The head of the health department is tearing up Söder's corona strategy - and is quoted as a government official

“Even if I put my civil servant career at stake” - Friedrich Pürner, epidemiologist and head of a Bavarian health department, speaks plain language - and now has to answer for it.

• Friedrich Pürner

  is a specialist, epidemiologist and head of the Aichach-Friedberg health department near Augsburg *.

• All the more exciting are his statements about the Bavarian coronavirus * strategy - which he simply considers to be wrong.

• Now he had to report to the government because of his statements on the report.

• Read the full-length interview below.

Update, October 27th: Munich

- After several interviews on the corona policy, the

, on Monday (October 26th) to report to the government of Swabia.

"It was a

" said the press spokesman for the authority in Augsburg afterwards, tacitly.

The parties agreed not to disclose the course of this meeting.

One thing is clear, however:

- it was unclear yesterday whether this was subject to conditions.

It can be assumed that he was reminded of the

.

After the interview: the head of the health department has to report to the government

The

had explained for instance talking with the Münchner Merkur, he thought nothing of

.

They are

, the

The

35 and 50 per 100,000 inhabitants are also set

because it does not take into account how many

actually become ill.

Compared to the “Aichacher Zeitung” he recently added:

It was important to him that he

did not

believe in

.

He cannot be instrumentalized.

Several doctors had recently shown

with him

Pürner still adds: “I'll stick with it.

A sufficient protective effect of everyday masks ... "

Pürner kept adding up on

and made it clear that he

be silenced.

Among other things, he tweeted about the most recent controversial statements of the medical president Klaus Reinhardt: “Even if the medical president rowed back;

I

.

A sufficient

masks (community masks) has

. "

Even if the medical president rowed back;

I stick to my statement.

An adequate protective effect of everyday masks (community masks) has not been proven based on evidence.

#corona # COVID19 #coronavirus #Covidioten #cancelcultur https://t.co/QaAUigr05F

- Dr.

Friedrich Pürner, MPH (@DrPuerner) October 23, 2020

The Corona State Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Klaus Holetschek (CSU), was originally supposed to take part in the appointment in Augsburg, but he was unable to attend due to scheduling reasons.

Only one official “at the technical level” was present at the interview.

Health department boss tears up Söder's corona strategy: "Even if I put my career on the line ..."

You can read the full length of the interview from October 19 here:

Since Corona has occupied the world,

accumulated

more than

.

The specialist and

heads the

.

Citizens' questions and concerns are increasing.

The Bavarian official is

critical of

many of the

and tries to counter fears.

Head of health department criticizes coronavirus measures in Bavaria: "How sick is a disease?"

+

Dr.

Friedrich Pürner (53) has accumulated more than 500 hours of overtime.

“We don't know anything about the sick”.

© Private

As the number of cases increases, so does the pressure to act?

Pürner:

Yes, the numbers are increasing.

But we only count on the

those

, we don't know anything about the sick.

If the number of seriously ill were to increase significantly, we would have to do something.

But at the moment we are only

because we only have

.

The decisive factor for us epidemiologists is: How pathogenic is a disease?

Covid-19 * is an infection.

There will always be people who die from it or get sick.

Consequential damage cannot currently be ruled out.

Elderly people and people with previous illnesses are particularly at risk.

In general, the risk of getting seriously ill from Corona is relatively low, and also of dying from it.

It's not Ebola.

Criticism of the corona strategy: "This is not Ebola"

Politicians are trying to get the situation under control with a traffic light system *.

How do you rate the incidence value strategy? *

Pürner:

This strategy is not correct.

The incidences 35 and 50 per 100,000 inhabitants are chosen arbitrarily, and the incidence value only consists of all those who tested positive.

It is not known how many people have symptoms and are therefore ill.

It would be wise to look at those who weigh on the health system.

Corona in Bavaria: "This is how you lose trust"

Do you understand people's fear?

Pürner:

I understand you.

Here a primal fear is awakened, the primal fear of illness, infirmity and death.

We have an invisible enemy.

It would be the task of politics to take away fears, not stir up panic.

The opposite is the case: we are in a panic mood.

I work on the grassroots, we see citizens beg for fear of being quarantined.

The constant overdramatization and alarmism give people a state of exhaustion.

This is how you gamble away trust.

Children also fall by the wayside.

To the mask requirement.

Also gives other opinions, @AnnieMuc.

pic.twitter.com/wek6sZmp2F

- Dirk Walter (@dwmerkur) October 19, 2020

In what way?

Pürner:

It is questionable how we deal with our children!

We have already had crying parents on the phone whose children were reprimanded by teachers for not complying with Corona rules and were asked: Do you want grandma and grandpa to die?

That does something to our children.

I don't want my children to grow up with fear.

Corona protective masks "nothing more than a symbol of solidarity"

You are critical of the mask requirement in schools.

Why?

Pürner:

From a technical point of view, I do not believe in the requirement to wear a mask at schools and daycare centers.

There is also no evidence-based proof of effectiveness.

Children take little part in the infection process.

When we find infected students, the symptoms are minimal.

In general, the protective effect of community masks, as worn by the majority, has not been proven.

With the community masks they invented a means that is nothing more than a symbol of solidarity.

In your opinion, which measures would be useful in schools?

Pürner:

Teachers should deal with the subject of hygiene.

So that students wash their hands, use disposable towels, do not shake hands, keep their distance when they spit or cough and that they stay at home if they have a bad cold or fever.

If I could advise Mr Piazolo, I would tell him: Leave the schools open, free the pupils from mouth guards, let them ventilate, but not all the time.

We need teachers with confidence.

Teachers who say: We can do it.

You are calling for a more moderate way in corona policy, what could that look like?

Pürner:

The situation is messed up.

In the beginning, various measures were already good.

But there was a point in late April / early May when the numbers began to decline.

The primary goal of keeping hospitals out of congestion was achieved.

We have to live with Corona.

Vaccination won't change that.

There won't be any that soon, and no vaccination offers 100 percent protection.

That means we have to learn to live with the virus.

We have to understand it as a general life risk.

The virus is there, it will stay.

Politicians should hold back on drama and tell people: You have to live with the virus!

With your appeal for a more moderate course in the pandemic, you are messing with your chief employer.

Why are you doing that?

Pürner:

I want to be a role model - as a doctor, as a head of department and as the father of three sons.

I want to provide technical information, to take away people's fear.

Even if I may be jeopardizing my civil servant career with what I say.

I am professionally well trained and know what I'm talking about.

After the first reports about me, an invitation came to the Ministry of Health for the end of October.

No matter how the exchange goes, I will not let my opinion be denied.

Do you see yourself as a corona rebel?

Pürner:

No.

I want to express my opinion professionally.

I won't let myself be instrumentalized by any party or group.

The interview was conducted by Corinna Kattenbeck

List of rubric lists: © dpa