In no other German state do so many people suffer from the corona virus as in Bavaria. Experts are puzzled and suspect: is it the beer?
- The coronavirus attacks in Germany around.
- In some districts in Bavaria , the number of cases is strikingly high .
- With a guide we give an overview of our Coronavirus information offer .
Munich - beer help against the coronavirus *, it was said, the pH of alcohol should deter the pathogen. But now the barley juice is suddenly under suspicion of having drastically influenced the extent of the crisis in Bavaria *.
Coronavirus: beer under suspicion - Bavarian festivals the reason for the extreme spread?
More precisely, the assumption revolves around the strong beer and the associated festivals . They are in season at the beginning of March, and they took place as usual this year. Only then was it traded in Bavaria. Has the government slept too long in the Free State ?
" Hubert Aiwanger , Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Free Voters in Bavaria, is delighted that despite all the hysteria and panic, more than 400 visitors have found their way to the Starkbierfest ", the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on March 8 from Ismaning * and quoted the politician who ponders today about a replacement Oktoberfest *. "It's good that you didn't cancel the festival ," Aiwanger rejoiced on stage, that strong beer festivals are " the natural enemy of the corona virus ".
Corona virus in Bavaria: Striking connection between strong beer festivals and the number of cases
This daring thesis now seems to be completely wrong. Eight of the ten most affected counties in Germany * are in Bavaria . The sad leader in the “ranking” of the Robert Koch Institute is the Tirschenreuth district , and by a large margin. A large strong beer festival also took place here in March .
The district and city are now defending themselves against the accusation that the event is the main cause of the extent of the crisis . The Mitterteich festival could not be determined as the sole cause of the extremely high number of cases *, the statement said.
Coronavirus: Numbers extremely high in some counties - there was celebration everywhere
However, it cannot be denied that such a festival had taken place in each of the four most affected counties . Even in Wunsiedel, Neustadt and Rosenheim , people did not let the celebrations dissuade them.
It must be borne in mind that the local decision-makers did not have any specifications at this point in time from the federal government and the health department . A spokesman for the local fraternity reported that there was "absolutely the green light" for the strong beer festival in the Tirschenreuth district * .
Strong beer festivals despite Corona: has the Bavarian government overlooked warning signals?
That is surprising. Because the developments of Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia * were actually a warning example . After the carnival , the virus spread extremely quickly, and the celebrations were immediately identified as the cause.
Nevertheless, the strong beer festival began in Rosenheim a few weeks later . The fact that it was canceled after three days seems to have come too late . Corresponding to the incubation period of the coronavirus *, the numbers in the district skyrocketed about ten to twelve days after the early end of the festive season , reports Spiegel.
Corona virus in Bavaria: Did strong beer festivals promote the crisis? Government points to proximity to Austria
In Bavaria one now refers to the proximity to Austria and many skiers who probably brought the lung disease home from Ischgl *. Today Prime Minister Markus Söder is considered a hardliner with strict crisis management, he is more popular than ever. However, the fact that the beginnings were not defended also caused critical voices .
Well, only that Söder wasn't one of those who would have raised the alarm or even made provisions. And what was it like with the strong beer festival? With such actions, v. distract your own failure.
- why_o_why (@hope_n_beauty) April 7, 2020"Only that Söder was not one of those who would have raised the alarm at the time", this Twitter user accuses the CSU boss of missing the moment and underestimating the danger. An opinion that experts and politicians share *.
“The Söder government should have closed the strong beer festival earlier. That was grossly negligent! , Complains, for example, Green Group leader Ludwig Hartmann .
"I do not understand that Minister of Health Huml welcomes the Nockherberg cancellation , but has not raised a finger when it comes to strong beer festivals. There were already enough alarm signs at the beginning of March ! From the World Health Organization to the situation in Italy, ” SPD politician Florian Brunn denounces failures of the Bavarian Ministry of Health. In the meantime, the Free State is seen as a pioneer, but some are now accusing the state government of failing to take action in time.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide editorial network of Ippen-Digital