The number of new infections has also been falling in the district for a few days – the seven-day incidence has now fallen to 186.5 – but the spread of the new Omikron variant is causing increasing concern for District Administrator Christoph Göbel (CSU) and his health department chief Gerhard Schmid . A sixth suspected case became known on Thursday afternoon. Again a school is affected. The district administrator didn’t want to say which ones. However, there are still no laboratory findings of the already known suspected case in a 5th grade at the Lise-Meitner-Gymnasium in Unterhaching, nor of the other independent cases. However, Schmid expects the Omikron variant to continue to spread in the district and urgently advises a third vaccination. At his weekly Corona press conference he said on Thursday: “Boosting is the best we can do.”
In fact, the infection with the latest variant has only been confirmed in early December in a couple who had returned from South Africa. There should be no connection to the suspected cases that have now occurred. The case at Unterhachinger Gymnasium should also have nothing to do with the others. According to Schmid, head of the health department, there is no regulated procedure for examining the findings of those who have tested positive for the new variant. “There are a few technical laboratory indications based on which the whole genome sequencing is carried out,” said the medical officer. Indications of possible contact with a person infected with the Omikron variant could also be decisive.
Infections in 107 schools and daycare centers
According to Schmid, the measures at the schools are “very careful” even in the event of a suspected case. He emphasizes: “We proceed as if it were Omicron.” That means: The entire class and their teachers have to be in a 14-day quarantine, at the end of the day you can only test yourself free with a PCR test; this also applies to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered. Schmid also knows that whole genome sequencing takes a relatively long time. “Sometimes it even happens that there is not enough material,” says Schmid. Then ultimately you could never find out whether it was omicron or not.
At the moment, the Delta variant in particular is still spreading cheerfully. Children and adolescents are still severely affected. District Administrator Göbel reported at the press conference on Thursday of currently 479 infected people from 164 groups or classes in a total of 107 facilities. These include 27 elementary and elementary schools, four middle schools, nine secondary schools, twelve grammar schools as well as 49 daycare centers and six other facilities. 655 contact persons are also in quarantine.
62,000 vaccination doses in stock
The fact that the vaccinations are currently progressing at a good pace makes the district administrator confident that the district will achieve the portion of the federal government’s target of 30 million corona vaccinations by Christmas. The district currently has 14,000 vaccine doses from Biontech for adults up to 30 years of age and 48,000 vaccine doses from Moderna for the elderly in stock so that they can continue vaccinating quickly. At the same time, Goebel admits that the news of too little vaccine, with which Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) startled on Wednesday, “does not bode well for the turn of the year”. But he couldn’t say what that meant specifically for the district.
At least there is apparently enough vaccine for the five to eleven year olds whose immunization began on Wednesday. 196 children received their first Biontech injection on the first day of vaccination in the three vaccination centers in the district. The district ordered 15,000 cans of children’s vaccine, all of which have been delivered. Göbel assumes that this will be enough for the approximately 26,000 children of this age group in the district. Because some will be vaccinated in the pediatrician practice, there are also vaccination campaigns for the little ones in the communities, for example in Unterschleißheim and Sauerlach.
In addition, as of Thursday, 1667 children under ten years of age and another 1888 to 14 years of age have already gone through an infection, so they are considered to have recovered for at least a while. Adults can be given a single dose four weeks to six months after the illness. For children, Göbel passes on the statement of a pediatrician who recommends an interval of four to six months. The vaccination centers will also be open continuously over the Christmas and school holidays. Only on December 24th will the service be restricted in line with shop opening times. Apart from the three centers in Unterschleißheim, Haar and Oberhaching, there are regular vaccination days in the Würmtal: Mondays in Graefelfing and Tuesdays in Planegg. Appointments there can be booked through Bayimco, Unterschleißheim branch.