Prime Minister Markus Söder believes that a mask requirement is essential. In the eyes of world medical president Frank Ulrich Montgomery, the CSU boss is wrong - and not only with this assessment.
Mr. Montgomery, do you wear a respirator privately?
Yes. My wife sewed a mask for me. I wear them when I go to the store or to the weekly market. Not when I go jogging. I wear it out of solidarity with others, not because I think it would protect me.
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder has announced a mask requirement, it is only unclear when.
World Medical President Frank Ulrich Montgomery
© dpa
I do not agree with this. There is no scientific evidence that masks change the spread of this disease. If they are not properly disinfected, they can even concentrate the virus. You also can't force citizens to wear masks unless there is really one for everyone. However, we need the existing masks for the medical staff. And when you tell people to use their private scarves now, it gets ridiculous.
Söder is also in
other questions wrong?
His hard hand policy is obviously unsuccessful. Bavaria has the worst infection rate of all countries. It also has the highest death rate and lowest infection doubling time - which is bad in this case. I can understand that Mr. Söder is developing fears. But it doesn't help to switch off thinking. We need reason, not dramatic actions.
Of course, the strong Bavarian concern is also related to the proximity to Austria and South Tyrol. What do you recommend?
I think it's a lot smarter to take people with you and talk to them. It works the same way in other countries. Here in Berlin, people keep to the rules of distance despite the nice weather, many masks wear in the shops - even without this outward appearance as a tough man.
Can you really rely on voluntary work?
We want to keep the curve flat - which is very good. I also have nothing against cell phone location if this happens voluntarily. But the longer we put measures such as restrictions on people on people, the more problematic their individual situation becomes - especially for old and lonely people, but even in families. You have to allow a certain amount of freedom, otherwise the situation gets out of hand and the consensus in society is lost.
How long will we have to live with restrictions?
That will go into next year. In the end we will have to try to make everyone immune to the virus. This is easily possible for 85 percent of the population. We have to protect the others, the people at risk, until we can vaccinate them. However, a vaccine will probably not be available until the beginning of mid-2021 - and not for all 400 million EU citizens.
So do old or sick people have to live in isolation for so long?
Until now, the infection carriers have always had to be quarantined so that they do not infect anyone. Now we are talking about isolating only those at risk. We will have to discuss such a reversal with these people. You cannot legally force them. It will be exciting. In addition: The more and the faster we allow contacts among the others again, the more problematic it becomes for these people.
Especially since nurses or doctors could carry the virus to precisely these households.
Correct. And with that we are back with the respiratory masks. They shouldn't go to people who want to buy something quickly. But they have to be reserved for nursing staff, doctors, people in hospitals and also caring relatives.
How long must the schools remain closed?
I was always against school closings across the board. Because the problem is: how do you open them again? I think it may take a while. The virus knows no Easter holidays.
Interview: Sebastian Horsch
