On the mutated coronavirus: an unusually optimistic reaction from a German virologist

“The virus has been circulating in the south of England since September and was detected in October. Now, among other countries, it is found in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and even Australia. Why shouldn’t it be here too?” Ch., Director of the Charité Institute for Virology in Berlin, told German radio Deutschlandfunk on Monday morning Drostenas.

However, the professor is still not scared by this, arguing that the new strain of the virus has not yet spread widely in the Netherlands and that similar things should happen in other countries.

At the same time, the virologist acknowledged that “the information situation is not yet clear”, so he did not want to downplay the risk.

“Naturally, the question arises: has this strain of the virus surfaced by a new wave (of infections – ed.) That is now emerging in the region (South England and London – ed.), Or perhaps the new virus caused that wave? “

The fact that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned 70% when talking about a mutation in the virus. increased infectivity, did not impress the German virologist.

Pasak Ch. Drosten, “just a number, and no one knows what was meant here.”

To know if the virus is transmitted better and faster, it is necessary to track who infected it and how long it took, the virologist explained calmly.

“Everything we know about this virus would be surprised if this parameter changed significantly now,” he said.

Whether the new variant of the virus is really much more contagious will be shown by an analysis by British scientists, expected to appear later this week, Ch. Drostenas. Also, in his opinion, the mutation should not adversely affect the next vaccination.

Such an optimistic reaction from the leading German virologist to the new strain of coronavirus is somewhat unexpected, as Ch. Drosten is famous in the country for his pessimistic forecasts.

Germany from midnight to December 31. suspended flights from the UK, promising to do the same on Monday with flights from South Africa.

European Union experts believe the coronavirus vaccines already in place are effective and against a new, more contagious strain found in the UK, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Sunday.

“Based on all we know so far,” the new strain “has no effect on vaccines” which are still “just as effective,” the minister told public broadcaster ZDF, based on “negotiations between experts from the European institutions “.

Mr Spahn was particularly concerned about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is already in use in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom and is due to be approved by the European Medicines Agency on Monday.

A spokesman for the Health Ministry said a meeting of EU experts took place on Sunday, which was also attended by representatives of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin.

A chain of EU countries has suspended passenger flights from the UK in response to the new strain of the virus, and France has said it will also block UK cargo unless unaccompanied.

At the time, the UK announced tougher restrictions affecting some parts of the country.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday that according to preliminary data, the new strain of coronavirus could reach 70 percent. more contagious than its main variant.

In Australia, the mood of doubt

Australia has also responded to concerns about a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus spreading “out of control”.

The country has announced that it will not follow the lead of other states and will allow travelers from the UK.

This was announced by Australian officials on Monday.

They said they doubted that the recent increase in the incidence of coronavirus infection in the UK could only be attributed to a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia, whose formal leader remains Queen Elizabeth II of the country’s former colonial governor, believes that the 14-day quarantine for inbound travelers is fully sufficient to control risk.

A chain of countries banned UK planes, trains and ships after London warned that a new “more out of control” and more contagious strain of coronavirus had been detected.

Australia’s health director Paul Kelly has argued that people coming from the UK pose no threat to UK society because, like almost all new arrivals, they have 14 days to be strictly quarantined.

Kelly was also skeptical of London’s statement that the incidence of COVID-19 had risen dramatically due to a highly contagious new strain of the virus.

“I think we have to take the context into account,” Kelly said, noting that the new coronavirus has mutated thousands of times since it was first detected.

“There is no clear evidence at this time that this is a significant change,” he said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not initially recommend quarantine over the Christmas period, despite the drastic increase in the incidence of coronavirus infection.

However, his government later changed its mind and announced a strict quarantine in south-east England, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying the new strain of coronavirus was “out of control”.

Australian health officials say they have already detected a new strain of coronavirus in quarantined travelers. However, those cases do not appear to be related to a new outbreak in Sydney, where 83 cases of local infection have been confirmed. The outbreak came after a few weeks of respite when there was no local transmission of the infection in Australia.

In response, the government carried out unprecedented testing and intensive contact tracing, as well as imposing local quarantines and reinstating restrictions on mass demonstrations.

Sydney residents are prohibited from traveling to other parts of the country.