Status: 01/30/2021 2:43 p.m.
Despite the currently falling incidences, the corona pandemic in Lower Saxony could spread rapidly again due to virus variants. The Greens accuse the state government of inaction.
“It is not enough to warn about the highly contagious Corona variants,” said the parliamentary group’s health expert, Meta Janssen-Kucz. “If we really want to think about easing plans for the planned long-term step-by-step plan, we have to do more at the same time against virus mutations.” The State Health Office (NLGA) had previously announced that Lower Saxony was different from Bremen So far no comprehensive tests on the British variant B.1.1.7 plan. In addition, confirmed cases have not yet been recorded centrally for technical reasons. However, the local health authorities are asked to report the evidence to the state office, according to the NLGA.
Opposition advises wastewater and delta PCR tests
The Greens group proposes, among other things, that wastewater samples in all counties should be examined using a method that researchers from Switzerland have already been able to use to detect the mutation. In addition, new so-called delta PCR tests from Denmark could be used more, which confirmed mutations without great effort, Jannsen-Kucz added.
Greens fear similar developments as in France
“It is incomprehensible that the state government does not even look extensively for mutations in the previous corona tests,” criticized Janssen-Kucz. “We shouldn’t just stand by and watch B.1.1.7 or other variants become the main trigger for corona diseases in Lower Saxony in just a few weeks.” The developments in other countries are warning enough. France’s health minister said on Thursday that more than 2,000 patients are infected with a virus mutation in his country every day. The British variant is the most widespread.
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