The reason for this is data from South Africa, where the particularly contagious virus variant Omikron initially spread: “In a way, that can calm us down. South Africa is certainly a glimpse into a future, into an endemic situation that is just emerging there,” said Drosten on Thursday evening on ZDF “heute journal”.
Omikron apparently less dangerous
“Unfortunately we are still a long way from that.” The transition from a pandemic to an endemic situation means that the virus will continue to spread, but is less dangerous – comparable to the typical cold viruses, which also include other coronaviruses. “It is of course a good situation when you have a virus that no longer makes you so sick, but that is easily transmissible, so that in principle it … finds all immunity gaps in the population.”
The development in Great Britain with regard to Omikron is also encouraging, said Drosten, “because the number of serious illnesses seems to be lower”. However, the virologist believes that politics in Germany will continue to be challenged, “maybe until Easter”. Experts reckon that the peak of an omicron wave in Germany is still to come.
Source: Nachrichten
