Virus variant detected in Bavaria: Omikron in Germany

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Corona patients on the way from Munich to Hamburg (on Friday): "We have to assume that hundreds of intensive care patients will have to be moved"

Photo: Steven Huchings / dpa

Omikron has arrived in Germany

In

, the first two cases of the new Omikron variant of the coronavirus in Germany have been confirmed.

The two travelers arrived on November 24 on a flight from South Africa, said Bavaria's Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU).

There

is also at least one suspected case

in

.

According to the social minister there, Kai Klose (Greens), several mutations typical of Omikron have been found in a person returning from South Africa.

"So there is a high level of suspicion that the person was isolated at home." The Frankfurt health department expects precise results on Monday.

(Read the current development here.)

Why is Omicron so dangerous?

Since the appearance of the delta variant, no new mutation in the coronavirus has caused such great concern as the one newly discovered in South Africa.

So far, little is known about the variant, which is scientifically known as

and which was also named after the Greek letter

.

The World Health Organization (

) classifies the new variant as "worrying" because of the large number of mutations.

According to the

, around 30 amino acid changes were found in the spike protein, but also many mutations, the meaning of which is unclear.

On the other hand, the international concern stems from the fact that the

cases

in the South African province of

, where B.1.1.529 was first detected, is increasing very rapidly.

The EU disease control authority

considers the risk of spread in Europe to be "high to very high".

It is still unclear whether the Omikron variant is more dangerous than the Delta variant.

So far, the delta variant has dominated the infection rate in most countries, including Germany.

According to the RKI, Omikron was created independently of the Delta variant.

How effective are the vaccines now?

The virologist

assumes that the available vaccines also protect against the new variant, in particular against the course of the disease.

However, the new variant evidently at least partially bypasses the body's immune response, he explained on ZDF.

The SPD health expert

spoke on Twitter of “bad news”, which “but no reason to panic” was.

Breakthrough infections in South Africa mostly affected people who were vaccinated six months ago.

He assumes that the vaccination will also protect Omikron from serious illness.

The booster protects "probably full".

The epidemiologist

much more skeptical

.

The changes compared to the original virus "could have the potential to circumvent the existing immunization of the vaccines used so far," he told the portal watson.de.

The Munich virologist

said that freshly after a vaccination there were many antibodies - enough to "neutralize away" variant viruses.

If the vaccination was a while ago, booster vaccinations could "boost" the immune system.

It is not yet possible to say whether you will need another vaccination later or an adapted vaccine.

Biontech

has already initiated a review of its vaccine and will adjust it if necessary.

According to the Mainz-based pharmaceutical company, the first results should be available within two weeks at the latest.

The US company

announced that it would develop a special booster vaccination against the Omikron variant.

What do researchers ask for?

Regardless of the Omikron variant, the National Academy of Sciences

recommends

immediate comprehensive contact restrictions - in order to counter the rapid increase in new corona infections in Germany. "From a medical and epidemiological point of view, it is immediately effective to significantly reduce the number of contacts for a few weeks from the beginning of the coming week," it says in a statement. "Due to the decreasing immunity, these measures would

apply

temporarily

who have to receive a booster vaccination during this time." New virus variants made fast and consistent action even more urgent.

The President of the Robert Koch Institute,

, said with a view to a general

, if one fails to vaccinate a large part of the population, this is "definitely an option" that one should then think about.

Germany is in an emergency situation.

"One should simply not rule out anything in principle in a crisis situation."

What are the current numbers?

The seven-day incidence has risen again and has peaked.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI)

stated

the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week on Saturday morning as

.

For comparison: a week ago the value was 362.2.

The health authorities in Germany reported

the RKI within one day

.

What to expect from the clinics

Intensive care patients are already being relocated within Germany - due to the regional

.

However, according to the Greens health expert Janosch Dahmen, these relocations may not be enough.

"Based on the number of new infections, we must assume that hundreds of intensive care patients will have to be moved," said Dahmen to "Welt am Sonntag".

"Because the demand could rise so blatantly,

may

necessary," added the member of the Bundestag.

On Friday,

the Bundeswehr's

part in the transfer of corona intensive care patients within Germany

for the first time

.

What politics is planning

Bavaria's Prime Minister

(CSU) has described the Leopoldina's recommendation for immediate

as “a warning and wake-up call”.

"The situation is more serious than most believe," said Söder of the dpa news agency.

"And Omikron could become a new threat."

For football, Söder

did not

rule out a return to further

.

"In any case, the number of viewers must be significantly reduced," he told the TV broadcaster Sky.

Saxony is already playing without a spectator.

Berlin's health

(SPD) even considers a

to be necessary. "I call on the federal government to use a federal emergency brake," said the executive senator of the "Berliner Morgenpost". At the same time, she asked people in Berlin to avoid major events, especially indoors.

The acting Federal Minister of Health

in turn, has

into play. The CDU politician said he was fundamentally skeptical about a general vaccination requirement. However, an alternative is consistently

, i.e. access only

who have been vaccinated and

who have recovered. An announcement could be made: "Prepare for it, 2G, vaccinated or recovered, and then boosted from a point X, applies at least the whole of 2022. If you somehow want to do more than visit your town hall or your supermarket, then you have to be vaccinated. ”That is an option that needs to be discussed.

The chairman of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag,

, called for further quick measures to contain the corona virus - including a possible

. He told “Welt am Sonntag”: “If the situation gets worse, I think we should also think about starting the Christmas holidays one to two weeks earlier in order to reduce contacts in schools, for example.”

The SPD health expert

is already firmly assuming further restrictions. "In fact, the infection process is more aggressive than expected," he said in the ARD "Tagesthemen" on Friday evening. The measures would have worked, contacts decreased somewhat. "But it's not where it needs to be yet, and it will definitely be necessary for us to re-sharpen it, I assume."

The

expect a renewed tightening of the Infection Protection Act.

“The current emergency is very worrying.

It was and is completely clear that the

that have been

can at best be a first step, "said Green health expert

the" Rheinische Post ".

It is obvious that it has not yet been possible to bring the situation under control.

Merkel or Scholz - who is responsible?

Union politicians asked the traffic light parties to quickly name a

.

The incumbent Chancellery Minister

(CDU) told the "Bild": "We urgently need a clear, competent contact person in the future government."

Bavaria's CSU Prime Minister

said: "We can't wait ten days for a new health

office." A

needed immediately

.

The Saarland Prime Minister

(CDU) spoke out in favor of a quick

Conference because of the Omikron danger

. One is again before "zero hour in the pandemic fight," said Hans after a message from the State Chancellery in Saarbrücken. "A national emergency requires all federal states to join forces, as well as the old and new federal governments."

SPD chancellor candidate

meanwhile announced

.

Everything will be done that has to be done, he said at the Federal Jusos Congress and spoke of "new dramatic challenges".

There is nothing that is not taken into account.

The ambitious goal is that everyone now gets a booster vaccination to refresh them.

He has already announced that a

will be set up.

There is currently close cooperation between the future and the current government, said Scholz.

How is the situation abroad?

Basically, most foreign observers and politicians look at Germany with skepticism - because of the low vaccination rate in this country.

The virus variant Omikron is now exacerbating the situation in other countries as well.

Two corona cases with the Omicron variant have been discovered

in

.

In the English cities of

and

, one case each had been found, said the British Minister of Health.

Both cases are said to be related to each other and to be traced back to trips to southern Africa.

The people concerned and their households are in quarantine, and tests will be intensified in the areas.

Great Britain is now tightening its

from all over the world.

All arrivals must take a

on day two after their entry

and

go

into

until they receive a negative test result

, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced.

In the

, 61 flight passengers from South Africa tested positive for the corona virus.

The tests were carried out on arrival at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, said the Dutch health authority GGD.

Those who tested positive would be

housed

in a

near the airport.

It is now being investigated whether you have become infected with the new virus variant, which was first discovered in South Africa.

wal / dpa / Reuters / AFP