Christian Drosten has made a name for himself with sound expert opinions since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. He also has to suffer from this in the meantime - something that colleagues are also responsible for.
- In the Corona crisis * Christian Drosten is one of the most sought-after experts.
- The virologist also gets to know the dark side of new fame.
- In his podcast, he warns of a dangerous development.
Munich - A lot of anger must have built up with Christian Drosten * . Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic *, the virologist has tried, to the best of his knowledge and belief, to provide information about the novel and still largely unknown virus , its peculiarities and the resulting dangers to humanity. But he is increasingly exposed to reproaches for his advice and explanations. Because far too much dangerous half-knowledge is circulating in Corona times. And thereby conspiracy theorists are getting more and more top water *.
Now Drosten, who has already defended himself against fake news in a public letter, has used the opportunity to let off steam after all these negative experiences. In his "NDR" podcast "Coronavirus Update" , in which the director of the Charité in Berlin regularly shares his findings, he now defends himself with clear words. And basically made the biggest problem of this crisis clear: everyone has an opinion about the corona virus - because it affects us all. And many want to share theirs as comprehensively as possible.
Drosten and the corona crisis: "Some doctors and professors put nonsense in the world"
So Drosten scolds the many posts on social media such as videos, "which have millions of views and are full of nonsense ." Absolute laypersons, you might think. But he not only denounces their need for communication: “There are some doctors and professors who put some nonsense into the world who have never worked on these topics. But whom you believe because of their academic qualifications. "
Not to forget the "real conspiracy theorists" who have long been featured on demos across the country. Experts like Drosten himself would suffer as a result, because their expertise * is at least questioned in view of the completely contradictory views: "I get the echo back in the form of accusations and questions ."
In the same breath as the political heavyweights: Christian Drosten is approached directly at demos.
© dpa / Christoph Schmidt
Drosten in the Corona crisis: Myth of the artificially generated virus refuted
So he should be all the happier that the discussion about an artificially generated virus is definitely "off the table". Because a specific interface in the main surface protein has now been discovered by researchers from China and Europe independently of one another in a very similar form in bats *. "Although it is slightly different than that from the SARS CoV-2 virus in humans, it is very, very similar," explains Drosten in the podcast.
In the process, he can also refute another virologist. The Frenchman Luc Montagnier , Nobel laureate from 2008, had stated on a TV show that the coronavirus could only have been produced artificially because there were also sequences from HIV in the genome . "It is difficult for an active scientist in virology to say that a Nobel Prize winner in the field of virology spreads nonsense, " Drosten judges: "But this is complete nonsense." The topic is now "just done".
Drosten and the Corona Crisis: Experts should stay with their area of expertise
However, Drosten cannot understand the rushing ahead of researchers from other scientific fields: “I am also a professor. But I would never dare to publicize anything that contains so much opinion . ”As an example, he names bacteria that he is not familiar with. Because although it is common opinion that viruses and bacteria are “almost the same thing”, scientists know that this is not the case.
Drosten's accusation: Experts would share information that is foreign to them and lack any basis: "These are general places that do not go beyond knowledge of student textbook knowledge ." And that is especially dangerous: "This is how you back up the really dangerous conspiracy theorists. That's irresponsible. ”He doesn't reveal to whom exactly Drosten's criticism is referring.
Drosten and the corona crisis: express praise for SPD politician Lauterbach
The native of Emsland expressly praises a colleague for this: Karl Lauterbach . The SPD politician and health expert needs a particularly thick coat these days, is repeatedly the target of protesters who vehemently call for extensive easing or who want to have recognized the corona crisis directly as a state element for strengthening and expanding power.
"I read how he got criticized. Commentators wrote that he should go less on talk shows and pay attention to how he behaves, ”Drosten jumps to the member of the Bundestag:“ This is a targeting of a person and thus a meeting of the content that the person is about there - but this content is absolutely correct . "
Drosten and the Corona Crisis: Talk Show Allegation Against Lauterbach Secondary
Lauterbach merely gives the "state of affairs": "He knows his way around and is an epidemiologist from his basic training ." Because of his expertise, "it doesn't matter if anyone finds that he sits too much in talk shows. It goes public and provides information with the right content . "
For example, the passionate fly carrier recently highlighted the highly probable efficiency of pool tests . But the rapid easing in the catering trade * is also criticized. Because in closed rooms, exhalation and coughing create aerosols , according to Drosten. Accordingly, there must be air circulation .
Warning in the crisis: The SPD politician Karl Lauterbach does not want to rush into anything during the corona pandemic.
© dpa / Bernd von Jutrczenka
Drosten and the Corona Crisis: Restaurant outside areas can be used without hesitation
On the other hand, outside areas of restaurants are a relatively safe zone, especially since "a two-meter distance will probably not be necessary". The risk of infection * is therefore largely averted. Drosten's explanation: "Anything that is spread about aerosol transmission blows away." For the interior it is essential to open the windows .
Remedial action for places without an outdoor area can basically be created simply. This is how Drosten stimulates a bit less bureaucracy in these unusual times: “Why aren't restaurateurs allowed to use the sidewalks ? In these times one can make exceptions to the municipalities and say that the pubs put their tables on the sidewalk - as long as they do not endanger pedestrians. "
A proposal that should also be welcomed by opponents of restrictions. Among others, those who recently didn't want to gain much from Drosten's expertise.
We report on developments in Germany in our news ticker. We offer separate reports for federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia.
* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
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