SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach criticizes EM in twelve countries as ›irresponsible‹

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SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach

Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa

Shortness of breath, dizziness, headache - even months after a Covid 19 illness, people suffer from these symptoms, among other things.

Health expert Karl Lauterbach (SPD) once again drew attention to the increasing risk for football professionals of long-term consequences after corona infections in an interview.

Lauterbach told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" that he believed that Uefa's adherence to a European football championship in as many as twelve countries this summer was "irresponsible."

“These are long-term health problems that can mean the immediate end of your career.

You have to honestly tell people whose health is their capital, «said Lauterbach with a view to diseases that are called Long Covid (Langes Covid-19) in technical terms.

Decreased lung function is common

A study with some of the first Covid 19 patients from Wuhan, China, had shown: More than three quarters of them still have at least one symptom six months after their illness.

Even young and physically fit people sometimes report long-lasting symptoms after an infection.

Long-term effects were also seen with mild disease courses.

Reduced lung function is particularly common.

The WHO estimates that around one in ten people who are infected with Sars-CoV-2 still suffer from symptoms such as tiredness and shortness of breath three months later, but also from cardiological and neurological problems.

The European Football Union (Uefa) wants to decide on April 19 whether the European Championship, which has been postponed to this year, can be played in twelve countries as planned.

Munich is planned as the German host.

The key point is the admission of viewers who have already promised eight European Championship cities.

Munich has to improve its concept on this point, according to the will of Uefa.

mfh / dpa