The spread of the corona mutations, especially variant B.1.1.7, is of great concern to the EU and Germany.
There is a fear of an explosion in the number of infections.
The
virus mutation B.1.1.7 *
has caused a sharp increase in the
corona numbers
in Great Britain and Ireland
.
The
EU
fears that there could be an "
explosion of the coronavirus *
".
EU Health Commissioner
Stella Kyriakides
calls for firm action.
of the EU countries.
Brussels - Last Thursday, two weeks earlier than planned, a meeting of the so-called Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (
WHO)
took place.
Next Thursday (January 21) there will be a
special summit of EU leaders
.
That's what the
world
reports
.
The reason: the new
mutations of the coronavirus
.
Corona mutation: B1.1.7 causes an explosion in the number of infections in Great Britain and Ireland
In addition to the completely new
virus mutation P.1
from Brazil * and the
Corona variant 501.V2
from South Africa, the
mutant B.1.1.7 from Great Britain
is of particular
concern
to EU countries.
A previously unknown variant * has now also been discovered at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Clinic.
In total, the
coronavirus mutations
have so far spread in at least 50 countries around the world.
The
virus mutation B.1.1.7 *
, which is probably 40 to 70 percent more contagious than the original
coronavirus *
, has caused an extreme
increase in the number of infections and deaths
in Great Britain
.
In
Ireland
,
too
, the corona numbers literally exploded last month.
If the
7-day incidence
was below 50 at the beginning of December, it is now more than 900 there.
Corona mutation in the EU: "Fear that there will be an explosion"
In
Brussels
, the next impending danger in the
corona pandemic has
long been recognized.
"
There is great
fear
that
the coronavirus
will
explode
pretty soon
," a
senior EU official
involved in key negotiations told the
world
.
In an internal meeting of the
EU Commission, it
had already been pointed out that in a few weeks "the same conditions as in Great Britain" could prevail in large parts of the EU.
Strict
corona measures
are already in place in many European countries
.
In
Austria
, the
lockdown was
extended
last weekend
and the rules tightened again.
In
Germany
,
too
, the next
Corona summit
between the federal and state governments on Tuesday (January 19) will probably discuss a further extension and tightening of the measures.
According to
world
information,
Chancellor
Angela Merkel
(CDU) is said to
have warned
urgently against the
virus mutation B1.1.7
in an internal parliamentary group meeting of the Union parties last week
.
This could lead to an
exponential growth in
the number of infections in
Germany
.
"This is why the greatest, greatest caution is required," Merkel is quoted as saying.
Concern about corona mutation in the EU: Kyriakides calls for decisive action
"We see that the new variants of the virus are widespread and
already have a significant impact
in
several European countries
," said EU Health Commissioner
Stella Kyriakides
to
Welt
.
She called for
decisive action by
the EU states.
“We need to do more genome sequencing to identify the virus variants and we need to exchange information between us.
That is crucial. "
The
EU Commission
is ready to support the individual states with expertise, infrastructure and money.
In addition, tests must also be
increased
and
capacities
in hospitals and intensive care units
increased
, according to Kyriakides.
"We have to do everything possible to prevent a
third wave
and the loss of further lives due to
Covid-19 *
," she warned.
Germany wants to
better research
the different
coronavirus mutations
.
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn announced on Monday (January 18) a corresponding government regulation.
You can find more information in our Corona Germany ticker.
(ph) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen-Digital editorial network
