Will the Delta mutant bring us the fourth wave in summer?

Timo Lenzen / DER SPIEGEL

Dear readers,

the "Star Trek" fans among you know that the name "Delta" does not mean anything good.

This is the name of the quadrant in the universe that is home to the Borg: A cybernetic species that assimilates all humanoids that fall into its hands and turns them into willless drones.

With "Star Trek: Voyager" a whole series was dedicated to the nasty habitat in space.

A comparable fate does not threaten us for the time being, nevertheless "Delta" does not bode well in today's earthly context either. This has recently been the name of the new corona mutant, originally documented for the first time in India. It has long been spreading across the globe, in England, for example, it dominates the infection process. In Germany, their share is (still) low, which could also be due to the fact that in this country there is still significantly less sequencing than, for example, in Great Britain.

What can be heard from there doesn't sound so good.

According to experts, »Delta« is up to 40 percent more contagious.

The virologist Melanie Brinkmann warned in an interview of a possible fourth wave in the summer in view of far-reaching easing on the one hand and the spreading "Delta" variant on the other.

My colleague Irene Berres has researched how the danger posed by »Delta« is to be assessed; you can find her article here.

What does not help against the Borg, but against the earthly "Delta" danger: That as many people as possible continue to be vaccinated.

It is true that the vaccines available to date against "Delta" are probably slightly less effective than against other variants of the virus.

Nevertheless, they also protect overall against the new mutant - and thus probably also against the fourth wave in summer.

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The most important information about the »Delta« variant

Coronavirus in the UK: how dangerous is the Delta variant?

A new variant of the coronavirus has established itself on the British Isles within a short time.

But is it also more aggressive?

And how well do vaccinations protect?

The level of knowledge at a glance.

Coronavirus: Delta variant, according to the British Minister of Health, 40 percent more contagious

. The British actually want to relax all corona measures in two weeks.

But the spread of the delta variant is now leading to an increase in new infections.

Coronavirus: Delta mutant

prevails

according to intensive care

physicians In the coming weeks, the more dangerous mutation B.1.617.2 will spread further in Germany, says intensive care physician Gernot Marx.

A fourth wave is possible.

Such is the situation with vaccinations

Start of corona vaccinations with company doctors: The scramble for the spades at work

The company doctors were chosen to be the third pillar of the vaccination campaign.

Some companies are planning to squirt thousands of doses later this week.

How to do this despite delivery bottlenecks.

Vaccination prioritization lifted: "We didn't know what to expect"

From now on, nobody has priority anymore when it comes to vaccination - theoretically anyone can now get an injection.

But is that also possible immediately?

Visiting a family doctor in Hamburg.

Corona pandemic: The vaccination priority falls - what you need to know now

Since June 7th, the rigid sequence for the corona vaccination has been lifted.

Now everyone from the age of twelve can try to get an appointment - but the vaccine is still in short supply.

This is the best way to proceed.

Strategies against vaccine skepticism: How Germany manages to get herd immunity

At least 80 percent of Germans would have to be vaccinated in order to control the coronavirus.

But not everyone wants to take part.

How can vaccination hesitators be convinced?

Corona vaccination for children: Little data - but a big rush

The Stiko recommends a corona vaccination for 12 to 17 year olds - if they suffer from previous illnesses.

Parents now have to weigh up, doctors educate a lot.

Visiting a pediatrician.

Only in exceptional cases: Stiko does not make a general recommendation for the corona vaccination of children.The

Biontech vaccine has been approved for children from the age of twelve since the end of May.

However, it should initially only be used in exceptional cases, recommends the Standing Vaccination Commission.

Reports of the Standing Vaccination Commission: Insufficient protection despite corona vaccination

Many people with a suppressed immune system do not provide good protection after a full vaccination - for some it

fails

completely.

On the other hand, according to Stiko, two strategies are currently being pursued.

What you need to know about the vaccination certificate

Requirements, technology, costs: How to get your digital vaccination

certificate As of Monday, the first pharmacies will issue the digital certificate.

Vaccination centers and medical practices should also start with it.

What to watch out for.

Update released: Corona warning app can now display the vaccination certificate.If

you have been

vaccinated

twice against the corona virus, you should receive a vaccination certificate.

This can then be saved in a special app.

This would already be possible in the Corona warning app.

Corona protection: pharmacies will issue

the digital proof of

vaccination from Monday.Anyone

who has received all the necessary doses should be able to obtain the digital proof from June 14th.

It can then be saved in the »CovPass« app.

Where did the virus come from?

All current findings on the »laboratory orthosis«

New findings on the corona laboratory orthosis: »Batwoman«, secret studies and the death

screams of raccoon

dogs

Current research is fueling the theory that Sars-CoV-2 could come from a laboratory in Wuhan.

What science knows so far and what the speculations mean politically.

Preliminary draft: G7 countries call for new investigation into the origin of the corona

What triggered the corona pandemic?

According to a report, the G7 heads of state and government want to call for a new, transparent analysis by the WHO.

It is not their only requirement.

US biologist David Baltimore: Nobel laureate corrects statements on the laboratory leak hypothesis

The US biologist David Baltimore had reignited the laboratory leak theory with a quote on the origin of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

Now the Nobel Prize winner has corrected himself.

Covid-19 in worldwide numbers

• Confirmed Cases: 174,879,141

• Deaths: 3,773,635

• Germany: 3,711,569 confirmed sick people, 89,687 deaths

  
  
  

  Sources: CSSE / Johns Hopkins University, as of June 11, 2021, 10:21 am;

  Robert Koch Institute, as of June 11, 2021, 3.11 a.m.

Research news

Menstruation: can a corona vaccination disrupt the female cycle?

Occasionally women report cycle fluctuations and irregular menstrual bleeding after vaccination against Covid-19.

What is known about possible connections and consequences.

What else was important

Expert on pandemic development: Why are the numbers falling despite easing?

The number of infections in Germany is falling.

The expert Thorsten Lehr explains why this is and what will be important in the coming months.

Spahn's mask affair:

full risk

Jens Spahn defends himself against the accusation of having brought inferior masks to the people - and promises that the federal masks are safe.

That could cost him the office.

Corona numbers in the northwest: Why is the incidence in Emden so high, Mr Kruithoff?

The number of infections is low in all of Lower Saxony.

In all of Lower Saxony?

The city of Emden is still red on the map.

What's going on there?

A call to the mayor.

Have a nice weekend

Yours Michail Hengstenberg