Virologist in the Corona focus - Drosten is annoyed by politics: "An insolence" 

Everyone is currently looking at politics and science. Christian Drosten is disturbed by the fact that both parties do not always work hand in hand. The virologist is annoyed.

• Christian Drosten is currently increasingly in focus due to the corona virus *. Politicians in particular look at the results of the virologist.
• The behavior of some politicians can currently not understand Drosten. In the NDR podcast, he vented his anger.
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Hamburg - He is considered the leading virologist in Germany and is one of the most sought-after people in the country in the current crisis - Christian Drosten . However, the head of virology at the Berlin Charité sees more than just advantages in the newly gained popularity . The 48-year-old has a particularly negative reaction to dealing with him personally from politics. 

Corona virus: Christian Drosten on political pressure - negative example from Australia

In his NDR podcast "Coronavirus Update" Drosten spoke about the current pressure on virologists and experts . The native of Emsländer criticized above all the lack of patience from politics . Science would be demanding results too quickly. 

Drosten explains this with a study from Australia. At 15 selected schools, only nine pupils and teachers were infected - an extremely positive statistic. The problem: the numbers corresponded only to a pre-evaluation of the study, which was not even half evaluated at the time. 

Christian Drosten: "An example of how science is currently under political pressure"

The results were nevertheless published. The New York Times reported and the Canadian government included the study in their school opening plans. An annoyance, according to Drosten, who attributes the publication of premature results to political impatience : "This is an example of how science is currently under political pressure ." 

Politicians are currently demanding results too quickly. Christian Drosten demands more patience

© dpa / Christophe Gateau

Drosten expresses understanding that politics is dependent on early decisions, he can "understand this as a private person", but asks for more patience overall.

Coronavirus: too fast releases required? Pressure on science

"Many politicians (...) can put some pressure on them and say: 'I don't want this responsibility on my shoulders, I would rather see the responsibility in a scientific manuscript'. To then take out a number and say: 'It's written in black and white there. ”

However, this pressure is extremely problematic, as Drosten explains using an example: “Then we come into this, I think, somewhat dangerous area, which then - let's say - is said to an institute director, for example: 'You're the one here Boss of the whole. We now need numbers from your employees. '”

Christian Drosten: "And there is already misinformation in the world"

Drosten continues: “And then the director goes to his employees and says: 'Our tables are only half full, but the minister now wants us to publish something. Now we take half the tables and write them together ''.

The consequences of premature results can be devastating and would also be fueled in part by the fact that the pre-evaluation of a study is often presented by the press office and not by scientists: "And there is already misinformation in the world."

Christian Drosten: Annoyance at using his name - "an insolence"

Meanwhile, the presumed pressure from politicians is not the only annoyance for Drosten that he makes himself clear in his podcast. The 48-year-old is disturbed in dealing with his person.

"It is currently going in the wrong direction. Science is too polarized in the media. Not just me as a person. Politicians are now saying my name on talk shows, which I find outrageous and a complete misleading of the public and also of political opinion-making. ” 

The personality cult harbors dangers, because “here the content is distracted by a person to whom all possible attributes can be attached, only not the content of the discussion. And that's really slowly becoming dangerous, ”says the professor.

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