After the trip to Africa by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), there was a major corona outbreak in the Chancellor’s environment. Among others, his office manager Jeanette Schwamberger, his chief foreign policy adviser Jens Plötner and government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit tested positive for the corona virus. This is reported by the “Tagesspiegel”.
“It is true that following the Chancellor’s trip to Africa, participants in the official delegation tested positive for Corona, although the rapid tests carried out during the trip and after their return were all negative,” said a government spokesman.
Scholz returned with his delegation from a three-day trip to Senegal, Niger and South Africa on Wednesday, and journalists traveling with him were then informed that the corona tests had been positive. Although Scholz is a direct contact person for the affected participants from his delegation, he traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday and to Stuttgart on Friday for Catholic Day.
“After the trip, the Chancellor was examined several times a day with PCR tests. All of these tests were and are negative. He was therefore able to attend the appointments as planned in accordance with the applicable infection protection rules,” emphasized a government spokesman.
Although there is no longer a quarantine obligation for contact persons, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) gives the “urgent recommendation” to independently reduce contacts for five days, especially with risk groups for a severe course of the disease. Both in Davos and at the Catholic Day, Chancellor Scholz came into contact with many people without mask protection, including with possible risk groups. This is evidenced by pictures and TV recordings. A government spokesman emphasized that the many negative PCR tests meant that a risk could be ruled out.
