In Germany, several people in two high-rise buildings are suspected of being infected with the Indian corona mutation B.1.617. Around 200 people now have to be in quarantine.
Update from May 19, 10.30 a.m.: Last weekend in Velbert-Birth, a person tested positive for the Indian variant of the corona virus. After further testing, 19 positive corona cases were found in four families that were in close contact. It is currently being checked whether this is also the Indian variant B.1.617. This can take up to seven days.
To protect those potentially affected, two residential buildings were temporarily quarantined – a total of 189 residents. The Mettmann district therefore carried out a series test on Monday. The results were then available on Tuesday: negative. We now have to wait for 27 tests, for which the results are to be reported on Wednesday. For the people who tested negative, this meant lifting the quarantine. The residents of the two houses will be offered two more PCR tests until Sunday, according to the Mettmann district. On site, the German Red Cross continues to take care of the rest of the residents in cooperation with the Velbert regulatory office. In addition, the Red Cross will make free PCR tests available to citizens from the affected district by the weekend.
First report from May 18: Velbert-Birth – Although the number of people who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus is increasing and the number of infections is falling, Germany is not yet out of the woods. Because now the new virus variant B.1.617 *, which first appeared in India and has since spread in Great Britain, has also been repeatedly found in Germany.
According to experts, the variant from India is up to 50 percent more contagious than previous mutations *. The Robert Koch Institute * (RKI) also observed an increase in the proportion of the Indian variant among infections in Germany. According to the RKI, the proportion of infections identified with variant B.1.617 has so far been around two percent – “but their proportion has increased steadily over the past few weeks,” according to the institute. Research in the UK also showed that the number can double within a week. SPD politician Karl Lauterbach also issued a warning *.
Coronavirus: After the outbreak of the Indian mutant – around 200 residents in quarantine
On Monday (May 17) in North Rhine-Westphalia in the city of Velbert-Birth, a total of 19 people tested positive for the corona virus *, as reported by the WDR, among others. According to the dpa, an infection with the Indian mutant has so far been detected in one person. In order to ensure that the virus mutation does not spread as much as possible, several families then had to go into quarantine by order of the health department.
A total of two high-rise buildings were therefore isolated from the outside world. This means that all of the 189 residents are no longer allowed to leave their homes until it is clear who is infected. According to the health department of the Mettmann district, Marcus Kowalczyk, the results of the corona series tests carried out on Sunday and Monday are expected on Tuesday. “It takes about seven days until the then positive corona findings are examined for the Indian variant,” he clarified to the dpa. How long the residents will have to stay in quarantine, the health department head has not yet been able to say.
According to WDR , employees of the public order office monitor whether everyone is adhering to the quarantine. Together with representatives of the German Red Cross (DRK), they also look after the residents. The Indian Corona variant had previously been classified as “worrying” by the World Health Organization (WHO). * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
List of rubric lists: © Thomas Frey / dpa
