The corona mutation, which has now been newly discovered in South Africa, is causing unrest internationally, and voices for immediate consequences are also being heard in Germany.
Update from November 26th, 11.40 a.m.:
A panel of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) will discuss the classification of the new Corona variant B.1.1.529 on Friday afternoon.
Among other things, it is about the question of whether the mutant should be classified as a "variant of concern" or as a "variant of interest", according to the UN authority.
However, according to the WHO, it will only be revealed in a few weeks whether B.1.1.529 is actually more contagious or possibly more aggressive than previous variants.
The version of the virus that has appeared in southern Africa has so far been genetically sequenced less than 100 times.
"First analyzes show that this variant has a large number of mutations that need to be examined more closely," the WHO told the German Press Agency in a statement.
According to the definition of the WHO, "worrying variants" are more easily transferable or lead to more severe courses of the
respiratory disease Covid-19.
They can also reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, drugs, virus tests or corona measures.
New super mutation has not yet been discovered in Germany
Update from November 26th, 10.55
a.m.: According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the new Corona variant B.1.1.529 found in South Africa has not yet been discovered in Germany. "Until half past ten I don't know that this variant has been found in Europe or Germany so far," said RKI President Lothar Wieler on Friday at the Federal Press Conference in Berlin. At the same time he emphasized: "We are actually very worried."
The acting Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) emphasized that the aim must be to avoid the entry of this variant as much as possible. “That is the last thing we can still need in our current situation, that an additional variant comes into the wave.” Spahn called on all people who have come to Germany from South Africa in the past few days get tested for the virus with a PCR test.
Update from November 26th, 9 a.m.:
Because of the newly emerged variant of the corona virus, the federal government is drastically restricting air traffic with South Africa.
The Federal Ministry of Health announced on Friday that the country will be considered a virus variant area from Saturday night.
“As a result, airlines are only allowed to carry German citizens to Germany.” In addition, all those who have entered would have to be in quarantine for 14 days - even if they are fully vaccinated.
New Corona mutation - Lauterbach and Merkel confidante in greatest concern: "Nothing is worse"
Original message from November 26, 2021:
Berlin - While the corona pandemic in Germany has been picking up speed for weeks, the new corona mutation from South Africa that has now been discovered could once again pour fuel into the fire.
The first nations have already reacted, Great Britain and Israel restrict air traffic with six countries.
And the acting minister of the Chancellery, Helge Braun, expects a quick decision to suspend air traffic with South Africa.
New Corona mutation: "Nothing is worse" - Lauterbach calls for travel restrictions - Braun is concerned
"The scientists are all highly alarmed, that's why we will talk to the Robert Koch Institute about it this morning," said Braun on Friday in the ARD "Morgenmagazin" with a view to variant B.1.1.529.
He himself was also “very worried” about the variant.
In view of the new high in the daily reported new corona infections in Germany, Braun called for an "emergency brake".
In some federal states there is already a threat of overloading the health system.
"The large number of infected people that we currently have in the country also ensure that we will generally end up in a serious stress situation in hospitals," warned the CDU politician.
"It must be very clear: Those who are not vaccinated are fully involved in the pandemic and must therefore reduce their contact as much as possible," said Braun.
The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach, who is also being traded as a possible new federal health minister, wrote on Twitter: “We have to buy time.
Nothing is worse than a new variant in a running wave. ”If preliminary data turn out to be correct,“ travel restrictions must be imposed immediately ”.
List of rubric lists: © Kay Nietfeld / dpa