Five new cases of coronavirus were discovered in Germany between Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon: Two people from North Rhine-Westphalia and three from Baden-Württtemberg were confirmed to have contracted the virus. Schools and Kitas have been closed in parts of western Germany as a precautionary measure. 

Five new coronavirus cases in western Germany

On Tuesday evening, two new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, marking the first time that the virus has been detected in western Germany. 

By Wednesday afternoon, the number of new cases had risen to five, after another patient in North Rhine-Westphalia and two more in Baden-Württemberg were confirmed to have contracted the virus. 

Man in NRW had been displaying symptoms for 10 days

The first patient in North-Rhine Westphalia is said to be in a critical condition after presenting with symptoms of severe pneumonia at a hospital in Heinsberg, near Aachen. As he suffers from a pre-existing condition, he was later transferred to a university hospital in Düsseldorf. On Wednesday, it was confirmed that his wife has also contracted coronavirus.

It is, as of yet, unclear how the couple became infected. The first suspicion - that the man had been in contact with an acquaintance who had recently returned from a business trip in China - has not been confirmed. 

Even more alarmingly, it appears that the man had been suffering from symptoms for more than 10 days before seeking medical attention. He and his wife even attended a Carnival celebration over the weekend. 

As a precautionary measure, Kitas and primary and secondary schools in the Heinsberg district are being kept closed until Monday. A daycare centre in the small municipality of Gangelt, where the man’s wife worked, is also due to close for the foreseeable future. Children who attend the facility in question are currently being screened for the virus. 

Three more infections in Baden-Württemberg

Elsewhere in Baden-Württemberg, a 25-year-old man from Göppingen (around 40 kilometres from Stuttgart), was confirmed as another coronavirus case. The state ministry of health said on Tuesday that he is believed to have contracted the disease on a trip to Milan. 

Upon returning home, he began to experience flu-like symptoms and contacted his local health department. He has been isolated and is currently undergoing treatment. 

On Wednesday afternoon, however, it was announced that two more people are believed to have contracted coronavirus from this man: a 24-year-old woman, who is his friend, and her father. 

Coronavirus in Germany: How to protect yourself

So far, most cases have been confined to a small coronavirus outbreak at a company in Bavaria. These cases did not apparently lead to further infections.  Following these latest infections, health authorities in both North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg are discussing how to proceed. 

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you are encouraged to stay at home and inform your doctor or the health department by phone. The best way to protect yourself against infection is to wash your hands regularly.