The top virologist Henrik Streeck has been one of the leading experts since the beginning of the corona pandemic.
The head virologist at the Bonn University Hospital speaks a bitter truth.
Munich - His word carries weight with leading politicians, he is a regular guest on TV talk shows:
Professor Dr.
Hendrik Streeck
(43) is one of Germany's best-known virologists.
In the interview, Streeck speaks, among other things, about the lessons we should draw from the Corona crisis.
The number of new infections is just exploding - despite the weeks-long partial lockdown.
How do you explain that?
Professor Dr. Hendrik Streeck
: We actually have far too many new infections.
Actually, according to the calculations used, the
lockdown measures should
slow down the increase more.
The fact that this is not the case indicates, on the one hand, a
high number of unreported cases of infected
people, and on the other hand, that the previous measures have
not
necessarily started where most of the transmissions take place.
Where do most people get infected?
Streeck
: We don't really know,
we're too much in the dark
.
However, the development also shows that the closure of restaurants and pubs has at best managed to slow the increase in new infections.
However, it did not succeed in stopping the infection process.
What must happen now so that the number of infections and victims fall again?
Streeck
: My most important recommendation is: We must
finally better protect
the
risk groups
.
This is especially true for
retirement and nursing homes
.
Here live the people who are currently the main focus.
They currently have more than half of all Covid 19 deaths in Germany.
But politicians claim that the protection of old people's homes is on their radar.
Streeck
: The previous level of protection is
not
enough.
The figures from the Robert Koch Institute show that we are slowing down the infection rate among the younger ones, but not among the elderly.
How can you protect seniors better?
Streeck
: We are
not
allowed
to isolate them
, but
we have
to
protect them better
by frequent testing by nurses and visitors as well as by consistently wearing
FFP2 masks
.
At Christmas, the people's discipline is likely to be put to the test.
Can you understand people who don't want to be constrained in their plans for the holidays?
Streeck
: No, because the
virus doesn't take a break over Christmas
.
It won't say “I'm not going to church” nor will it say “I'm not at home for Christmas”.
Therefore we have to take the protective measures on Christmas
just as seriously as on any other day
.
How will you personally spend Christmas?
Streeck
: I celebrate with my husband, my parents and my dog.
Are you going to do a quick test beforehand - apart from your squirming?
Streeck
: Yes.
But that's also easy for me because I'm sitting at the source, so to speak.
Interview: Andreas Beez
The
federal government reacted to the increasing number of infections
with a
lockdown light
from November 2nd.
The
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) called for an adjustment of the strategy.
Even
then, Hendrik Streeck criticized the decision.
The mini lockdown has failed.
Now there is a Christmas lockdown.
It remains to be seen whether this will succeed in stopping the second wave.