Prof. Christian Drosten is one of the greatest enlighteners in the corona crisis. In an interview, the virologist spoke about the discussions about possible easing.
- In times of the corona crisis, Prof. Christian Drosten is one of the central sources of information for the public.
- The virologist has now spoken in an interview about scientific practice and the discussion about loosening.
- Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus *. You can also see the current number of cases in Germany as a map *. The following recommendations for corona protective measures * are currently available. The most important thing about the topic is also on our brand new Facebook page Corona News. Become a fan now.
Berlin - The virologist Prof. Christian Drosten has become one of the main sources of scientific information in times of the corona crisis.
Drosten , the head of virology at the Charité in Berlin, provides a podcast every two working days by NDR about the current state of research and scientific background on the corona pandemic . In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the 48-year-old now speaks, among other things, about the discussions about possible easing .
Corona virus: was it not necessary to block contacts? Christian Drosten has a clear opinion
Christian Drosten is mostly reluctant to make political assessments and classify political decisions and is limited to science. A behavior for which he has already been criticized several times. Among others from the science journalist Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, who reached with her YouTube videos about the Corona crisis for a wide audience. On the one hand, Drosten agrees with Nguyen-Kim, but on the other hand, he also criticizes himself. "There speaks an employer president, but the scientific experts from business are not visible," notes the virologist . Science also needed to be more involved in terms of the economic consequences.
Very right. And a possible number of unreported cases can only be determined by extensive geographic surveys. We shouldn't expect too much here at the current early stage of the epidemic. https://t.co/4jZbpbKCYW
- Christian Drosten (@c_drosten) April 8, 2020Christian Drosten is also critical of claims that it would not have been necessary to block contacts . According to these claims, the number of reproductions - the average number of people infected by an infected person - had already decreased before the measures began. It would then be concluded that the epidemic would have contained itself. However, Drosten believes that the number of reproductions has been falsified by the change in test numbers in March and also relies on Apple's mobility data. "These clearly show that the information and warnings have resulted in people practically anticipating the measures ," said the virologist. In mid-March, for example, the streets in Berlin were practically empty.
Coronavirus: Drosten is critical of discussion about easing - "This plays into the hands of certain political forces"
These facts would now be used as an argument that it was not necessary to block contacts , notes Drosten: "It plays into the hands of certain political forces who say that the economy must be given a chance."
The virologist argues that the premature easing of the economy tends to take a chance away, since contact closures may have to be reintroduced even harder. Drosten is worried when business representatives demand that the easing should not go back: “As if it were a matter of negotiation. But if anything, you negotiate with nature, not with a virologist. ”
* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
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List of rubric lists: © dpa / Michael Kappeler
