Omikron variant: Teachers' associations warn against face-to-face teaching

Created: 12/26/2021 Updated: 12/26/2021, 1:11 PM

By: Anna Charlotte Groos, Vincent Büssow, Andreas Apetz

The Corona variant Omikron is on the advance.

Now she also appears in all federal states.

Teachers' associations are discussing renewed school closings.

The situation in the news ticker.

• The new Corona * variant Omikron * is spreading rapidly around the world.

• Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach * (SPD *) speaks of an unavoidable wave of omicrons shortly after the turn of the year and advises tests.

• Teachers' associations warn against avoiding school closings and distance learning.

• All information about the Omikron variant at a glance.

+++ 1 p.m.: In

view of the Omikron variant in the corona pandemic, teachers' associations warn against avoiding school closings.

"The Omikron variant worsens the pandemic situation massively - also in schools," said the chairman of the Association for Education and Upbringing (VBE), Udo Beckmann, the editorial network Germany on Sunday (December 26th, 2021).

“The motto of politics should definitely no longer mean that face-to-face lessons have to be offered at all costs,” says Beckmann.

The Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs must come together quickly to coordinate with the virologists what is responsible with regard to the health of teachers and students, said Beckmann.

The chairman of the German Teachers' Association, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, told the editorial network that the Omikron variant could spread comparatively more easily, especially in schools, because of the large number of unvaccinated students.

"In case of doubt, a hard, short lockdown, including school closings with distance teaching, would still be better than having a situation over months in which it is sometimes open and sometimes closed."

In view of the widespread use of the Omikron variant, teacher associations are calling for schools to be closed and for distance teaching.

© Pavlíèek Lubo / dpa

Omikron variant arrived in all federal states: "Outbreaks impressive"

Update from Sunday, December 26th, 2021, 7:50 a.m.:

 The Omikron variant has now arrived in all federal states.

Even if the majority of infections are still caused by the delta variant of the coronavirus, the number of detected omicron cases has increased significantly in recent weeks, as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) wrote in its weekly report.

Its President Lothar Wieler told the editorial network Germany: “The outbreaks at Omikron are impressive.

Very many people who are in a room with an infected person can become infected.

A great many also get sick. ”This is a different dimension than what Delta is familiar with.

Delta has been the predominant coronavirus variant in Germany for months.

Omikron should soon determine the corona situation in Germany.

© Thomas Banneyer / dpa

Omikron: Lauterbach advises vaccinated people to have corona tests at Christmas

Update from Saturday,

December 25th, 2021, 4.19 p.m.: Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach combined his Christmas greetings with an appeal for corona testing and thanks to those who have been vaccinated and those who want to be vaccinated.

"I wish us all a merry Christmas," wrote the SPD politician on Twitter on Saturday.

“I'm going to test everyone at the family festival today.

Please do that too.

It can save lives. ”At the same time, the minister thanked everyone“ who are still vaccinated or are being vaccinated today.

It is a gift to all of society.

Thank you".

The corona numbers in Germany recently fell.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the nationwide seven-day incidence on Saturday morning (December 25, 2021) was 242.9.

For comparison: the previous day the value was 265.8, on November 25th it was 419.7 - a week ago the RKI had not presented any figures.

Due to the holiday, the numbers can only be used to a limited extent.

Experts fear a trend reversal soon due to the more contagious Omikron variant.

A mother has her child tested for the corona virus at Christmas.

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach also wrote on Twitter: “I will test everyone at the family festival today.

Please do that too.

It can save lives. ”© Marijan Murat / dpa

Omikron: Lauterbach also advises vaccinated people to have corona tests at Christmas

+++ 2.13 p.m.:

Federal Health

Karl Lauterbach * has

in the corona pandemic to be careful with the Christmas celebrations.

The health politician also recommends vaccinated people to test themselves for a corona infection.

The proportion of Omikron cases will "increase VERY sharply in the next few days," wrote the Lauterbach on Friday on Twitter.

“Health authorities report late on public holidays.

Nevertheless, we keep an eye on developments.

Please avoid / avoid contagion at the festival. ”Previously, the minister had thanked the health workers in a video message, especially during the pandemic.

In order to avoid infections with the Omikron variant at Christmas, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also recommends vaccinated people to test themselves.

© Kay Nietfeld / dpa

Corona variant Omikron: According to the RKI, detected in all federal states

Update from Friday, December 24th, 2021, 8.15 a.m.:

As the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports, the new Corona variant Omikron has so far been detected in all German federal states.

In its weekly report, the institute points out that the majority of the reported cases of infection are currently due to the delta variant.

Nevertheless, there was a significant increase in the number of omicron cases.

In the case of fully vaccinated and boosted people, the "reporting data on symptoms indicate a rather mild course," writes the RKI.

The most common symptoms were runny nose, cough and sore throat.

According to the RKI, the Corona variant Omikron has spread throughout Germany.

The delta variant is still considered to be predominant.

(Symbol picture) © Yay Images / Imago

Up to December 21, 2021, 441 confirmed infections with the new Corona variant had been detected.

In another 1438 other cases, there is a suspicion of an Omicron infection.

The hospital is currently treating 28 patients who have been shown to have Omikron.

One person has been proven to have died (see update from December 23, 2021, 2:45 p.m.).

Detection of corona variants such as Delta and Omikron

When assessing the reported number of infections with a virus variant such as Delta and Omikron, it should be noted that only some of the positive corona test results are examined for these variants.

Corona variant Omikron: What the virologist Drosten's biggest concern is

+++ 7.00 p.m.:

The virologist Christian Drosten * shared new assessments of the impact of Omikron in Germany and the world of the press. His current "greatest concern" with regard to the Corona variant is therefore China, said the head of the Charité virology department in an interview with sueddeutsche.de. "The vaccine that was used there has a poor effectiveness against this variant," Drosten justified his concern and spoke of a real danger. In Germany, other corona vaccines * are sometimes used.

At the national level, the spread of Omikron will be slowed down by the current contact restrictions and the caution of people in private, believes Drosten.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the current measures to contain the corona variant work.

Should the situation worsen, Drosten believes that a 1G regulation could be considered, which only boosted people have access.

The virologist also warned of what would happen if Omikron was "run through now" with a glance at the vaccination pick.

Accordingly, there will be "many dead" and "full intensive care units", so Drosten in an interview with sueddeutsche.de.

The virologist Christian Drosten said that the contact restrictions in Germany would slow down the spread of Omikron.

(Archive image) © Rolf Vennenbernd / dpa

Corona variant Omikron: RKI reports first death in Germany

+++ 2.45 p.m.:

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has reported the first death after infection with the omicron variant of the corona virus.

As can be seen from the RKI's daily overview of Omikron cases, the deceased was between 60 and 79 years old.

So far, 3198 Covid-19 cases have been assigned to the Omikron variant.

This corresponds to an increase in cases of 25 percent (plus 810 cases) compared to the previous day.

Only cases are counted in which detection by means of whole genome sequencing or a laboratory diagnostic suspicion by means of variant-specific PCR showed an infection with Omikron.

Omikron: According to Karl Lauterbach, the fifth corona wave is unavoidable

First report from Thursday, December 23rd, 2021, 2:19 p.m .:

Frankfurt - The “Omikron wave can no longer be prevented,” warned Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) at the press conference with RKI boss Lothar Wieler on Wednesday (December 22nd, 2021).

After the rapid spread of the mutation in Great Britain and Denmark, it is only a matter of time before the fifth wave also reaches Germany.

According to experts, the Omikron variant will strike shortly after the turn of the year in Germany.

"The measures we have taken are working," said Lauterbach, calming down in the same breath with the sad prognosis.

By the "measures taken", the SPD health minister means the tightening of the Christmas holidays and New Year's Eve * decided by the Corona summit.

Corona variant Omikron: The first week of January is the deadline

The Corona rules for the end of the year include stricter contact restrictions and the nationwide closure of bars, clubs and discos.

This is intended to slow down the rapid spread of the Omikron variant.

The mutation has not yet prevailed in Germany.

The German health authorities have reported around 3200 cases so far.

But it won't stay that way in the long run: “We don't have a big, fast wave yet. That will change at the turn of the year and in the first week of January ”, the Federal Minister of Health at WDR 2 predicted on Thursday (23.12.2021). The most important tool to protect the health system and its infrastructure is the booster vaccination. “What we know for sure is that we need a booster vaccination.” It can be assumed that a third vaccination “prevents 70 to 80 percent of symptomatic cases of illness”. In the course of the year a fourth vaccination would be necessary. Stiko recently created a new framework for booster vaccinations and is now recommending a booster vaccination after three months.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in conversation with RKI boss Lothar Wieler.

© Jürgen Heinrich / imago

As it is known that the vaccination protection drops rapidly after a second Corona vaccination *, the corrected question arises as to how long a third or even fourth vaccination will last.

Could regular vaccination appointments become a routine like with the flu?

According to Lauterbach, this question cannot be answered seriously.

“You can't say anything about the vaccination routine yet.” You have to check how long the booster vaccination lasts.

Omicron wave: what's next for Corona?

Lauterbach cannot predict the further course of the corona pandemic * either: “Nobody knows.

That would be a look into the crystal ball.

But I assume that new variants will emerge.

Nobody can say whether they will become more dangerous. ”As with Omikron, new variants could lead to new waves and new vaccinations.

In any case, you have to maintain “flexibility” and constantly adapt the measures to the respective developments and new medical findings, said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

For 2022, Germany has already ordered 80 million vaccine doses from Biontech *, which should be adapted to the new Corona variant.

(aa // vbu / acg / epd / dpa)