On Wednesday it was announced that the British virus has surfaced at a second school in Bergschenhoek. It concerns CBS De Acker, this primary school is located in the same building as the previously affected Willibrord school. This new variant of the corona virus has now been diagnosed in 50 people in the Netherlands.
What do we know so far about the mutated variant of the virus?
“We have seen in England that this variant is more contagious and spreads more easily. It is also more difficult to combat. That is why it is important to comply with the measures. We do not want the virus to spread even faster.”
Can children become seriously ill from this variant?
“In Lansingerland, where the virus has broken out, it was decided to conduct source and contact research more intensively because we want to know how this virus works. It is not that children become seriously ill, but we want to know whether they are more contagious than they contract this variant. It looks like it, but we need to research it carefully. So we want to know how the virus behaves in children. “
What happens if it turns out that children pass on this variant more easily?
“In that case we have to take this into account when opening the schools.”
Does it mean that the schools will be closed longer?
“That discussion has yet to take place, everyone wants children to go to school. But it is also important to keep the circulation of this virus as low as possible.”
Does the corona vaccine also work against this variant of the virus?
“The studies on this are underway in England. We think the vaccine is still effective despite the mutation. It would be very strange if the vaccine does nothing at all. Normally you see that vaccines work better in young people than in older people. With this vaccine is not the case. It works just as well in the elderly as in young people. ”
What else is the research focused on?
“More clarity. We also want to know whether we should do things differently. Overall, we think that is not necessary, but it must be investigated. We now have the vaccine, but before we have enough people vaccinated against the virus. We are still a long way ahead. ”
– .
