The ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control) assumes that ninety percent of all new coronavirus infections within the European Union and the countries of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein will be attributable to the “delta variant” by the end of August 2021 .
In April 2021, the new variant of the delta corona virus B.1.617.2 was discovered in India. This is said to spread 40 to 60 percent faster than the SARS-CoV-2 virus variant B.1.1.7, which has been known since 2020. With its higher viral load, it is more contagious, as more viruses can enter the throat and respiratory tract and lead to infections more quickly.
With the spread of the new variant of the delta corona virus in Europe, especially in England and Portugal at the moment, the “fourth wave” may also occur in Germany. According to virologist Prof. Carsten Watzl (ZDF interview, 28.06.2021: “Delta is also infecting younger people”), the delta variant will also spread in Germany by autumn at the latest. He points out that outbreaks will mainly occur in schools and childcare facilities. He therefore advises children to be vaccinated, as the delta variant will spread particularly strongly among them.
In the current vacation season and the opportunities to travel to (distant) countries again, new dangerous mutations of corona viruses such as the “Delta variant” may find their way back into Germany. Vaccinations, coronavirus tests, comprehensive hygiene rules and numerous other measures will certainly be necessary for some time to come.
When schools reopen after the summer vacations and the obligation to work from home no longer applies, many experts believe that infections will rise again in the fall. Especially in poorly ventilated indoor spaces and in areas where people are not yet fully vaccinated. Above all, the risk of infection is particularly high in indoor aerosols contaminated with coronavirus. Even though numerous schools, workplaces and other areas such as hospitals and care facilities have often been equipped with efficient filters and ventilation systems, it is not certain whether the air is effectively free of coronaviruses.
Coronavirus air sampling
If you would like to check whether your indoor spaces are sufficient despite comprehensive hygiene measures and precautions in terms of ventilation and air filtration, we have been offering the special Vira-Pore filter cassette with matching ZePoretm filters. This makes it possible, together with a GSA measuring device such as the SG 10-2, SG 10-2A or SG12, to measure coronaviruses in the room air. During this coronavirus air sampling, the coronaviruses or other viruses are collected on the ZePoretm filters for laboratory analysis. The measurement for coronaviruses is possible within a short time and without interference using our devices. The filters are then analyzed in a PCR procedure by a special laboratory. This also makes it possible to analyze mutations such as the “delta variant”.
An air measurement for coronavirus is possible within 10 minutes and the operating noise for the measurement is so low that work, shift work or lessons do not have to be interrupted.
The use of the Vira-Pore filter cassette is particularly effective and currently highly recommended, as it is now known that the new “delta variant” of the coronavirus remains undetected in many rapid tests, so that dangerous infections can occur again.
We have presented the advantages of using the Vira-Pore filter cassette – in schools, (shift) workplaces, nursing and many other areas – in our blog on “Coronavirus air sampling indoors with the Vira-Pore virus cassette”.
If you have any questions about indoor coronavirus testing or other concerns about pollutants, please contact us for a consultation.
Sources:
Image source for contribution image: 123rf.com © dmitrydemidovich, image file no. 170995537
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