The new Coronavirus variant Omikron can according to the words of Vchairman of the Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko), Thomas Mertens, with the commonly used PCR and antigen tests. That was “very good news”, Mertens told the “Schwäbische Zeitung” (Wednesday). The first evidence of the Omikron variant is already available in Germany.
When asked what was known about the new variant so far, Mertens said, observational studies are necessary. The aim is to find out “how the disease progresses, for example, in older and previously ill people”. He added, “It will take some time to get this clear.”
In the debate about further contact restrictions, the Stiko chairman told the paper that virus spread and virus transmission had to be drastically reduced. That is the “only thing that currently helps immediately”. Mertens continued: