In Germany, a huge epidemic focus of more than 1,000 people was detected in a slaughterhouse. The 6,500 employees and their families have been placed in quarantine.
- Health authorities have forced the 6,500 employees and their families to self-isolate
- Within days, the reproduction rate of the virus fell from 1.79 to 2.88
- Management reportedly struggled to collect the personal data of employees and contractors in time to warn them
A very large epidemic focus has been detected in a slaughterhouse in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany). At least 1,300 employees have tested positive for the new coronavirus, forcing health authorities to quarantine the 6,500 employees and their families.
The first 400 cases were detected on Wednesday, but the toll rose to 803 on Friday and then to 1,029 on Saturday. Within days, the reproduction rate of the virus went from 1.79 to 2.88. Schools and daycare centers in the city of 100,000 people have been closed.
“An existential crisis”
“We are seeing an epidemic on a scale we have never seen beforewas alerted on the side of Armin Laschet, leader of North Rhine-Westphalia. Throughout North Rhine-Westphalia, the number of infections is falling (- 75% since deconfinement) but here in the district of Gütersloh the numbers are exploding, this is closely linked to the meat industry.”
At a press conference, slaughterhouse manager Clemens Toennies described the situation as “existential crisis” for the meat processing company forced to suspend operations. “As an entrepreneur, I can only apologize. We are the cause and are fully responsible for it”, did he declare. Clemens Toennies explained that management had struggled to collect the personal data of employees and subcontractors in time to warn them that an epidemic focus had been detected in the company.
controversial remarks
Several outbreaks of contamination have been detected in German slaughterhouses. According to Armin Laschet, conservative leader and candidate to succeed Angela Merkel, these cases “mean nothing at all because Romanians and Bulgarians entered the country and that’s where the virus came from”. By placing the blame on immigrant workers, Armin Laschet has aroused outrage. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called on Armin Laschet to apologize for his remarks “very dangerous”.
Seventy new cases were also confirmed in Berlin, forcing 370 families to remain confined. “We see with these outbreaks that the virus is not gone”reacted German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In Germany, 191,576 cases have been confirmed and 8,961 deaths have been recorded since the start of the pandemic, making this state one of the best organized European countries in the face of the health crisis. By way of comparison, 160,377 cases have been confirmed in France and 29,640 deaths recorded.
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