"Incidence below 50 illusory": Top virologist calls for a new corona strategy - Merkel does not hear it

Are there any further tightenings?

The government relies on the advice of science, but an expert is explicitly not used for the advice.

• Today, Tuesday (January 19), the federal government and the heads of government of the federal states are discussing possible tightening of the corona measures.

• The virologist Klaus Stöhr headed the WHO pandemic surveillance for 15 years.

• Despite the recommendation, Stöhr is said not to have been invited to the deliberations.

Berlin - Germany is about to

extend the lockdown

.

High numbers of infections and an increased death rate increase the pressure on political decision-makers.

In addition, the

virus mutations

cause concern lines among Corona experts.

With regard to this initial situation, the Federal Government and the Prime Ministers of the federal states will discuss a uniform procedure on Tuesday via video.

The politicians decide on profound cuts on the basis of

scientific expertise

.

As the

picture

reports, the

following scientists

are present at the

deliberations of the federal-state summit

: RKI boss Lothar Wieler, Charité chief virologist Christian Drosten, virologist Melanie Brinkmann, physicist Michael Meyer-Hermann, epidemiologist Gérard Krause, psychologist Cornelia Betsch , Biochemist Rolf and physicist Kai Nagel.

Corona summit: No invitation for Klaus Stöhr - top virologist not considered

According to

picture

information,

Hamburg's mayor Peter Tschentscher

wanted

to consult another scientist:

Klaus Stöhr

, long-time head of pandemic and influenza surveillance at the World Health Organization (WHO).

The 62-year-old virologist and epidemiologist recently drew attention by calling for a

differentiated corona strategy

.

The focus of the corona measures should be placed on nursing homes and people with previous illnesses, Stöhr told

Bild

.

The death rate is particularly high there.

He also reiterates his

dissatisfaction with the current incidence target of 50

.

The Chancellery reportedly refused to participate.

Corona expert Stöhr: Pressing the incidence to 50 is "the wrong approach"

Stöhr

told

ZDF

that reducing the incidence value to 50 was the

“wrong approach”

.

This approach has a

"demotivating"

effect on the population

.

The scientist thinks little of an even tougher lockdown: "We have to move from the sphere of wishes to the sphere of reality," he explains.

In principle, Stöhr supports all measures to prevent further deaths;

However, he is critical of school and company closings.

According to the scientist, the main focus of the corona measures should be on protecting risk groups and old people's homes.

The virologist receives support from the

NRW Expert Council

.

The Corona experts of the state published on 18 January 2021

position paper

with the warning: "This policy runs the risk of

no longer reach the population as a whole and to convince."

The Council has criticized the policy makers would a

"tiresome narrative"

pursue by rocking a specific measure for the long-term solution of the corona pandemic.

The panel of health

experts

also criticizes the

lack of a long-term strategy

to prevent a third lockdown.

Coronavirus: Incidence of 50 according to top virologist "illusory"

The value of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants is the limit for the traceability of contacts.

With regard to the

nationwide incidence of 132

, Stöhr calls the 50 mark “illusory”.

Opposite

Bild,

the virologist comments: “Even if the incidence was reached, it would not be able to maintain it.” Stöhr suggests developing a strategy

that can be pursued

throughout the winter

.

He does not see a reason for further tightening the corona measures.

Karl Lauterbach calls for further tightening

SPD health politician and doctor

Karl Lauterbach

calls for further tightening of the corona measures.

He told

ZDF

that a dramatic reduction in the incidence

value was

necessary in order

to gain

control over the infection

process.

To this end, the politician suggests

carrying out

a

“hard” lockdown

within a

“limited time”

.

With the help of company and school closings, a decrease in the number of infections is to be achieved.

The health expert is supported by leading scientists such as

Lothar Wieler

, President of the Robert Koch Institute. As the

Bild

reports, Wieler is calling for the

incidence to be “drastically reduced”

. In contrast to Klaus Stöhr, Lothar Wieler is one of the select group of scientists who closely advise the federal government. The question arises whether, with Klaus Stöhr, a

contrary point of view

on the current measures does not want to be heard. (

jf

)