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Head epidemiologist at the Helmholtz Center: Gérard Krause
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
With the measures against the uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus, the epidemiologist Gérard Krause lacks a commitment to protecting people at higher risk.
He lacked measures on how to protect people who are at high risk of serious or fatal outcome, Krause told the German press agency on Thursday.
There are some points that are certainly sensible and positive, but the lack of this aspect worries him, said the scientist from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig.
The federal and state governments decided on Wednesday the most drastic measures since the great lockdown in spring.
From Monday, hotels, restaurants, cinemas and theaters, among other things, will close for the entire month of November.
During this time, people are only allowed to meet privately to a very limited extent.
An overview of the rules decided on Wednesday can be found here: These restrictions apply from Monday
Krause had also repeatedly emphasized to SPIEGEL that he lacked creative concepts to protect risk groups.
As a concrete measure to protect the elderly, for example in old people's and nursing homes, he suggested using FFP3 masks without an exhalation valve for visitors and staff.
The residents of such facilities could, for example, use FFP3 masks with an exhalation valve so that their breathing is not impeded, he told SPIEGEL.
The recent considerations of testing visitors and staff in nursing homes with rapid antigen tests are also likely to be a very helpful measure if the sampling is carried out by well-trained staff and the tests are validated.
The discussion should not be about access to football stadiums again.
The protection of people at higher risk is not an easy task and quite a challenge, said Krause.
That is precisely why it is the task of society to face this challenge.
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kry / dpa
