An empty bench as placeholder during the first church service with believers present at the Catholic church St Ursula in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, 16 May 2020. EPA
An empty bench as placeholder during the first church service with believers present at the Catholic church St Ursula in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, 16 May 2020. EPA
An empty bench as placeholder during the first church service with believers present at the Catholic church St Ursula in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, 16 May 2020. EPA
An empty bench as placeholder during the first church service with believers present at the Catholic church St Ursula in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, 16 May 2020. EPA

World

German Covid-19 study overturns common myths about coronavirus spread

Cluster of infections near Munich was quickly traced and isolated allowing detailed study

Thomas Harding
Thomas Harding
London

May 18, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

A new study on the earliest coronavirus cluster in Europe has found that while close contact between people resulted in infection that did not mean shared households and offices automatically led to the spread of the illness.

Fascinating insight into the virus' transmission rate has been disclosed in an in-depth study carried out by The Lancet medical magazine.

While the study repeated the disclosure that even glancing acts, like passing a saltshaker, could transmit the disease only half people sharing a small office room contracted the disease. It was key however that office occupants sat at a distance.

A nun wearing a face mask looks up at the window of Pope Francis' studio overlooking St Peter's square as he appears to give his blessing after the Angelus prayer, at the Vatican. AP Photo
A nun wearing a face mask looks up at the window of Pope Francis' studio overlooking St Peter's square as he appears to give his blessing after the Angelus prayer, at the Vatican. AP Photo
Pope Francis looks from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square before his blessing to faithful. AFP
Pope Francis looks from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square before his blessing to faithful. AFP
People wait for Pope Francis to give his blessing from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square. AFP
People wait for Pope Francis to give his blessing from the window of the Apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's Square. AFP
Soldiers of the Italian 7th CBRN defence regiment 'Cremona' are deployed to sanitise the San Francesco D'Assisi Cathedral, in Civitavecchia, near Rome, Italy. EPA
Soldiers of the Italian 7th CBRN defence regiment 'Cremona' are deployed to sanitise the San Francesco D'Assisi Cathedral, in Civitavecchia, near Rome, Italy. EPA
A medical worker taking a swab sample from a child to be tested for Covid-19, in a street in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province. AFP
A medical worker taking a swab sample from a child to be tested for Covid-19, in a street in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province. AFP
Lydia Hassebroek says hello to her friend Rose through her kitchen window in Brooklyn, New York, US. Reuters
Lydia Hassebroek says hello to her friend Rose through her kitchen window in Brooklyn, New York, US. Reuters
People sit on the grass in Central Park in New York City, amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
People sit on the grass in Central Park in New York City, amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Nurses assigned to the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Kenyatta University Hospital dance during a Zumba class held at the hospital compound in Nairobi. AFP
Nurses assigned to the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Kenyatta University Hospital dance during a Zumba class held at the hospital compound in Nairobi. AFP
Buses are seen parked before reopening to the public after the government eased a nationwide lockdown in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP
Buses are seen parked before reopening to the public after the government eased a nationwide lockdown in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP
George Washington University graduate Catalina Perez, right, receives a copy of her diploma from neighbour Paula Lytle as they keep a social distance at a surprise graduation party for Perez, who completed her undergraduate studies in International Affairs across the span of 10 years only to miss her commencement due to coronavirus, in Washington, US. Reuters
George Washington University graduate Catalina Perez, right, receives a copy of her diploma from neighbour Paula Lytle as they keep a social distance at a surprise graduation party for Perez, who completed her undergraduate studies in International Affairs across the span of 10 years only to miss her commencement due to coronavirus, in Washington, US. Reuters
Faith healers wear face masks as they perform a healing ritual on worshippers in the town of Mbare in Harare, Zimbabwe. EPA
Faith healers wear face masks as they perform a healing ritual on worshippers in the town of Mbare in Harare, Zimbabwe. EPA

It also showed that infection could be contained within a self-isolating household if a virus carrier remained totally isolated.

The Lancet study was based on the so-called Bavarian Cluster of 16 virus sufferers in late January. Through the Germans' efficient contact tracing it shows the first documented chain of human-to-human spread of the Covid-19 outside Asia. It also details how the virus can spread via contact with objects such as computers and glass.

The rapid contact tracing is understood to have been vital in stopping the early spread of Covid-19 across Germany, a country that has seen a significantly less death toll than others such as Italy, Britain and France.

Because the cluster was based around a sophisticated German car manufacturer the scientists have been able to trace the movements of each worker via digital records.

The group was infected by Patient Zero who had flown in from Wuhan, China for a business trip. Zero infected Patient One when they had a business meeting in a small 12m squared room that lasted for one hour. While Zero and One sat next to each other, two other colleagues sat at the opposite side of the table. Patient One contracted the virus while the two colleagues tested negative.

Patient One is likely to have infected Patient Three when they both briefly worked together on the same computer.

While Patient Five did not meet Patient Zero, he did sit back to back with another infected worker in the staff canteen. It is almost certain that he contracted the disease after he asked for his colleague to pass him the salt shaker for his food.

The study also found that secondary attack rates - which refer to the spread of a disease in a family or household – “decreases with the intensity of contact: among members of the cohorted household, the secondary attack rate was 75 per cent, but decreased to 10 per cent among household contacts that were only together until isolation of the case.”

The study said although there was a high risk in close household contacts, such as by sharing a room, “strong measures” taken within a household could “prevent transmission”. This is understood to be quarantining someone within their room.

The study also found that the incubation period for the virus was 4.0 days whereas research in China had shown it to be 5.2 days and with SARS it was found to be 6·4 days.

The report found that infection before symptoms appeared or on the day of symptom onset “poses a huge challenge on the implementation of public health measures” with very short incubation periods.

It added: “Although the outbreak was controlled and therefore might have granted valuable time before more intense transmission occurred in Germany, successful long-term and global containment of Covid-19 could be difficult to achieve.”

The Lancet added it was fortunate that the group of workers were relatively young, with an average age of 35, and healthy, allowing scientists to study them in detail.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

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Day 4, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.

Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.

The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)

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Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

On Women's Day
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBen%20Wheatley%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Jing%20Wu%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Page%20Kennedy%2C%20Cliff%20Curtis%2C%20Melissanthi%20Mahut%20and%20Shuya%20Sophia%20Cai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5

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1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

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5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

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Neil Thomson – THE BIO

Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.

Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.

Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.

Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.

Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.

Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.

Coronavirus