There is uncertainty, but also calm, in the district because of the Corona mutation Omikron.
A travel company from Seefeld who specializes in Africa is particularly concerned with the new new location.
District - "The wires are getting hot here right now," says Helmke Sears. She is the managing director of Karibu Safaris, a travel company specializing in Africa and based in Seefeld Castle. From there, Sears and her employees arrange adventure trips - also to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Countries in which the new corona mutation Omikron was discovered. Anyone who comes back to Germany from there (and from Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi and Lesotho) must report to the district office and go into quarantine for two weeks, regardless of their vaccination status.
Even if the high travel season in southern Africa ends in October, the Karibu employees have a lot to do at the moment.
Because some customers had booked for December and January - and are now unsettled.
"People are concerned about the quarantine after the return trip," says managing director Sears.
But not all: “Some are retirees or can work from home.
They fly anyway. ”Others rebook or cancel free of charge (this is possible with short-term travel warnings).
For those who wanted to fulfill the longed-for dream, who have long saved, the situation is dire.
“Some people start crying on the phone,” says Sears.
"We try to find a solution for each individual and contact the customers proactively."
Feedback from South Africa: "If I don't die of Corona, I'll starve to death"
Sears and colleagues are also in close contact with business partners in South Africa. The most drastic feedback that the Seefelder recently heard from the distant country: "If I don't die of Corona, I'll starve to death." There is no short-time work and state bridging aid, South Africa is heavily dependent on tourism. "They feel that they have been treated unfairly - also because there are few cases there."
The seven-day incidence in South Africa is 21.6 and the vaccination rate 23.7 percent. The effects of the new variant are not yet fully known. Sears emphasizes how exemplary masks are worn in the tourism sector and how hygienic measures are adhered to. “And almost everyone is vaccinated.” In addition, tourists are often outside and have little human contact on safari. Sears got back from Africa himself only about a week ago. She was a tour guide in Uganda for ten days, and for twelve days she looked at accommodations in Namibia in order to be able to provide even better advice in the future. Omikron was not an issue at the time.
It was the same with the Herrsching professional surfer Andy Laufer, who was also in Namibia ten days ago because of the “Lüderitz Speed Challenge”.
When asked, he said he had hardly any contacts there.
Berg's Second Mayor Andreas Hlavaty returned from a four-week stay in South Africa a week ago on Sunday.
"As a returnee, I have now reported to the district office," he says.
He has no concerns that he could have been infected with the new Corona variant.
A PCR test he did on his return at Munich Airport was negative.
"We passed many test stations, there was no operation anywhere"
Before his Lufthansa return flight, Hlavaty had received proof of vaccination so that he could fly home. In South Africa, at least in the areas he visited where white tourists are, it was very disciplined. "Everyone kept their distance and wore a mask, there was disinfectant in front of every shop and an employee who urged us to use it," says the salvor. "We passed a lot of test stations, there was no activity anywhere - no idea where you found the test station, which is now constantly shown on television."
Overall, the situation was calm and relaxed, says Hlavaty.
He thinks the reaction to the new variant is exaggerated.
"We don't need to believe that this variant is the only new one," he says.
"I'm of course a layperson, but I think the reactions in Europe are exaggerated." He is already planning his next trip to South Africa: "I hope that I can fly again at the end of February."
According to the health department, there is so far no Omicron proof in the district, a district resident is in quarantine as a possible contact person.
The district administration does not know whether there are many people returning from southern Africa - the quarantine is already being imposed at the airport.
And so far there have not been many calls to the authority about this.
