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Drosten makes gloomy Omikron prognosis: "From January we will have a serious problem"

2021-12-17T04:28:41.012Z


Drosten makes gloomy Omikron prognosis: "From January we will have a serious problem" Created: 12/17/2021, 05:11 AM From: Verena Möckl The virologist Christian Drosten warns of the Corona variant Omikron. He fears that the mutation could increase "in a very short time" in Germany. Berlin - Omikron has also arrived in Germany. How many Omikron cases there have been in Germany so far is unknown.


Drosten makes gloomy Omikron prognosis: "From January we will have a serious problem"

Created: 12/17/2021, 05:11 AM

From: Verena Möckl

The virologist Christian Drosten warns of the Corona variant Omikron.

He fears that the mutation could increase "in a very short time" in Germany.

Berlin - Omikron has also arrived in Germany.

How many Omikron cases there have been in Germany so far is unknown.

Among colleagues, 25 to 30 cases are assumed, reported virologist Christian Drosten on Tuesday in the NDR podcast "The Corona Update".

However, this will "increase in a very short time," he warned.

200 to 300 cases would not surprise him.

However, one still has to wait for more research data.

Drosten: "From January we will have a problem with Omikron in Germany"

From the beginning of next year, the new Corona variant will also cause problems in Germany, Drosten feared.

In South Africa and England, the number of cases doubles every four days.

“That's a shocking amount,” said Drosten, who also expects the mutation to spread quickly in this country.

If this also applies to Germany, one would have to deal with a situation "which is faster than any political decision-making option".

We have to realize that we are driving with the handbrake on.

virologist Christian Drosten

An increase in Omikron cases of 25 percent per day, as in South Africa and England, cannot automatically be assumed in Germany.

"We have to realize that we are driving with the handbrake on," said the Corona expert in relation to the applicable Corona measures such as 2G.

“From January we will have a problem with Omikron in Germany.” It cannot be ruled out that there will already be a situation around Christmas that, according to Drosten, is “frightening”.

From January we will have a problem with Omikron in Germany.

Corona expert Christian Drosten

Immune escape and gain in fitness: According to Drosten, the “stupidest combination” with Virus

The chief virologist at the Berlin Charité is particularly concerned about the vaccination picking.

"We have to fear that unvaccinated people in Germany will become more ill," he said.

But also for those who have recovered there is a risk of reinfection.

The scientist feared that Omikron could on the one hand break the immune barrier and on the other hand cause severe symptoms.

This so-called "immune escape" and the fitness gain of the virus could also have an impact on vaccinated people.

Exact data on protection through infection and vaccination are not yet available.

Drosten: "We have to be very careful": Omikron for Germany problem until summer

Corona expert and virologist: Christian Drosten.

© Britta Pedersen / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa

A mild course like in South Africa cannot be expected in Germany.

"We have to be very careful not to fall into euphoria," warned Drosten in view of the situation in South Africa, where many people are already doubly infected.

However, this does not apply to Germany, where the vaccination gap is particularly large.

"My gut feeling tells me: The omicron virus will be our problem until summer," because the developments in South Africa make it clear that the mutation will continue to grow in summer, according to the corona expert.

"If Omikron takes over, the pandemic in Germany will not be over by Easter."

Corona expert Christian Drosten also warned against the Omikron variant in the ARD “Tagesthemen”. 

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-12-17

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