The current development of the corona pandemic is causing great problems for many countries.
It is particularly bad in India.
Karl Lauterbach fears consequences for Europe.
Update from April 20, 1:35 p.m.:
India has now registered more than 200,000 new corona infections for the sixth day in a row.
According to the Ministry of Health, a total of 259,000 new corona cases were recorded within 24 hours.
In addition, 1,761 people died in one day in connection with Covid-19.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised its citizens not to travel to India - even if they are already fully vaccinated.
Hong Kong canceled all flights from India for two weeks from Tuesday after at least 49 passengers from a flight from New Delhi to Hong Kong on April 4 tested positive for the corona virus.
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In India, the Ministry of Health reported more than 200,000 new corona infections for the sixth day in a row.
© Mahesh Kumar A./dpa
Update from April 20, 12.15 p.m.:
In India, the number of corona cases has exploded in the past few days, with around 270,000 new infections registered per day.
One of the reasons for this is the spread of the virus variant B.1.617.
The variant carries two mutations on a surface protein that are known from other lines under observation, explained the RKI.
Both would be "associated with a reduced neutralisability by antibodies or T cells, the extent of which is not clear".
That means: Vaccinated and convalescent people could possibly be less well protected against infection with this variant.
Corona mutation B.1.617: Great Britain puts India on "red list"
The Indian Ministry of Health reported on the so-called double mutant at the end of March. A recently published notice said it can now be found in countries such as Germany, Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, the USA and Singapore. A higher transferability has not been proven. However, some experts in India believe that the mutant could contribute to the rapidly increasing numbers of infections in India. SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach is already speaking of a "Covid catastrophe"
(see first report)
.
The British health minister Matt Hancock announced that India would be put on a "red list".
Travelers arriving in the UK from the country on Friday must spend the mandatory ten-day quarantine in a hotel at their own expense.
According to information on Sunday, 77 cases of the corona mutation B.1.617 were discovered in Great Britain.
There is no evidence that the variant is more contagious than the previously known or does not react to vaccines, said a cabinet member.
Corona mutation B.1.617: RKI does not yet classify virus variant as "worrying"
Update from April 20, 7.15 a.m.:
The new corona mutation from India is causing a stir.
While the World Health Organization, the Robert Koch Institute and other experts are cautious about B.1.617, SPD politician Karl Lauterbach is concerned
(see first report)
.
Variant B.1.617 is currently under observation, for a classification as “worrying” there is so far “the corresponding evidence”, said an RKI spokeswoman on dpa request.
"In Germany, a total of eight sequences of line B.1.617 from March have been identified."
First report from April 19, 5 p.m .:
New Delhi / Berlin - The corona virus is raging worldwide.
Now the situation in the country with the second largest population in the world has worsened dramatically.
In India, the Ministry of Health reported 274,000 new corona cases in just 24 hours.
For the state with over 1.3 billion inhabitants, the current situation is extremely threatening.
The health system is already working to the limit.
India's capital New Delhi reacted with tough measures and imposed a curfew, which has been in effect since Monday (April 19).
It should last for a week.
Corona: New infections in India are increasing rapidly - Johnson cancels state visit
Conditions in the country are catastrophic. In many places there is a lack of hospital beds, medical oxygen and medicines. Corona vaccine is also not available in sufficient numbers. In addition, there are increasing reports of crematoria that are completely overburdened in view of the many deaths. India recorded 1,619 deaths in a single day in a single day, according to official figures on Monday, in which people died in connection with Covid-19.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already reacted to recent developments in India.
He canceled his planned state visit for the time being.
"Given the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson cannot travel to India next week," said Downing Street on Monday.
Johnson's visit to India is to be rescheduled for the end of the month.
But whether the situation has relaxed by then?
Karl Lauterbach (SPD) warns of a "Covid catastrophe" through mutation B1.617
The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach apparently does not believe that. Lauterbach expressed his greatest concern on Twitter. And believes that developments there can also have an impact on Europe. “The Covid catastrophe is looming in India. New mutation B1.617 prevails massively, also against B117. Since B1.617 can also prevail in vaccination, Europe also faces a problem. B1.617 is growing rapidly in England, but it is still unclear whether these are just travelers, ”wrote Lauterbach.
The social democrat sees the western industrial nations as having a duty to give India and other nations a hand.
Many nations, especially the financially weak states, are dependent on help.
"Case numbers are exploding in India and mutations will also reach other poorer countries," predicted Lauterbach in his tweet.
He went on to say: “Industrialized countries have a moral duty to provide poorer countries with vaccines as quickly as possible.
Technically it is possible, economically and ethically a must. "
Weeks ago, politicians from four parliamentary groups in the Bundestag had spoken out in favor of more vaccination support for countries in the global south at the request of Merkur.de * - and in some cases warned of problems with new mutations if that did not happen.
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List of rubric lists: © Mahesh Kumar A./dpa
