There are alarming observations from South Africa about the Corona variant Omikron. Christian Drosten dares to make an assessment. The news ticker with the most important information about Omikron.
- Omicron: The corona variant is closely monitored by medicine and science.
- In South Africa, a number of small children have to be hospitalized for Omikron. ( see first report from December 13th )
- Omikron suspected case at Munich high school: Entire class and teachers in quarantine (see update from December 13, 8:51 p.m.).
- Three more Omikron cases after the 2G-plus dance festival in Münster (see update from December 13th, 10:31 pm).
- This news ticker for the Omikron variant is updated regularly.
Update from December 13, 10:31 p.m.: At a dance festival in Münster, despite strict rules, a corona outbreak occurred. 14 people are infected with the virus. According to the Office for Communication of the City of Münster, these include three confirmed Omikron cases. It is still unclear whether these cases are actually confirmed by genome sequencing. Only those vaccinated and recovered were admitted to the event, and the participants also had to submit a negative test.
Corona variant Omikron: Suspected case in Munich school class
Update from December 13th, 8:54 p.m.: An entire fifth grade and four teachers have been in quarantine at a Munich high school since last Friday. A student previously tested positive for the virus. Now there is even a suspicion of an omicron infection. The responsible district office says: “The quarantine measures are currently purely a precautionary measure.” All those affected would be kept up to date and informed as soon as there is more information.
Corona variant Omikron: British study shows that vaccines have a weaker effect
Update from December 13th, 4.30 p.m.: The corona vaccines available so far from Biontech and AstraZeneca are apparently weaker against the omicron variant than against the delta form of the virus. At least that was the result of a so-called preprint study by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
To put it simply: The team, led by scientist Nick Andrews, analyzed population data from Great Britain. According to the news magazine Spiegel, the scientists found the omicron variant in 581 study participants / patients with symptomatic corona infections. The data were then evaluated. The team found that the protection against symptomatic infections had dropped to 34 percent 15 weeks after a second dose of Biontech.
The investigation by the authority also showed, reports Der Spiegel , that booster vaccinations significantly increase protection against symptomatic infections. Two weeks after a booster vaccination, the protection increased to over 70 percent – both with the administration of the Biontech vaccine and with AstraZeneca.
Corona variant Omikron: Significant increase in coronavirus infections in Great Britain
Update from December 13th, 2:15 p.m.: Great concern about Omikron now also in Great Britain. The British Ministry of Health reported a sharp increase in reported infections with the coronavirus variant on the island this Monday.
“It’s spreading at phenomenal speed. We have never seen anything like it, ”said Health Minister Sajid Javid. According to the information, the corona infections – presumably due to the mutant – would double every two to three days. According to the ministry, 40 percent of all new corona cases registered are due to Omikron.
Even more: The broadcaster Sky News reports, citing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that a Covid-19 patient died for the first time after an Omicron infection. Britain had fully reopened its society in the past few months and dropped all corona restrictions. Recently, however, the numbers rose again significantly between Glasgow, London and Cardiff.
Corona variant Omikron: Biontech boss Uğur Şahin advertises booster vaccinations
Update from December 13th, 1 p.m.: Because of the recent omicron variant of the coronavirus, Biontech boss Uğur Şahin has spoken out in favor of a booster vaccination just three months after the second vaccination.
“With regard to Omikron, two doses are not yet a completed vaccination with sufficient protection,” said Şahin in an interview with the news magazine Spiegel : “If Omikron continues to spread, it would make scientific sense to offer a booster after three months . “
Corona variant Omikron: Virologist Christian Drosten warns of mutation
Update from December 13, 12.35 p.m.: Virologist Christian Drosten warns of the Corona variant Omikron. He fears that the mutation could increase “in a very short time” in Germany.
“My gut feeling tells me: The omicron virus will be our problem until summer,” said the scientist from the Berlin Charité in the NDR podcast “The Corona Update”. And said: “If Omikron takes over, the pandemic in Germany will not be over by Easter.”
The omicron virus will be our problem until summer.
Corona variant Omikron: Worrying mutation is closely monitored
First report from December 13th : Munich / Berlin – It’s the next bulky term in the global coronavirus pandemic: Omikron. In the Greek alphabet, the omicron is the 15th letter. In the Corona crisis, on the other hand, Omikron is the next mutation that worries science and medicine. And that is why it is observed very closely.
In particular, the development in South Africa is literally under the microscope, because there the variant was discovered for the first time at the beginning of November 2021. On November 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Omikron as a worrying variant of corona. Because: A higher infection rate is assumed for mutant B.1.1.529 than for previous mutations.
Video: What should you watch out for when using boosters?
Corona variant Omikron: In South Africa, a number of infected children have to be hospitalized
The latest development from South Africa is also worrying. Scientists and doctors from the local health authorities said, according to FOCUS Online , that the number of hospital admissions for small children has increased significantly.
However, it does not necessarily mean that children are particularly at risk from this variant of the insidious coronavirus, it said.
The New York Times reports on a hospital in the poor settlement of Soweto in the industrial metropolis of Johannesburg, where twelve children have to be hospitalized. So three would get oxygen. It should be pointed out to the poor conditions in the area. What does this mean for Germany and Europe? What can be deduced from the observations? Doctors, scientists and politicians are investigating this question these days. (pm) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
