The number of children at risk has fallen slightly, but the level remains high

statistical evaluation
The number of children at risk has fallen slightly, but the level remains high

The most important news in the BRIGITTE ticker

What moves the world? What moves the BRIGITTE editors? In this ticker we summarize the most important news for you in July.

August 11, 2022

Child endangerment count down slightly

In the first year of Corona, a sad high was reached in the number of children endangered. In the second year of 2021, the number has now slightly decreased. According to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, more than 59,900 children and young people were found to be endangering their welfare through neglect, psychological, physical or sexual violence. That is 600 cases or one percent fewer than in 2020.

At the same time, however, the number of cases in which the authorities, after examining a corresponding suspicion, did not determine a danger to the child’s well-being, but found a need for help increased. With 67,700 cases and an increase of two percent, this is the highest level since the statistics were introduced ten years ago.

Almost half of the children at risk were under the age of eight, and one in four was under four. Up to the age of eleven, boys were more often affected by hazards, from the age of twelve most of those affected were girls. In total, the youth welfare offices received almost 200,000 indications of possible threats to the welfare of children last year. At 28 percent, most of the tips came from the police or the judicial authorities, 25 percent came from the general public. About a tenth of the tips came from the schools or the families themselves.

August 9, 2022

The native mosquito species also transmit diseases

A research team from the University of Hawaii concludes that extreme weather and climate change promote hundreds of diseases. They published the results in an overview article in the journal “Nature Climate Change”. Accordingly, the health risk in the course of global warming is increasing for 58 percent of the known pathogens. The researchers identified more than 1,000 possible connections between climate change-related events – such as drought, floods, warming, heavy rain – and the spread of diseases.

For example, droughts push wild animals closer to residential areas, increasing the risk of zoonosis, i.e. the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans. Floods or storms, on the other hand, can force people to move to areas where they are more exposed to certain germs. In addition, higher temperatures can promote the spread of pathogens. This could be due, for example, to the fact that pathogenic algae, bacteria and mosquitoes multiply more quickly as carriers.

In Germany and Europe, the impact of climate change-related events on pathogens is already being observed, says Renke Lühken from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. “Exotic mosquito species such as the Asian tiger mosquito are particularly responsible for outbreaks of chikungunya virus and dengue virus in the Mediterranean region.” But even native mosquitoes now carry serious diseases. They transmit, among other things, the dog skinworm or the West Nile virus.

August 4, 2022

The draft for the new Infection Protection Act is ready

The cornerstones for the new Infection Protection Act for the fall of the pandemic are hard-fought. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) would certainly have liked to have imposed a general mask requirement indoors from autumn, but the FDP rejected this. The compromise: the decision-making power is shifted to the federal states. The concept is divided into “winter tires”, i.e. the general rules set by the federal or state governments, and “snow chains”, i.e. the tightening measures if the situation becomes acute.

Under “Winter tires”, the federal government orders that travelers in long-distance and air traffic must wear an FFP2 mask, and staff must wear at least a medical mask. When visiting hospitals and care facilities, an FFP2 mask must still be worn and a test must be taken. Exceptions to the test: “Freshly” vaccinated or recovered people (maximum three months ago). The countries decide whether a mask should continue to be worn on public transport and generally indoors, restaurants and schools.

The “snow chains” are used when there is a specific threat to the health system. In this case, the federal government orders the wearing of a mask indoors and restaurants and testing before a visit. A mask requirement and the distance requirement should also apply at outdoor events.

August 2, 2022

Every second company complains about a shortage of skilled workers

Whether retail, construction or service providers – in Germany there is a lack of skilled workers. According to a survey by the Munich ifo Institute, 49.7 percent of companies were affected in July. “More and more companies are having to scale back their business because they simply can’t find enough staff,” says ifo labor market expert Stefan Sauer. The previous record was 43.6 percent in April this year.

At 54.2 percent, the services sector is most affected by the shortage of skilled workers, followed by manufacturing with 44.5 percent of companies complaining about a shortage. Among them are food manufacturers with 58.1 percent. Retail was hit at 41.9 percent, construction at 39.3 percent, and wholesale saw a shortage at 36.3 percent of businesses.

Even more news

That was the news in July.

Sources used: ifo.de, twitter.de, zeit.de, destatis.de

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Bridget