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Corona mutations: Experts are warning of a third wave that could soon threaten

2021-02-17T14:44:05.305Z


The number of new corona infections continues to decline in Germany. Experts are already warning of a third wave. The corona mutations play a major role in this.


The number of new corona infections continues to decline in Germany.

Experts are already warning of a third wave.

The corona mutations play a major role in this.

The number of

new corona infections is

currently

falling

steadily.

The hope that the

lockdown will

end soon

and that

the corona measures will be relaxed is

increasing.

But the optimism and joy about the falling numbers are currently getting a serious damper: the mutations are spreading more and more * and

experts

warn against premature relaxation of the measures and against a

third wave

, as

* echo24.de

reports.

The development of

Corona pandemic in Germany

makes

experts

worry: On the one hand, decreases

7-day incidence

, on the other hand, the share of increases

mutations

.

The British corona mutation in particular is becoming more and more common.

The problem: the British mutation B.1.1.7.

is more contagious and spreads faster than other types of corona.

Virologists

and

immunologists

are now talking about the

threat of

a

third wave

at the beginning of March

.

Experts warn: British mutation could cause a third wave

If the

 mutation B.1.1.7. 

spread further, the situation could spiral out of control again.

"The more you

relax

because of the falling 

incidences

 , the earlier the

third wave

with B.1.1.7 will develop," explains the

 systems immunologist Michael Meyer-Hermann

 to the

German Press Agency

.

According to the

immunologist, the

British mutation B.1.1.7 is

already in a phase of exponential growth "and the current measures are not sufficient to

slow

this development *.

Sooner or later, B.1.1.7 will dominate. "

According to new data from the

Robert Koch Institute (RKI)

, the proportion of

mutations

discovered in Great Britain rose 

 from just under six to more than 22 percent within two weeks.

This was announced by 

Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU)

on Wednesday in Berlin.

Where do the numbers come from that provide information about the spread of the corona mutations?

In order

to determine

the

spread of the mutations

, the

Robert Koch Institute

evaluated

 23,000 positive test results in a

representative sample

and other data, announced

Federal Health Minister Spahn

.

The RKI wants to provide further details on Wednesday.

This Friday, February 19, RKI bosses Lothar Wieler and Spahn want to give further assessments regarding the mutations. 

The proportion of the

British mutation

doubles about every week.

The mutation that first appeared in South Africa had a share of 1.5 percent in Germany.

"We have to expect that the variant could soon become the dominant one for us too," said

Federal Health Minister Spahn

.

Great caution should therefore be exercised in

ending the

lockdown

and

easing the measures

.

Nevertheless, Spahn described it as "so far encouraging" that the number of infections in Germany * has fallen overall.

Wave of infections after Easter due to premature relaxation of the corona measures?

The

virologist Melanie Brinkmann

told the 

Spiegel

: "We never get enough people

vaccinated

before the

mutants break

through." If

the current

corona measures are

relaxed,

she fears a massive wave of

infections in

the period after Easter

.

+

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn and RKI boss Lothar Wieler informed about the current corona situation in Germany.

Symbolic picture: dpa / Michael Kappeler

© Michael Kappeler / dpa

Jens Spahn said that he had nothing against opening plans that were based, for example, on

incidence values ​​of

the

spread of

the

virus

.

But everyone should be aware of the importance of mutations.

It must continue to be checked every two weeks, "where we stand".

The Federal Minister of Health urged people in

Germany

to comply with the rules and to exercise caution: "We make the difference - every day."

When does the third wave threaten?

At this point in time, nobody can say for sure

whether and when there will be a

third corona wave

.

However, it is important not to rush anything in the current situation and

to loosen

the current

corona measures

too

quickly

.

This would only

provoke

a renewed

increase in the number of infections

.

The

vaccination strategy

in Germany

remains

a decisive factor in combating the

corona pandemic

.

Around three percent of people in

Germany

are now

vaccinated

against the

corona

virus.

All residents of a nursing home should have received a

vaccination offer

this week

.

It is expected that everyone over the age of 80 should receive a vaccination offer by the end of March.

According to calculations by the

federal government,

the vaccination campaign will take a long time: only towards the end of June should all over 60-year-olds have the opportunity to have a

vaccination

.

It is therefore all the more important to

continue to contain

the spread of the

coronavirus

through rules and

measures

until the majority of the population is vaccinated.

Karl Lauterbach

from the SPD

summarizes

the subject of the

lockdown end

and the

third wave

: “There must be an extension in any case.

We currently have the situation that the

British mutation

and in parts also the South African

mutation are

spreading strongly.

The total number of cases decreases and the number of mutations increases.

We will therefore get a

third wave

, which at the moment can hardly be averted because the much more contagious variants have already spread. "

* Echo24.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network.

List of rubric lists: © Sebastian Kahnert / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-02-17

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