live Preliminary data
According to the study, Biontech vaccine only partially protects against Omikron
Drosten warns of the omicron mutation
The head of virology at the Berlin Charité, Christian Drosten, fears that the omicron mutation of the corona virus will also become a problem in Germany. Vaccinated people do not have to fear a complete disappearance of their immune protection, but a reduction is foreseeable.
According to researchers from South Africa, the Omikron variant can partially bypass the protective effect of the Biontech vaccine. A video recording of jokes about a Christmas party puts British Prime Minister Johnson under pressure. More in the live ticker.
D.According to a study, the vaccine from the Mainz-based company Biontech and the US group Pfizer apparently only offers partial protection against the coronavirus variant Omikron. The neutralization of Omikron “decreased very much” compared to an earlier Covid strain, said Alex Sigal, professor at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa based on preliminary results on Tuesday.
The laboratory examined the blood of twelve people who were vaccinated with the vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer, according to the the website of the laboratory published study. A 41-fold decrease in neutralizing antibodies against the Omikron variant was observed. The preliminary data have not yet been reviewed by peers.
Biontech boss Ugur Sahin assumes that the data on the effectiveness of the vaccine against the Omikron variant could be available on Wednesday or Thursday. There are also no meaningful studies on how the vaccines from Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and other drug manufacturers behave against the new variant.
The leading US expert on Infectious diseases, Anthony Fauci, said Tuesday that preliminary results suggested the variant is likely more infectious but less likely to cause disease progressions.
All developments in the live ticker:
7:38 a.m. – South Korea reports a record of new infections
South Korea recorded more new corona infections within one day than ever since the beginning of the pandemic. The South Korean health authority reported 7,175 new cases and 63 deaths on Wednesday. The number of intensive care patients also rose to a maximum of 840.
05:01 a.m. – 3G is now also valid on platforms in Berlin
Berliners must expect 3G controls on the platform from this Wednesday when using the U-Bahn and S-Bahn. There, too, the rule applies that they have to be recovered, vaccinated or tested. So far, the so-called 3G rules only applied to vehicles.
4.27 a.m. – RKI reports 69,601 new infections – incidence drops to 427.0
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 69,601 new infections within 24 hours. That is 2415 cases more than on Wednesday a week ago, when 67,186 new infections were reported. The seven-day incidence drops to 427.0 from 432.2 the previous day. The value indicates how many people per 100,000 inhabitants have been infected with the corona virus in the past seven days. 527 other people died related to the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths within one day to 104,047. In total, more than 6.29 million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany.
1.55 a.m. – Norway announces new measures because of Omikron
The Norwegian government has announced a tightening of the contact restrictions because of the new Omikron variant of the corona virus. “The situation is now so serious that we have to take new measures to keep the pandemic under control,” said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Tuesday. “The danger of overloading the health services and the spread of the contagious Omikron variant now requires strict new measures in our country”.
From Thursday at midnight, the authorities will limit the number of guests in an apartment to ten and reintroduce the mask requirement if no distance can be maintained. In bars and restaurants there is only table service. The measures are initially limited to four weeks, but there are exceptions for the Christmas holidays. On these days, 20 guests are allowed – as long as a minimum distance is observed.
1.00 a.m. – Christmas party during Corona lockdown puts Johnson under pressure
An alleged Christmas party in the official residence of the British Prime Minister during the Corona lockdown a year ago is putting Prime Minister Boris Johnson under considerable pressure. The broadcaster ITV published an internal video on Tuesday eveningsuggesting dozen government officials had a party of drinks, canapés and board games on December 18, 2020. At that time, strict contact restrictions were in place, and celebrations and gatherings were forbidden. Johnson did not take part in the party. He has clearly rejected the allegations in the past few days.
0.00 a.m. – Federal Schoolchildren Conference for daily Corona test offer in schools
The federal student conference calls for daily offers for corona tests in schools. “In order to enable the greatest possible safety at the schools, regular testing must be able to take place there,” said Secretary General Katharina Swinka of the “RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland” (Wednesday). “We are in favor of such an offer for everyone on a daily basis – even if students have been vaccinated or have recovered.”