A shorter quarantine period is being discussed because of Omikron. On January 7th, Federal Chancellor Scholz and the Prime Ministers decide on a change. An expert warns.
Berlin – The USA and Great Britain have shortened their quarantine period to prevent the infrastructure from collapsing due to the highly contagious Omicron variant of the corona virus. The measure is also being considered in Germany. However, immunologist Carsten Watzl considers a possible shortening of the isolation and quarantine period to be justifiable only in combination with a negative PCR test. “You can only do that seriously if it is accompanied by a negative test,” said the Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology to the German Press Agency.
Immunologist warns of a shortened quarantine period without a negative PCR test
“Just to shorten it because they say, otherwise too many people fail, then we’d rather let people out after seven days, with or without a test – I would consider that to be negligent.” After all, some people could still be contagious and then accelerate the spread of the virus. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the Prime Ministers want to discuss the further Corona procedure this Friday. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had promised resolutions, among other things, on possible additional contact restrictions and on quarantine periods.
We are talking about shorter times, especially for employees in important supply areas. With a view to the already very rapid expansion of the Omikron variant, it could “make perfect sense” that someone could test himself after five or seven days, said Watzl – especially when it comes to the critical infrastructure. After all, fully vaccinated people who became infected could fight the virus faster and earlier thanks to the immune reaction.
Shorter incubation time with Omikron – the expert warns nevertheless
However, a PCR test is urgently recommended, according to Watzl. “Very clear: In my opinion, a rapid antigen test would not be sufficient.” Corresponding plans therefore absolutely required that sufficient PCR tests were available and could be carried out, emphasized the expert. A possibly shortened incubation time with Omikron, as it is often observed, could ensure that people are virus-free after a shorter time than with other virus variants and can then return to everyday life more quickly. However, Watzl emphasized, there is not yet enough data on the actual duration of Omicron infections. (md with dpa)
