Beijing, 19 Jan (Xinhua) -- Due to the spread of the new coronavirus variant virus Omicron strain in many countries, the number of confirmed covid-19 cases has reached a record highest number. On the 18th, Slovenia reported 8681 new confirmed cases of new coronavirus; on the 19th, Germany reported that the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 110,000 for the first time, Japan reported 41,485 new confirmed cases, and Hungary reported 14,890 new confirmed cases.
According to the data released by the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health on the 18th, the country added 8681 new confirmed cases of new coronavirus on the 17th, with a total population of about 2.1 million in Slovenia, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases has exceeded 540,000.
In order to maintain the normal operation of hospitals and schools, the Sri Lankan government decided on the 17th that from the 19th, all staff in the fields of medical treatment, education, and social services will be changed from 7 days of self-isolation after close contact with confirmed cases to 7 days of virus testing; those who have been vaccinated with reinforced injections, those who have been fully vaccinated against covid-19, and those who have recovered for more than 10 days and less than 45 days can be exempted from isolation after close contact with confirmed cases. The Sri Lankan government said the new rules were introduced because, given the incubation period and pathogenicity of the Olmiqueron strain, despite the increase in confirmed cases, there were fewer hospitalizations than at the end of last year when the Delta strain spread.
According to the epidemic data released by the Robert Koch Institute of the German Disease Control Agency on the 19th, as of 00:00 on the same day, there were 112323 new confirmed cases in Germany compared with the previous day, exceeding 110,000 cases for the first time. The national 7-day infection rate (the number of new confirmed cases in 7 days per 100,000 people) rose to 584.4, also hitting a record high. The data shows that there were 239 new deaths in Germany on the same day, and the cumulative number of deaths 116081. As of the 18th, 72.8% of the German population has completed the full vaccination process.
German Health Minister Lauterbach said in an interview with local media on the 18th that he expects Germany to be compulsorily vaccinated in April or May this year, leaving enough time to achieve immunization before a new wave of epidemics may occur in the autumn.
According to the latest weekly outbreak report released by the Robert Koch Institute, the Aumechjong strain has accounted for 73% of the reported infections in Germany, and the number of infections is expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks, but the vast majority of vaccinated people, especially those who have been intensively vaccinated, will not be affected by severe diseases.
Japan's new confirmed cases in a single day exceeded 30,000 for the first time on the 18th, and this data reached a new high on the 19th. According to the statistics of the Japan Broadcasting Association Television Station, as of 18:15 on the 19th (17:15 Beijing time), there were 41,485 new confirmed cases in Japan, with a cumulative 1980382 confirmed cases; 15 new deaths on the same day, with a cumulative death of 18,474 cases.
Statistics also show that on the 19th, there were 7,377 new confirmed cases in Tokyo, which also set a record since the outbreak of the epidemic. In addition, the number of confirmed cases in Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture, Hokkaido and other regions has reached a new high.
The Japanese government held a meeting of the Headquarters for Covid-19 Infection Countermeasures on the same day and announced that 13 prefectures, including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Aichi Prefecture, will apply "key measures such as spread prevention" that are less intensive than the state of emergency, and the period will be extended from January 21 to February 13. Previously, the Japanese government had announced that Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and Okinawa prefectures would adopt "key measures such as spread prevention" from January 9 to January 31. The "key measures such as spread prevention" will be extended to 16 of the 47 prefectures.
Data released by the website of the Hungarian New Crown Epidemic Prevention and Control Center on the 19th showed that the country had 14,890 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, a record high, and the cumulative number of confirmed 1369974 cases. On the same day, there were 85 new deaths in the country, with a cumulative total of 40,686 deaths.
Hungarian health officials predict that the number of infections will increase significantly in this fifth wave of the outbreak, mainly caused by the Olmikron strain, but the increase in the number of severe cases requiring hospitalization is "much milder".
In response to the new wave of the outbreak, the Hungarian government is launching a vaccination month campaign where people can go to vaccination sites without prior registration. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government launched a fourth dose of vaccination over the weekend. (Participating reporters: Peng Lijun, Zhang Yirong, Hua Yi, Chen Hao)
Source: Xinhua News Agency