+++ : South Africa to become a virus variant area Experts fear that the many mutations of the variant will cause the pathogen to spread more quickly or the vaccines to lose their protective effect. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classified the variant B.1.1.529 as "variant of concern" on Friday. It cannot be shortened by negative tests. A two-week quarantine obligation applies to those entering the country - even for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered. Airlines are thus essentially only allowed to transport German citizens or persons living in Germany from there to Germany. South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi and Lesotho will be classified as virus variant areas as of Sunday, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced. +++ : Measures against new coronavirus variantīerlin (dpa) - Due to the spread of a new coronavirus variant in southern Africa, the German government is drastically restricting entry from a total of eight countries in the region. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged citizens to prevent a lockdown by voluntarily restricting contact. The virus variant is apparently spreading rapidly, with cases now being reported from many countries. The authorities in Hesse are investigating the case of another traveller returning from South Africa who, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs, is "highly suspected" of having the virus. According to the Max von Pettenkofer Institute, the variant, which is classified as a cause for concern, was detected in Munich in two travellers who had arrived on a flight from South Africa on 24 November. +++ : Omicron variant of coronavirus also in Germanyīerlin (dpa) - The omicron variant of the coronavirus discovered in southern Africa has reached Germany. According to FDP leader Christian Lindner, the permanent federal-state body is to start in the new week, SPD leader Saskia Esken said on Twitter "shortly" as a time horizon. Berlin (dpa) - The Corona crisis team planned by the future government coalition in the Chancellor's Office could start its work within the next few days and thus even before the government of SPD, Greens and FDP takes office.