May 29, 2020, 3:14 pm | Read time: 7 minutes

A second major wave of infections in the coronavirus crisis could be avoided in Germany, according to two leading virologists. “Perhaps we will avoid a second shutdown,” said virologist Christian Drosten from Berlin’s Charite to “Spiegel.” There is now a “theoretical possibility” that Germans could “get through without a second wave.” His colleague Hendrik Streeck from the University of Bonn expressed a similar view. There will likely be occasional local outbreaks, like recently in Leer or Frankfurt, Streeck told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) in a preliminary report on Friday. “This might happen more frequently and unexpectedly in the fall–but I don’t believe we will see a second wave that overwhelms and overburdens us.”

Drosten said that science now has a better understanding of the infection process. It is now known more precisely how the virus spreads–through a few so-called superspreaders who pass it on to many people. “And such an infection process can be better controlled than a uniform spread under the radar, as we initially assumed,” Drosten said. However, the quarantine period could be significantly shortened: Contact persons would only need to spend about a week in isolation, as “the incubation period and the time one is contagious are much shorter than initially thought.” Germany is in a good situation anyway. “We have stopped a pandemic wave with comparatively mild measures, and very efficiently at that.”

Streeck also sees fundamentally good chances of keeping the virus manageable. Despite the easing of restrictions, there has been no increase in infections, and the number of cases is now below 10,000. He advises focusing protection measures primarily on large events. “Banning them seems to have been the most effective.” He also warns against premature hopes for a vaccine. It would be wise to prepare for the possibility that there might not be one. “Over 500 vaccines have been developed against HIV, few have been tested for effectiveness, but none have worked,” Streeck said. “The virus is here to stay. And we must prepare to deal with it.”

Further Updates in the Corona Ticker

4:22 p.m. – The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs is expanding support for the production of protective masks. The new directive is set to take effect on Monday. “With the funding program, we are providing important investment incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises to build competitive production capacities in Germany with new innovative facilities and products,” said Economic Affairs Minister Peter Altmaier. Europe should become more independent from imports in this area. Specifically, investments in facilities for manufacturing high-quality protective masks will be subsidized by up to 50 percent.

2:24 p.m. – Denmark is opening its borders to tourists from Norway, Germany, and Iceland. The regulation will apply from June 15, said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Travelers must book a hotel outside Copenhagen for at least six nights. The borders to other EU countries, the remaining Schengen area members, and the United Kingdom will not open until after the summer. Her country is also in talks with Sweden regarding travel freedom. In Sweden, more than 4,000 people have died from the lung disease Covid-19 caused by the coronavirus, nearly four times as many as in Denmark and Norway combined. On Tuesday, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde called it a political decision if the borders to her country remained closed.

1:18 p.m. – More people died in Germany in April than usual. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 82,246 people died last month, which is eight percent more than the average of the previous four years. More than 80,000 deaths in an April last occurred in Germany in 1977. The connection to the coronavirus pandemic is likely. In calendar weeks 13 to 18 (March 23 to May 3), 7,083 people were confirmed to have died from a Covid-19 illness, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute. The flu wave has been considered over since mid-March.

11:46 a.m. – In Poland, soccer fans will be able to cheer on their teams at games in the stadium again from June 19. To contain the coronavirus, only 25 percent of the stadium capacity may be used, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The Polish Football Association and the 1st League have agreed on the date. This gives enough time for preparations to end the period of ghost games.

10:25 a.m. – According to R+V Versicherung, Germans only briefly refrained from using their cars during the lockdown. “We had only two-thirds of the usual damage reports–but only for two weeks,” said Rico Kretschmer, head of claims management at R+V. In May, accident numbers nearly returned to normal levels. Many commuters switched from buses and trains to cars out of fear of infection and drove more than before. “If many vacationers also forgo air travel and take vacations in Germany by car, it could lead to more damages during the easing of restrictions than before the coronavirus.”

7:50 a.m. – The Japanese capital Tokyo is lifting more restrictions on public life. There will be gradual easing for kindergartens, sports facilities, and theaters, said Governor Yuriko Koike. Shops are also to reopen from Monday. However, it is also necessary for the government to continue taking all measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Japan lifted the state of emergency for Tokyo this week after daily new infections declined. The country has about 17,000 confirmed Covid-19 infections and about 900 deaths.

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6:59 a.m. – Virologist Christian Drosten from Berlin’s Charite is confident that the pandemic in Germany can continue to be kept under control and a second wave of infections can be prevented. “Perhaps we will avoid a second shutdown,” he told “Spiegel.” There is now a “theoretical possibility” that Germans could “get through without a second wave.” Science now has a better understanding of the infection process. It is now better known how the virus spreads–through a few so-called superspreaders who pass it on to many people. “And such an infection process can be better controlled than a uniform spread under the radar, as we initially assumed,” Drosten said.

5:35 a.m. – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rises by 741 to 180,458, according to the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases (RKI). Within 24 hours, 39 more people have died from the effects of the virus infection. The total number of deaths in Germany is 8,450, according to the RKI.

3:50 a.m. – The United Kingdom is closing its embassy in North Korea. Entry restrictions have made rotations of embassy staff in Pyongyang impossible, so the service in the embassy cannot be maintained, explained Ambassador Colin Crooks.

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2:05 a.m. – No new coronavirus cases were registered in China on Thursday, health authorities report. The pandemic originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

1:25 a.m. – In North Rhine-Westphalia, crime has decreased in all areas since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. This is according to figures from the state interior ministry, reports the “Rheinische Post.” It is particularly noticeable that cases of domestic violence have significantly decreased between March 1 and May 24 compared to the same period last year.

1:20 a.m. – In Brazil, the number of coronavirus deaths rises from 25,598 to 26,754. The number of infected people has increased from 411,821 to 438,238, the health ministry reports.

12:20 a.m. – According to the organization of the 20 most powerful states (G20), 36 poor countries have requested a suspension of debt payments due to the costs of the coronavirus crisis. Efforts are currently underway by the G20, the UN, and other international organizations to establish regulations for debt relief for the world’s poorest countries.