On this image made available by the US research center “National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases” (NIAID), a cell (green) is infected with the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, purple). (Nians)
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It is still at the beginning – but the spread of the highly contagious Corona variants in Germany threatens to accelerate rapidly. Now there are also two cases in Bremen. The fight against a surge in infections becomes a race against time. We answer the most important questions.
What do we know about the dangerousness of the coronavirus mutations?
The variants initially detected in Great Britain (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) are considered highly contagious. The virologist Christian Drosten sees Germany only in an initial phase in which the spread can still be controlled. However, in the worst case, he reckons with 100,000 new infections per day if the lockdown ends too early. The bioinformatician and government advisor Rolf Apweiler told RTL / ntv that in the event of a significant relaxation this would not be a black mark. The three mutations are six to eight times more contagious over a month, explained the SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach at “Bild”. In the case of new infections registered within one day, the highest value was reported on December 18 at 33,777.
The Bremen virologist Andreas Dotzauer also describes the occurrence of mutations in the coronavirus as “worrying”. He calls for tightening of the measures to get the spread under control.
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-Corona mutation detected in Bremen
The corona mutation B.1.1.7 from Great Britain has reached Bremen: Two cases have been detected – in Bremen and Bremerhaven.
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Can people who have already recovered be infected a second time with the new variants?
A first study on the topic from South Africa comes to the conclusion that a new infection is at least possible. In the Hanover region, a woman tested positive for Corona twice within a few weeks – there is speculation as to whether she was infected with a mutated virus.
Where have the mutations already been detected in Germany?
According to the RKI, B.1.1.7 has now been reported 51 times and B.1.351 19 times. According to information on Monday, the variant known from Great Britain was detected in 24 people at Berlin Vivantes clinics alone. The South Africa variant was detected in nine patients in Leipzig last week. In Stuttgart, the variant first discovered in South Africa was tracked down in a married couple who had returned from there. A variant circulating in Brazil – probably also very contagious – was found in Hesse. On Tuesday, the variant from Great Britain was also detected in Bremen in two cases.
What about in other countries?
In other EU countries, the mutations are already striking. Portugal has been classified by Germany as a corona risk area with particularly dangerous mutations. Great Britain, Ireland, Brazil and South Africa already belong to this category. As before, travelers from Portugal must show a negative corona test if they want to enter and then be in quarantine.
According to official information, the British mutation was recently responsible for a large part of the new infections in Israel. The authorities in the USA are also warning of the mutation: “The predicted development of this variant in the USA will show rapid growth in early 2021 and will become the predominant variant in March,” said the CDC. This could further tighten the medical infrastructure in the United States and require stricter public measures to contain Covid-19. According to the CDC, 76 cases of the corona variant have so far been reported in ten states in the USA.
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Interview with Bremen virologist Dotzauer
-“Mutations are worrying”
The Bremen virologist Andreas Dotzauer describes the occurrence of mutations in the coronavirus as “worrying”. He calls for tightening the measures to …
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How do the mutations affect the vaccines?
That has not yet been finally clarified. Christian Drosten from the Berlin Charité does not believe in the failure of the vaccines. “If a virus has a mutation at any point, it does not change T-cell immunity. In this respect, I do not believe that we have to expect a failure of the vaccines, ”he said in an interview with the magazine“ Der Spiegel ”.
According to a first study from South Africa, antibody therapies and vaccines could lose their effectiveness, at least with the South African virus variant. However, the specialist articles were not yet reviewed by independent specialist colleagues before publication. “These data are much worse than I expected and indicate that the vaccines will probably have to be adjusted sooner or later,” said vaccine researcher Torben Schiffner from the University of Leipzig, the MDR.
What about easing now?
That cannot be assumed anytime soon. The federal government is alarmed by the infections with the corona mutation B.1.1.7 widespread in Great Britain. Chancellery chief Helge Braun (CDU) said on Sunday in the ARD program “Anne Will” that the mutant would “take the lead” in Germany too. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said: “Now we are in a very difficult situation.”
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-Live ticker: 75 new infections in the state of Bremen
Rising corona numbers are currently again leading to restrictions in many places. In the live blog we report on the most important developments in Bremen, Lower Saxony, …
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Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has warned against hasty lockdown loosening against the background of falling corona numbers. The trend in the numbers is positive, said Söder on Tuesday after a video switch from the cabinet in Munich. However, referring to the mutated virus, Söder warned that the spread of the mutation in parallel with a hasty relaxation would be “toxic”. “We can’t let up now, it’s not over yet,” he emphasized. “It’s not the time to relax.”
“We are now entering a highly demanding phase of the pandemic situation,” said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt, referring to the virus mutation, which is considered to be particularly dangerous. It is to be feared that this mutation is already spreading undetected. Politicians should not arouse false expectations regarding the relaxation of protective measures. “Discipline” is still necessary. There shouldn’t be a premature easing debate.
-Corona mutation detected in Bremen
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-Live ticker: 75 new infections in the state of Bremen
