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Photo: Z6944 Z6944 Sascha Steinach / picture alliance / ZB
The urgency can already be read in the headline: "Clear and consistent measures - immediately!" This is the title of the 10th ad hoc statement of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina on the pandemic.
The twelve authors, including Leopoldina President Gerald Haug, virologist Christian Drosten and numerous clinic directors such as the chairman of the Berlin Charité Board, Heyo Kroemer, are calling for a massive expansion of the vaccination campaign, the gradual introduction of general compulsory vaccinations and clear contact restrictions.
They also criticize the infection protection law recently passed by the SPD, Greens and FDP.
"These days, Germany is facing a renewed, intensified escalation of the Covid 19 crisis," write the experts.
“It is to be feared that parts of politics and the public will not grasp the drama of the situation to its full extent.” “Immediate countermeasures are urgently required”.
30 million booster vaccinations by Christmas
As a measure, the scientists recommend a "massive increase in the vaccination campaign".
Pharmacists, midwives, dentists and other medical professional groups would also have to offer vaccinations in the future, vaccination centers "with long opening times" would have to be set up nationwide, and the offers of outreach vaccination teams would have to be expanded.
In addition to first and second vaccinations, around 30 million booster vaccinations should be administered by Christmas.
In addition, the compulsory vaccination for certain professions such as doctors or nurses must be introduced "quickly", a general vaccination requirement should be prepared - "taking into account the necessary legal and social framework conditions."
"Strict contact restrictions" required
The authors see two options for reducing interpersonal contacts: strict contact restrictions as early as next week, at least in regions with a high incidence - also in the private sector, indoors and when large crowds gather.
Where this is not possible, there must be a mask and strict 2G obligation.
The alternative for such lockdown solutions could be a strict and strictly controlled 2G regulation indoors and at events, with the exception of supermarkets or medical practices.
However, this option is significantly less effective than the first option, warn the scientists.
In order to be able to keep the schools open, the experts urgently advise that teachers and pupils of all grades must wear a mask without exception during their entire stay in the school buildings.
In addition, the Christmas holidays should be brought forward.
Criticism of the new infection protection law
The Leopoldina scientists also clearly criticize the recently passed Infection Protection Act by the traffic light parties. "The problem here is that, even with extremely high incidence values and hospitalization rates, certain general measures may no longer be taken." The most serious deficit of the law, it says, is "that no criteria (incidence values, etc.) are listed any longer when the countries may or must take certain measures «. This makes the close consultation between the federal states within the framework of the Prime Minister's Conference all the more important.
The authors emphasize that their appeal for restrictions on freedom such as mandatory vaccination or contact restrictions are in line with basic values and priorities "which are shared by the majority of the population with good reason".
It is about protecting "the citizens of our society from further disastrous consequences" of the pandemic.
