Overview
- RKI estimates roughly 7,500 acute respiratory illnesses per 100,000 people and about 500 COVID cases per 100,000 for the week of October 13–19, both below last year’s levels.
- The Omicron-lineage XFG/Stratus accounts for about 78% of sequenced SARS‑CoV‑2 samples, and the RKI currently sees no increased public-health risk from it.
- Rhinoviruses dominate current respiratory pathogens in sentinel testing, severe cases remain rare, and hospitals report manageable caseloads without special COVID measures.
- STIKO recommends an autumn COVID-19 booster for older adults, people with underlying conditions and higher occupational risk, plus influenza and, where indicated, RSV and pneumococcal vaccinations.
- Public-health guidance advises staying home three to five days when ill, testing as appropriate and considering masks to protect high-risk groups, while regulators report stable medicine supplies and officials press to raise low flu vaccination uptake among seniors.