The current development of the pandemic leads the experts to believe that new infections will continue to decrease over the upcoming weeks and reach an average of 500 cases per day in early-March.
It is now apparent that the risk of requiring intensive care is 70% lower for the Omicron variant compared to Delta, the report states. The occupancy rate in standard care, meanwhile, is 50% lower.
For this reason, the task force has decided to lower its estimate for the peak of hospitalisations to 15 beds in intensive care and 75 beds in standard care.
However, due to the high number of new infections and the risk of numerous people from different sectors having to stay at home, the task force reiterates that measures such as social distancing, hygiene guidelines, and the vaccination campaign remain essential. The task force stresses that in particular, vulnerable individuals should be vaccinated and remain cautious when it comes to social contacts to avoid serious disease and hospitalisation.
