"The outbreaks at Omikron are impressive": RKI boss Wieler with tip against "decision of politics"

Created: 12/25/2021, 06:11 AM

By: Julia Volkenand

RKI boss Lothar Wieler gave an outlook on the possible future of the pandemic.

© Kay Nietfeld / dpa

RKI boss Wieler received criticism for the demand for “maximum contact restrictions”.

Now he explains why Omicron is so dangerous and how it could go on.

Munich - The head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Lothar Wieler, was criticized by politics and the media last week. Shortly before the Prime Minister's Conference, the RKI demanded “maximum contact restrictions” and thus caused an uproar. In an interview with the

, Wieler explained why this requirement was not that high.

In principle, one cannot predict when Corona will finally come to an end, according to Wieler.

The pandemic is over when people are immune, either through disease or vaccination.

Then and only then will Corona become a disease that will occur regularly “and from which people will continue to die.

But these violent waves will no longer exist. ”This is what is called the endemic state.

When do we reach this?

Nobody knows.

RKI boss Wieler: Contact reduction is the be-all and end-all in the fight against Corona

With a pathogen like the coronavirus, you always have to expect mutations that may also be relevant for the vaccination program. "But when the endemic state is reached, it will probably be like it is today with the flu: First and foremost, high-risk patients, for example the elderly, people with previous illnesses or pregnant women, then have to be boosted regularly," he predicts. First of all, it is important to reduce contacts. But that is difficult, because people are exhausted from the past few years. "And we still have a small group of people who simply deny Corona, and at least eleven million adults who have not yet had themselves vaccinated, although safe and effective vaccines have been available in sufficient quantities since mid-2021 at the latest", regrets Wieler.

The data situation is not yet solid enough, especially for Omikron.

It is possible that the variant is more contagious, but has milder courses.

But there is still not enough information to be able to say that.

"Omikron is extremely contagious and can escape the immune system more easily," Wieler already knows and adds: "If the dynamics of the Omikron wave cannot be slowed down, the high number of diseases that can be expected in a short period of time means that the Health system and an impairment of critical care structures are expected. "

RKI boss Wieler on the corona vaccination quota in Germany

One problem is that so many people have not yet been vaccinated and thus contribute to the spread of the variant. However: In a European comparison, Germany is not doing so badly, says the RKI boss. The vaccination rate here is at a similar level to that in France, for example. "But that's not enough, and the high number of unvaccinated people worries us - like other European countries," he admits.

The important thing is simply to reduce contacts wherever possible. "The more people there are in a room and the longer the contact lasts, the greater the risk of an infection spreading," says Wieler. For example, where there is a party, such as in clubs and bars, the risk is very high. “The outbreaks at Omikron are impressive. Very many people who are in a room with an infected person can become infected. Very many also get sick. This is a different dimension than what we know from Delta. Vaccinated people who were vaccinated a long time ago can also become ill and contribute to the transmission of the virus. However, according to all we know, the vaccination continues to protect very well against severe disease, ”he emphasizes.

The breakouts at Omikron are impressive.

Very many people who are in a room with an infected person can become infected.

Very many also get sick. 

Lothar Wieler (Head of the Robert Koch Institute in the RND)

The RKI boss answered the question that the measures that were decided in politics shortly before Christmas were sufficient: “Our recommendation was to put the contact restrictions into effect quickly.

The Expert Council had also recommended it.

But it is a decision of politics. "

Lothar Wieler on his role in the corona pandemic: "I'm an optimist"

Wieler himself is basically not a fan of mandatory vaccinations, he said on the much-discussed topic. However, the number of unvaccinated adults is a big problem. “In a pluralistic society, a great many actors express themselves on a great many aspects. Some of the details also made people insecure, ”he suspected when asked about the cause of the many unvaccinated people.

Finally, Wieler even gives insights into his personal development during the pandemic. “I've learned a lot. The work is a little more strenuous than it was two years ago, but I continue to do it to the best of my knowledge, ”he assures. When asked why it seems more emotional today than it did two years ago, he replies: “I put the information and the data more in context than at the beginning of the pandemic and I deliberately choose more images and concise formulations. It became clear to me that information is not as entangling if you just present it soberly and rationally. But my strength remains the factual presentation. ”But he is not desperate, he is too optimistic for that. The optimism is also justified,because the majority of people show solidarity and are sensible and allow themselves to be vaccinated.

He himself will always point out the facts as long as it is necessary.