Essen, Germany (dpa) – The Indian variant of the coronavirus has been detected in one resident of two apartment blocks that have been sealed off in western Germany, near Dusseldorf.
Since Sunday, 189 people from the high-rise buildings have been quarantined, the head of the local health department, Marcus Kowalczyk, told dpa on Tuesday morning.
All of the residents of the two houses have been tested. So far, there are 19 positive results from the coronavirus tests, all from four families.
However, the Indian variant, which is considered particularly contagious, has only been detected in one case so far.
More results are expected to come in during the day, Kowalczyk said.
He could not yet say how long the isolation of the residents would have to be maintained.
The German Red Cross is taking care of the residents on site.
The virus mutation originally recorded in India has been classified as of “global concern” by the World Health Organization. According to experts, it could be up to 50 per cent more contagious than the British variant.
Be the first to comment on "2 high-rise blocks isolated in west Germany – Indian variant detected"