A clinic in Berlin was just shut down because of a growing number of patients who are infected with a new Coronavirus mutation. Doctors and patients are now in quarantine.
Berlin, January 24th, 2021, update 7:19 p.m. CET (The Berlin Spectator) — The Vivantes Humboldt Clinic in Berlin’s Reinickendorf district is now closed, because of an increased number of patients who are infected with the new Coronavirus variation B.1.1.7.. The ‘Tagesspiegel’ daily reported the story first.
Patients and Staff in Quarantine
Located in the north-western part of Berlin, the clinic had reported a growing number of B.1.1.7 cases on Thursday. The fact that it grew further on Saturday prompted the health authority in charge to take action. All patients and staff members are in quarantine. This measure is an attempt to prevent the mutated Coronavirus from spreading in the entire city of Berlin, with almost 3.8 million inhabitants.
No new patients will be accepted at the Humboldt Clinic. This in itself is a problem in this Corona winter. All emergencies and other patients are being sent to other hospitals in Berlin. So far, twenty B.1.1.7 infection have been confirmed on site. Fourteen doctors and six staff members are affected. According to the rbb radio and TV network, the Robert Koch Institute, which is the German equivalent of the CDC in the United States, was asked for guidance.
Attempted Containment of Outbreak
The authorities in charge want to try to limit the outbreak of the new Coronavirus mutation to the Humboldt Clinic. It will now be investigated. At this stage, the experts do not know what the implications of the local outbreak are.
Since the mutation was identified in Britain, the German government and federal states are worried it might hit on their turf as well. In both Britain and Ireland, the number of infections exploded because of the new Coronavirus variation. On December 21st, 2020, an entry ban was put in place for flight passengers from the United Kingdom.
Germany and E.U. Worried
Then, on January 19th, 2021, earlier this week, Angela Merkel and the First Ministers prolonged the lockdown and added some rules because of the new danger. Germany fears B.1.1.7 might trigger a third Coronavirus wave which might not be controllable and overburden the country’s health system. The entire European Union is worried. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, said battles needed to be fought against the virus.
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