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Oktoberfest and Corona: Better not to go to the Wiesn?

2022-09-16T17:25:21.944Z


After a two-year break, the Oktoberfest is taking place again - without corona protection measures. Millions of Oktoberfest visitors accept the risk of infection and the spread of new variants. Can you blame them?


Enlarge image

Distance in the beer tent?

Impossible

Photo: Nikada / Getty Images

For the past three months, one has been able to observe how a small town is being built on the Theresienwiese in Munich: first came the scaffolding, then the tarpaulins, the many small stalls, the fairground rides and the outhouses.

Every time we drove past, the area looked more like Oktoberfest, and every time the question arose: will they cancel the Oktoberfest after all?

If they don't, it's tapping on Saturday.

The largest folk festival in the world - and at the same time the largest event in Germany since the beginning of the pandemic - invites you to celebrate for two weeks, and without any corona rules.

Although all experts predict that the Oktoberfest will be a superspreading event.

In Munich, people are now asking themselves: Is the mere thought of going there naïve?

Even irresponsible?

Will the whole city be contaminated, will the garbage collection fail, will the police and fire brigade lie flat with Corona?

For Bavaria's CSU politicians, the answer is clear: What nonsense, it's tapped!

Markus Söder has already announced that he will go to the Oktoberfest opening without a mask.

His Health Minister Klaus Holetschek also wants to go to the Wiesn, but more often during the weekday at noon when it's not so crowded.

As so often during the pandemic, a personal cost-benefit calculation (also: »personal responsibility«) is required.

It is important to weigh up whether the long-missed Wiesn is worth being sick for a week or two afterwards.

Let's look at the facts:

  • The number of infections in Germany is currently rising again, the RKI reported more than 38,700 cases on Friday.

    The seven-day incidence in Bavaria is 275.

  • Around six million visitors are expected during the two-week Wiesn, many of them from all over the world - a good opportunity for new combinations of variants.

  • In the past few weeks there have been several folk festivals that have significantly increased the corona numbers.

  • The vaccines adapted to the omicron variant are coming too late.

    It takes about 14 days for the additional immune protection to build up - if you only get vaccinated now, it won't do much for the Oktoberfest.

  • Protecting yourself with an FFP2 mask is also possible at the Oktoberfest.

    But let's be honest: how practical is it to take off and put on the FFP2 mask for every sip of beer and every bite of roast chicken?

    Will there really be people who will muffle their "Layla" singing with a face mask?

    And who can keep that up all evening with the alcohol level rising?

  • Also keep your distance at the Wiesn: completely illusory.

    The smallest Oktoberfest tent has around 1,000 seats, while the larger ones can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

    And even if you just want to stroll through the Oktoberfest and buy a gingerbread heart, you have to expect crowds.

So pretty much everything indicates that the Wiesn will be a treat for viruses of all stripes: It will probably be the best chance in two years to catch Corona - who hasn't yet, who wants to do it again?

But let's look at these facts:

  • It's often difficult for people from outside to understand, but the Wiesn isn't just any folk festival.

    It is

    the

    event in Munich, a sign of Germany, the heart of Bavarian culture, offline dating site and business relationship forge in one.

  • Unlike a year ago, around 76 percent of Germans have been vaccinated against the corona virus, 62 percent three or four times.

    The vaccinations hardly protect against infection, but against severe courses and to a certain extent also against Long Covid.

  • A year ago, when the delta variant was still dominant, more than twice as many beds in the intensive care units were occupied by corona patients than today.

  • Vulnerable groups in particular should keep their risk of infection low.

    The notice is probably unnecessary for those affected anyway, but even the head of the Oktoberfest, Clemens Baumgärtner, advised particularly vulnerable people not to visit the Wiesn.

We have all become virus professionals in the past two and a half years.

We know how insidious aerosols are and that Omicron is far more contagious than previous variants.

We know that not only old people can become seriously ill and that there are long-term symptoms that often affect young people in particular.

We know we can put others at risk, but we also know how to protect others.

Anyone who goes to the Wiesn does so knowing that the risk of becoming infected there is much higher than with just about any other activity.

We now have enough information about the virus to make informed decisions - and to live with the possible consequences.

Source: spiegel

All life articles on 2022-09-16

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