Now it is certain.
The two passengers from South Africa who tested positive are infected with the Omikron variant.
So Munich is now also affected.
Update from November 27, 9:10 p.m.:
Apparently, genome sequencing has not yet been carried out in the two positive corona cases.
According to the director of the institute and virologist Oliver Keppler, this is still pending.
But it is "proven beyond doubt that it is this variant".
Shock news for Munich!
New Corona variant confirmed
First report from November 27, 2021:
Munich - The first two cases of the new Omikron variant of the coronavirus in Germany have been confirmed in Munich.
The two travelers arrived on November 24 with a flight from South Africa, said Bavaria's Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) on Saturday.
Those affected had arranged an investigation for the virus variant themselves after learning of the danger from the media.
Previously, two corona infected people from a machine from Cape Town were reported.
It was initially unclear whether it was the new variant of the virus.
Both have been isolated.
Omikron variant in Munich: Ministry of Health asked passengers to report to the health department
The Bavarian Ministry of Health has now asked all passengers who came from South Africa on the same flight on November 24th to report immediately to their responsible health department. All people who have traveled from South Africa in the past 14 days should immediately reduce their contacts, take a PCR test with details of their travel history and then contact the health department immediately.
In addition, all persons who enter southern Africa from the areas classified as virus-variant areas by the Robert Koch Institute must be in quarantine for 14 days (regardless of their vaccination status).
"We have to do everything we can to prevent the new variant from spreading in the Free State and in Germany," said a ministry spokeswoman in Munich.
It is not yet clear whether the new variant is actually more contagious and leads to more hospital stays.
"Until science sees more clearly, we have to exercise caution," emphasized the spokeswoman.
Corona: 50 people from Cape Town flight in Bavaria in quarantine
From the Lufthansa plane from Cape Town that landed in Munich on Friday evening, 50 people are in quarantine in Bavaria.
The aircraft was occupied with around 300 passengers.
Two PCR tests were positive, as the ministry had previously announced.
It is still unclear whether these passengers also carry the new Omicron virus variant.
(md with dpa)
