The new Corona variant discovered in South Africa is fueling fears in Germany.
Omikron is now likely to have appeared for the first time in Hessen.
The news ticker.
Because of the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529, Biontech is examining a possible adaptation of its vaccine
(update November 26, 2:02 p.m.).
Germany imposes travel restrictions
(update November 26th, 9.10 p.m.)
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Now Omikron should have arrived in Germany
(Update November 27th, 12.25pm)
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Update from November 27, 12.20 p.m.:
The experts are likely to have been right again, the new Corona mutation Omikron has now apparently also arrived in Germany.
On Friday evening, "several mutations typical of Omikron were found in a person returning from South Africa," said Hessian Minister of Social Affairs Kai Klose via Twitter.
According to the Green politician, there is a "high level of suspicion", which is why the person concerned is now isolated at home.
More is not yet known, however, as the complete sequencing is still pending.
As the
dpa
reports, the man entered the Frankfurt airport.
New super mutation: Germany enacts new rules - they apply immediately
Update from November 26th, 9.10 p.m.:
Due to the spread of a new coronavirus variant in southern Africa, the federal government is drastically restricting entry from a total of eight countries in the region.
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi and Lesotho will be classified as virus variant areas from Sunday, as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Friday.
Airlines are essentially only allowed to carry German citizens or people living in Germany from there to Germany.
But it is not a flight ban.
A two-week quarantine obligation applies to those entering the country - including those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.
It cannot be shortened by negative tests either.
The Federal Ministry of Health pointed out on the RKI website that the responsible health authorities can order quarantine and an examination for a corona infection for travelers from the eight countries with immediate effect.
In addition, travelers from the region would be advised by the federal police and other responsible authorities "as a precautionary measure about infection-containment behavior in Germany".
The new variant B11529 is now officially called
"Omicron"
according to WHO.
The main feature of the danger so far has been reinfection.
That could be a problem for vaccines.
One more reason for booster vaccinations.
- Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) November 26, 2021
The plane from South Africa lands in Germany on Friday morning - no quarantine
Update from November 26th, 6:27 p.m.: Entries
from South Africa are restricted due to the new mutation in Germany - from Friday night.
But on Friday morning a plane from Cape Town landed in Frankfurt am Main.
The new mutation B.1.1.529 was known for a long time, and Cape Town is in the Western Cape province, which is affected by the second most new infections.
But apparently no special rules apply to passengers.
+
A plane from South Africa is still allowed to land in Frankfurt.
© Jerome Delay / AP / dpa
Health Minister Jens Spahn said at the press conference: "I can only ask these people who have entered the country before the measures come into force to ask them to stay at home, do a test, and observe themselves." Spahn emphasizes that he absolutely wants to prevent the variant from spreading in Germany.
But this may already be too late.
New super mutation: Experts are concerned - "Armed to the teeth"
Update from November 26th, 6:01 pm:
How big is the concern about the new South Africa variant among experts? "The thing is armed to the teeth," says Friedemann Weber, head of the Institute for Virology at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. The virus brings with it a “huge bouquet of mutations”, with more than 30 in the spike protein alone. Some of the mutations found are already known to weaken the effect of antibodies. However, Weber emphasizes that it is too early to make any statements about the further course of events. "It is quite conceivable that the variant will disappear again."
The Berlin virologist Christian Drosten also sees many unanswered questions.
It is unclear whether the variant is actually more contagious or whether another factor is the reason for the currently observed spread.
"There is currently no evidence of a change in the severity of the disease," said Drosten to the German press agency on Friday.
Experts agree that the variant definitely deserves special attention.
Based on the mutations found, it is quite conceivable that the variant is both very transmissible and also escapes parts of the immune response, says Neher.
RKI boss Wieler: "We are very concerned"
"It does not have any mutations that we do not already know, but we do not yet know the combination of mutations," says Carsten Watzl, Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology (DGfI).
“How this combination works must now be investigated.” Statements about the influence of the variant on the course of the disease are currently not possible.
"We just have too few cases for that at the moment."
"We are really very concerned," said RKI boss Wieler on Friday in Berlin.
It still needs to be investigated whether the increasing number of cases in South Africa is really related to this type of virus.
He very much hopes that the spread of the variant will be strictly limited by travel restrictions.
Lauterbach explains why the South Africa variant is so dangerous
Update from November 26th, 3:48 p.m.:
The new South Africa variant naturally also employs SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach.
"Why is the new variant B11529 so dangerous?
How do you come up with it? ", The politician tweeted and explained:" Because it has almost all mutations of alpha, beta, gamma and delta together. "
Lauterbach continues: “In two weeks you will know the effect of the vaccination.
If the vaccination has to be adjusted, the new vaccine would come in three months. ”At least positive, according to Lauterbach:“ Boosters are likely to work. ”
Why is the new variant B11529 so dangerous?
How do you come to that?
Because it has almost all the mutations of alpha, beta, gamma and delta together.
In 2 weeks you know the effect of the vaccination.
If the vaccination has to be adjusted, the new vaccine will arrive in 3 months. Boosters are likely to work
- Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) November 26, 2021
Update from November 26th,
2:02 p.m.: Biontech is now investigating the new Corona variant B.1.1.529.
"We can understand the concerns of experts and immediately initiated investigations into variant B.1.1.529," the company announced in Mainz on Friday upon request.
Findings can be expected in two weeks at the latest.
Biontech is investigating a new Corona variant
The variant differs significantly from the variants observed so far, since it has additional mutations on the spike protein.
The data from ongoing laboratory tests would provide information on whether an adaptation of the vaccine would be necessary if this variant spreads internationally.
Biontech also announced that, together with US partner Pfizer, preparations had been made months ago to adapt the vaccine within six weeks in the event of a so-called escape variant of the virus and to deliver the first batches within 100 days. To this end, clinical studies with “variant-specific vaccines” have been started in order to collect data on safety and tolerability. In the event of an adjustment, these could be presented to the authorities as sample data. An escape variant is a virus variant that defies the effects of the vaccines currently available.
Update from November 26th, 1:52 p.m
.: The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against travel restrictions for the time being because of the new coronavirus
variant
detected in South Africa. The WHO recommends that countries “continue to use a risk-based and scientific approach to imposing travel restrictions,” said WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier on Friday at a regular press conference in Geneva. "There is a warning against the imposition of travel restrictions."
SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach sees it completely differently.
Lauterbach insists on closing borders with South Africa.
"New variant B11529 seems to be a real massive breakthrough variant for the first time," he tweeted.
The many mutations speak for development in HIV patients.
"What to do: SA borders tight.
PCR search for N11529.
Booster as soon as possible.
Breakthrough against boosters unlikely. "
New variant B11529 seems to be a real massive breakthrough variant for the first time.
The many mutations speak for development in HIV patients.
What to do: SA borders tight.
PCR search for N11529.
Booster as soon as possible.
Breakthrough against boosters unlikely https://t.co/kXukIEazN9
- Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) November 26, 2021
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 newly discovered corona mutation from South Africa 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, so 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: © Udo Herrmann via www.imago-images.de
