The corona situation in France is tense.
Prime Minister Jean Castex has already declared the third wave.
A new virus variant has now been discovered in Brittany.
Lannion - In the corona pandemic, testing has so far been an important tool.
Many people hope that increased test capacities will take further steps towards normality.
A positive PCR test has so far provided reliable evidence of a corona infection. In France, the authorities have now reported a new variant of the corona virus.
This poses new puzzles in connection with corona tests.
Corona: New virus variant discovered in Brittany - detection via PCR test probably made more difficult
The French health authorities became aware of the new corona mutation during an outbreak in a hospital in Lannion in Brittany.
In the case of this new virus variant, detection using a conventional PCR test could be more difficult.
There have been several patients who had typical symptoms of Covid-19 * but received a negative PCR test result, the General Directorate of the French Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The Breton health authority ARS announced on Tuesday (March 16) that eight elderly patients with "typical symptoms" of Covid 19 had died.
According to this, seven of them had previously tested negative with a nasal swab.
Only an antibody test led to a positive test result *.
Breton corona mutation: virus variant under observation
"The first analyzes of this new variant do not allow the conclusion that it is more serious or more transmissible than the original virus," said one of the communications.
In-depth investigations into the Breton corona mutation are, however, ongoing.
The health authorities classified the virus variant * as a "variant under investigation", ie one that must be closely monitored.
The Directorate-General stressed that viruses are constantly evolving and that monitoring systems have been put in place accordingly.
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During a corona outbreak in the hospital in Lannion in Brittany, the health authorities became aware of a new virus variant.
© Manuel Magrez / imago-images
Corona in France: The situation is worsening - "We are in a kind of third wave"
In France, the corona situation has recently worsened again.
The greater Paris area is particularly in focus.
Because of the tense situation in the intensive care units there, patients are being taken to other parts of the country.
The 7-day incidence is around 400. It is assumed that the corona measures in the Île de France region could soon be tightened.
According to Prime Minister Jean Castex, the third wave of the corona pandemic * has already begun in France.
"We are in a kind of third wave," he said on Tuesday in front of the Paris National Assembly.
This is characterized by the different variants of the coronavirus - above all by the so-called British variant B.1.1.7 *.
The head of government made it clear that the answer to the tense situation is vaccination.
“I hope that we can resume the campaign with AstraZeneca as soon as possible,” said Health Minister Olivier Véran.
In France, the corona vaccinations * with the AstraZeneca vaccine were suspended for the time being on Monday.
President Emmanuel Macron announced the measure, which was much criticized in France, shortly after Germany also suspended the AstraZeneca vaccination for the time being.
(ph / dpa / afp) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
List of rubric lists: © Manuel Magrez via www.imago-images.de
