Analysis of more than 23,000 PCR tests shows that the variant already accounted for more than 22 per cent of all new infections in Germany
A passerby wearing a protective mask is seen in front of the entrance to a shopping mall with closed shops in Munich, southern Germany. Pic/AFP
The more contagious variants of Coronavirus are spreading rapidly in Germany, Minister of Health Jens Spahn told journalists here. In particular, the variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom (UK) is “causing us concern,” Spahn said. “We must expect that variant to soon become the dominant one in our country as well”, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and laboratories in Germany have analysed more than 23,000 positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The results showed that the variant identified in the UK already accounted for more than 22 per cent of all new infections, according to Spahn.
Two weeks ago, the share of the variant known as B.1.1.7 in the examined samples stood at six per cent only, the RKI said. “As has been observed in other countries, the share of infections with this variant of the virus doubles around every week,” Spahn said.
Germany’s daily Coronavirus infection figures remained below the previous week’s level on Wednesday. A total of 7,556 new infections within one day were recorded, according to RKI. To date, more than 2.35 million infections have been registered in Germany since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Although the Coronavirus variants continued to spread in Germany, Spahn noted that it was “encouraging” that the infection numbers were declining, showing that the anti-virus measures were working. However, in view of the rapid spread of variants, it remains important to be “very careful” with lockdown relaxations. Germany entered a lockdown in November last year shortly after the second Coronavirus wave hit the country.
UK study shows drop in infections in England
The interim findings of a UK government-backed study released on Thursday shows that COVID-19 infections in England have “fallen significantly” since January, reflecting the impact of the lockdown measures. The Imperial College London led Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission research swab tested over 85,400 volunteers in England between Feb 4 and 13 and found infections have dropped by two-thirds since lockdown began.
SA to sell AstraZeneca vaccine to sister nations
South Africa will sell the one million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine it bought from India to its sister countries in the African Union, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said. Mkhize spoke on Wednesday after he and President Cyril Ramaphosa joined 18 health care workers in Cape Town to receive the first Johnson & Johnson vaccines to boost confidence in the country’s vaccination programme. These new vaccines replaced the old ones delivered by the Serum Institute of India.
HK approves emergency use of Sinovac’s vaccine
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday gave nod to the emergency use of the inactivated vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech, two days after a panel of experts recommended the vaccine to the authorities.
EU steps up efforts to fight variants
The EU has stepped up its efforts to detect and fight COVID-19 variants by bringing together various stakeholders to develop new and adapted vaccines. A new project called ‘HERA Incubator’ will gather researchers, biotech companies, manufacturers and public authorities to detect new variants.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
