BERLIN (Reuters), – German investors were optimistic that COVID-19 incidence will drop by the early summer and allow growth to continue in Europe’s biggest economy in the next six months. A survey was conducted Tuesday.

According to the ZEW economic research center, its economic sentiment index rose from 29.9 in December to 51.7. A Reuters poll indicated a rise of 32.0.

The economic outlook is much better since the beginning of the New Year. A majority of financial market specialists believe that the next six months will see an increase in economic growth,” Achim Wambach, President of ZEW said in a statement.

“It’s likely that the current phase of economic weakness starting in the fourth quarter of 2020 will quickly be ended.” He explained that this was due to the assumption of a significant drop in COVID-19 incidence by the early summer.

Some are more upbeat than others.

Germany’s BDI Industry Association stated last Thursday that it expects the economy will grow by 3.5% in 2015. This is a cautious prediction than the government, as it warns companies about another “stop and go year” because of the pandemic.

In October estimates by the government showed that gross domestic product growth was expected to accelerate from 2.6% per year in 2021.

According to the BDI Omicron coronavirus variants were clouding growth prospects around the globe. Germany is particularly at risk of China becoming paralysed if they do not react to a new spread by its “zero COVID lockdown” measures.

German economic recovery was slowed by COVID-19 and microchip shortages in the automotive industry.

The ZEW index of current conditions dropped to -10.2 from -7.4. According to consensus, the reading would be -8.5