The state of Baden-Württemberg wants to have the samples of all positive corona tests examined for mutations in the corona virus in the future. There is also something new about the quarantine duration.
So far, 142 cases of a mutated virus variant from 26 urban and rural districts have been documented in Baden-Württemberg (as of Saturday, 4 p.m.). In order to get a better overview, the test laboratories are to forward all positive coronavirus samples to the laboratories of the university clinics in the country in order to check them. The state government announced on Saturday.
Given the current situation of the pandemic, the country expects around 10,000 positive samples per week to be examined. The federal government pays the examination of a maximum of ten percent of the samples, it said. The state will pay for the rest: 31.5 million euros are available. “This gives us an overview of the spread of the new virus variants in the country and allows us to better control and monitor them,” said Health Minister Manfred Lucha (Greens) in Stuttgart.
“This enables us to quickly clarify how widespread the virus variants really are in the country and how this proportion changes from week to week.”
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Since December 20, the health authorities in the country have had all positive samples from people who have come from South Africa or Great Britain tested for the mutants. This procedure should now be expanded, it said.
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There are increasing reports of mutations in the new corona virus. What influence do such mutations have on the further course of the pandemic? Are the previous vaccines working?
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Also discover previously unknown virus variants
In the laboratories of the State Health Office and the university clinics, the samples are to be examined not only for the two previously known, but for all virus variants by sequencing the full genome. “In this way we can also discover new, previously unknown variants of the coronavirus,” said Lucha.
Corona mutations: Two weeks of quarantine for close contacts
If a person tested positive for a virus mutant, new rules will also apply in the future for their close contacts: The duration of the quarantine for their category 1 contacts will be increased from 10 to 14 days. A quarantine of 14 days also applies to household members of a person infected with a virus mutant.
