
The tense situation in the clinics also has consequences for rescue services and emergency rooms. In Upper Bavaria in particular, you sometimes have to drive up to one and a half hours to accommodate patients, said a spokesman for the Bavarian Red Cross. “For about a week and a half to two weeks, the situation has worsened again.” This is very stressful for the patients and employees and ultimately endangers lives.
