Head of the health department tears up Söder's corona strategy: "Even if I put my civil servant career on the line ..."

“Even if I put my civil servant career at stake” - Friedrich Pürner, epidemiologist and head of a Bavarian health department, speaks plain language - and criticizes Söder's corona strategy as wrong.

• Friedrich Pürner

  is a specialist, epidemiologist and head of the Aichach-Friedberg health department near Augsburg *.

• All the more exciting are his statements about the Bavarian coronavirus * strategy - which he simply considers to be wrong.

• Not only the mask requirement in schools is a thorn in his side.

Since Corona has occupied the world,

accumulated

more than

.

The specialist and

heads the

.

Citizens' questions and concerns are increasing.

The Bavarian official is

critical of

many of the

and tries to counter fears.

Head of health department criticizes coronavirus measures in Bavaria: "How sick is a disease?"

+

Dr.

Friedrich Pürner (53) has accumulated more than 500 hours of overtime.

“We don't know anything about the sick”.

© Private

As the number of cases increases, so does the pressure to act?

Pürner:

Yes, the numbers are increasing.

But we only count on the

those

, we don't know anything about the sick.

If the number of seriously ill were to increase significantly, we would have to do something.

But at the moment we are only

because we only have

.

The decisive factor for us epidemiologists is: How pathogenic is a disease?

Covid-19 * is an infection.

There will always be people who die from it or get sick.

Consequential damage cannot currently be ruled out.

Elderly people and people with previous illnesses are particularly at risk.

In general, the risk of getting seriously ill from Corona is relatively low, and also of dying from it.

It's not Ebola.

Criticism of the corona strategy: "This is not Ebola"

Politicians are trying to get the situation under control with a traffic light system *.

How do you rate the incidence value strategy? *

Pürner:

This strategy is not correct.

The incidences 35 and 50 per 100,000 inhabitants are chosen arbitrarily, and the incidence value only consists of all those who tested positive.

It is not known how many people have symptoms and are therefore ill.

It would be wise to look at those who weigh on the health system.

Corona in Bavaria: "This is how you lose trust"

Do you understand people's fear?

Pürner:

I understand you.

Here a primal fear is awakened, the primal fear of illness, infirmity and death.

We have an invisible enemy.

It would be the task of politics to take away fears, not stir up panic.

The opposite is the case: we are in a panic mood.

I work on the grassroots, we see citizens beg for fear of being quarantined.

The constant overdramatization and alarmism give people a state of exhaustion.

This is how you gamble away trust.

Children also fall by the wayside.

To the mask requirement.

Also gives other opinions, @AnnieMuc.

pic.twitter.com/wek6sZmp2F

- Dirk Walter (@dwmerkur) October 19, 2020

In what way?

Pürner:

It is questionable how we deal with our children!

We have already had crying parents on the phone whose children were reprimanded by teachers for not complying with the Corona rules and were asked: Do you want grandma and grandpa to die?

That does something to our children.

I don't want my children to grow up with fear.

Corona protective masks "nothing more than a symbol of solidarity"

You are critical of the mask requirement in schools.

Why?

Pürner:

From a technical point of view, I do not believe in the requirement to wear a mask at schools and daycare centers.

There is also no evidence-based proof of effectiveness.

Children take little part in the infection process.

When we find infected students, the symptoms are minimal.

In general, the protective effect of community masks, as worn by the majority, has not been proven.

With the community masks they invented a means that is nothing more than a symbol of solidarity.

In your opinion, which measures would be useful in schools?

Pürner:

Teachers should deal with the subject of hygiene.

So that students wash their hands, use disposable towels, do not shake hands, keep their distance when they spit or cough and that they stay at home if they have a bad cold or fever.

If I could advise Mr Piazolo, I would tell him: Leave the schools open, free the pupils from mouth guards, let them ventilate, but not all the time.

We need teachers with confidence.

Teachers who say: We can do it.

You are calling for a more moderate way in corona policy, what could that look like?

Pürner:

The situation is messed up.

In the beginning, various measures were already good.

But there was a point in late April / early May when the numbers began to decline.

The primary goal of keeping hospitals out of congestion was achieved.

We have to live with Corona.

Vaccination won't change that.

There won't be any that soon, and no vaccination offers 100 percent protection.

That means we have to learn to live with the virus.

We have to understand it as a general life risk.

The virus is there, it will stay.

Politicians should hold back on drama and tell people: You have to live with the virus!

With your appeal for a more moderate course in the pandemic, you are messing with your chief employer.

Why are you doing that?

Pürner:

I want to be a role model - as a doctor, as a head of department and as the father of three sons.

I want to provide technical information, to take away people's fear.

Even if I may be jeopardizing my civil servant career with what I say.

I am professionally well trained and know what I'm talking about.

After the first reports about me, an invitation came to the Ministry of Health for the end of October.

No matter how the exchange goes, I will not let my opinion be denied.

Do you see yourself as a corona rebel?

Pürner:

No.

I want to express my opinion professionally.

I won't let myself be instrumentalized by any party or group.

The interview was conducted by Corinna Kattenbeck

List of rubric lists: © dpa