"Combating the Corona Pandemic": Virologist Drosten receives Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany

The top virologist Christian Drosten is being honored by the Federal President for his services in the coronavirus pandemic.

Berlin -

is awarded the

.

The scientist and director of the Institute for Virology at the

Christian, will be honored for his "outstanding role in combating the corona pandemic".

recognizes Drosten's quick findings about the new type of coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 after the first cases of the disease in Wuhan *.

At Drosten, among other things, the reason is that the Berlin virologist has provided important and globally recognized findings on the corona infection process * and communicated this to the public in innovative formats.

In this context, the message refers to the weekly NDR podcast 

  .

Drosten receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic

Under the motto “United and there for one another”, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will award 15 citizens the

on October 1st

.

Those honored include the scientist

, ex-soccer professional

, the actress

, the writer

and the pianist

.

"The seven women and eight men have made outstanding contributions: They help to cope with the corona pandemic, promote the convergence of East and West and contribute to reducing prejudices in our society," said the Office of the Federal President on Tuesday .

Hitzlsperger

received the Order of Merit for his voluntary work, for example in the association "Show your face - for a cosmopolitan Germany" and in the project "Football for Diversity - Football Against Homophobia and Sexism" as well as his commitment to township children in South Africa.

The

had "done with its so difficult as sovereign decisions pioneering work in curbing the pandemic," the Corona outbreak in his district, the President's Office stressed.