Was everything exaggerated and the corona crisis exaggerated? Virologist Hendrik Streeck questions the complete lockdown of Germany. That amazes hygiene professor Klaus-Dieter Zastrow.
- The slowly fading corona crisis * enables various easing.
- A lockdown was not necessary for the virologist Hendrik Streeck (see update from June 10, 8:42 am).
- Hygiene professor Klaus-Dieter Zastrow is amazed and countered by the virologist's statement (see update from June 11, 5:09 p.m.)
- Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus * and the corona news from Germany *. We also offer you the current number of cases in Germany * on a map. The following recommendations for corona protective measures * are currently available.
Hygiene professor accuses virologists of gross mistakes
Update June 11, 2020, 5:09 p.m .: Was the lockdown really exaggerated? Virologist Hendrik Streeck started a dispute among experts with his testimony. Hygiene professor Klaus-Dieter Zastrow agrees - but in particular accuses Streeck's guild, the virologist, of gross mistakes.
In an interview with the world (article behind the payment barrier), Zastrow is amazed at Streeck's lockdown scolding: “It amazes me a little that he does that. First and foremost, the virologists, and the RKI, questioned the purpose of mouth and nose protection for weeks. ”Virologists would have done this for eight to twelve weeks. There was no other option than the lockdown.
The hygiene professor also sweeps Streeck's statement that a mouthguard is a bacterial source (see below). " Virologists don't have the faintest idea of hygiene and then tell such nonsense, " says Zastrow. The pounding of the face mask in your pocket doesn't matter. In his opinion, if the germs had no moisture and no temperature above 37 degrees, nothing would happen.
Zastrow, professor at the Hygiene Institute Berlin, is considered one of the leading scientists for hygiene concepts for clinics. "We knew little about Corona, but we know hygiene and it has been there for 2000 years," he said. Hygiene measures are tried and tested, backed up by literature - there is not the slightest doubt
Zastrow does not fear a second corona wave. Now no 40,000 skiers come back from vacation - and no carnival is celebrated.
Virologist Streeck questions everything: Corona lockdown was a mistake
Update June 10, 2020, 9:15 am: The virologist Hendrik Streeck now criticizes the complete lockdown and the resulting consequences in Germany in an interview with the Osnabrücker Zeitung (behind payment barrier) . The number of infections had already decreased after the ban on major events. "I would then have made the further measures such as contact restrictions dependent on the actual course, also to see how the individual restrictions work and whether additional steps are really necessary," the virologist explains to the journal.
Streeck is also critical of the mask requirement and Corona app
Instead, Germany "went into the lockdown too quickly" because, in addition to worrying about the capacity of the hospitals, "there was a certain amount of pressure from the public," said Streeck. However, he is also certain that if there is a second corona wave, the measures will not be as strong again.
Streeck not only perceives the Start Corona app as "a little late" - it also doubts about the basic usefulness of the remedy: It is unclear "whether it can do anything to control a pandemic in Germany".
Streeck also expresses criticism of the mask requirement : “At the beginning of the pandemic there was a clear warning about masks. The reasons for this still apply, even if, strangely enough, they no longer seem to matter. People shuffle the masks in their pockets, hold them constantly and strap them over their mouths for two weeks, probably unwashed. It is a wonderful breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. "
On the other hand, he is not critical of the opening of schools and daycare centers : "Children are not the big virus throwers". Virologically, everything is said about the question of opening up. “The decision now has to be made politically. In any case, teachers have no higher risk of infection than other professional groups that work in a comparable way with people. "
While virologist Streeck wonders whether the lockdown may have been unnecessary, the development of reproductive numbers in the past three days has given cause for concern.
Read also: He was considered cured: 30-year-old coronavirus patient dies in NRW
Second corona wave: Virologist Streeck turns everything upside down with a forecast
Update June 7, 2020: In a new statement, virologist Hendrik Streeck was again confident. He recognizes the chance of partial immunity in the population *, which could be built up in Germany in the summer months. This partial immunity could then weaken the further course of the pandemic. At the same time, however, he warned that hope of a rapidly available vaccine could be false. It is all the more important that the population builds up immunity.
Virologe Streeck's new forecast for the second corona wave turns everything upside down
Munich - Summer is the most sociable time of the year. The climbing temperatures invite you to do things together, such as barbecues or swimming trips . Under the influence of the Corona crisis, however, all of this will look different this time. Keeping clear is the order of the day. It will probably be a very difficult summer to get used to - although in many places tourists are welcome again and most national borders can be crossed .
Nevertheless: crowded beaches and packed hotels or campsites? Not this summer vacation *. Finally, there will be numerous limitations due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has not yet been fully researched . All the measures that have been adopted in the past few weeks are finally accompanied by the fear of starting a second wave of infections , which could also push proven health systems like that to the limits in Germany.
Video: More and more swimming pools open despite the Corona crisis
Virologist Streeck on Corona future in Germany: probably fewer transmissions in summer
It is good if one of the leading experts in the field of virology classifies the omnipresent threat. Hendrik Streeck did this in an interview with the General-Anzeiger and comes to the conclusion: “A wave means something that overwhelms you. I don't think we'll see such a phenomenon. "
The 42-year-old already assumes that we will have weeks of Corona relaxation : "Incidentally, I also assume that we will see fewer transmissions in the summer . This is shown by the view of the southern hemisphere. ”For the states that are heading towards their winter, Streeck sums up:“ Until recently, we saw in Australia that only 20 percent of the transmissions were acquired domestically and 80 percent abroad. That is changing. Also South America is just for high-epidemic area. "
Read also: Virologist dispute flares up: Drosten attacks Kekulé head-on - and nothing more can be offered by him
Virologist Streeck: Warm weather complicates the spread of corona viruses
The weather plays a role here. Means: According to Streeck corona viruses, higher temperatures make it more difficult to spread - not only for the new species, which is currently making life difficult for people around the world. At the same time, the native of Göttingen also warns: "I think that we will see more infections again in autumn ."
Overall, however, the following applies: “I think what is much more likely is not a second wave at all . Instead we will see hotspot outbreaks every now and then, as we are now observing . Maybe 100 people who were infected at once and did not notice it. ”For this reason too, one thing is certain for him: We will have to prepare for a life with SARS-CoV-2 .
Virologist Streeck: Corona researchers are looking for immune responses to viruses
Research * is also aimed at this. "We are currently working a lot here in the laboratory and are trying to better understand the immune responses to the virus , ie which immune responses are effective against the virus and which are not," explains Streeck in the General-Anzeiger . So the general question is "how and whether people are protected after SARS-CoV-2 infection".
The so-called Heinsberg study should also contribute to this . A team led by Streeck got to the bottom of the number of unreported cases in the first German corona hotspot near the Dutch border. The aim was to uncover how many people unconsciously contracted Covid-19 and built up a corresponding immunity *.
Former Corona crisis region: A hotspot for the pandemic developed early on in Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia.
© dpa / Jonas Güttler
There are regular new studies on the coronavirus. A new one shows frightening facts: infected people have an increased risk of death after surgery.
Corona expert Streeck defends itself: "Heinsberg study was well received abroad"
The encouraging result was subsequently viewed very critically by the public, which Streeck does not want to leave behind: “The study holds up perfectly among experts and is very well received worldwide . This fact counts. ”He also made it clear:“ The study was well received abroad, in the USA and in European countries and is already being used in meta-analyzes . ”
The Heinsberg study was also a win for his reputation: “I am the virologist who has seen most of the patients with Covid-19. This is how I learned to better assess the virus . ”As a result, it would now“ give no warning or all-clear ”.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan in an IKEA car park in Hesse. The reason? Corona.
Virologist Streeck on Corona future: No interference in decisions about easing
However, Streeck does not want to interfere with questions about easing: "The decision to go back to normal is one that has now completely moved away from virology." Only the people who were chosen to make such decisions and all aspects are responsible for this to be able to weigh ”. So the politicians.
However, with the impressions and conclusions of the virologist from the University of Bonn, these should be easier. Streeck's tip: “With this virus you have to start thinking about how we can live with it and also design strategies in this sense. Socially, the best and fairest strategy is to look at what our intensive capacities are because we want everyone to benefit from the best possible care. ”
Another virologist from Germany is now dampening all expectations of a vaccine - “there may never be one”.
There was a massive corona outbreak in Göttingen - around 160 people are in quarantine, including 57 children and adolescents.
Virologist Streeck on Corona future: "The best parameter is intensive care beds"
If the virus were contained, he would rather move away from the R value , i.e. the number of reproductions *. Because this is a " hypothetical value that depends extremely on how much is tested". Instead, Streeck asks to focus on the hardship cases: " The best parameter is the intensive care beds , because that's what it's all about in the end." That applies to every season.
Chancellor Angela Merkel hands over the corona control to the federal states - but it remains hard on three points. German gastronomy is threatened by a gigantic wave of bankruptcies.
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schöder said he knew one thing better than Merkel in the Corona crisis. Because of the rush of tourists, a North Sea town is already asking for a break. In Markus Lanz's ZDF talk, a guest accuses Merkel of "fairy tales".
Markus Söder is asked about the end of the mask requirement and responds with an extreme answer.
A study has confirmed that the corona hotspot in Ischgl has an immense impact on virus spread in Germany. Researchers have discovered new evidence that the corona virus was already circulating in Wuhan in August.
The Berlin police released their own Corona song. It is well received by the population.
* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
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List of rubric lists: © dpa / Federico Gambarini