"Have to intervene even harder in winter" - Drosten expects corona measures for years to come

Created: 2022-03-24Updated: 2022-03-24 05:17

By: Martina Lippl

Virologist Christian Drosten also expects corona measures in the coming years.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Virologist Christian Drosten expects corona measures in autumn - also in the coming years.

There is still a lack of “community immunity”.

Munich – The corona pandemic has already been ticked off for many.

In view of the war in Ukraine, measures against the corona virus * seem unimportant.

The number of infections in Germany is extreme at the moment.

Drosten: Corona high incidence phase could last until Easter

“We are currently in a high-incidence phase.

And it will stay that way until Easter if you don't intervene," said Christian Drosten from the Charité in Berlin in an interview with the weekly newspaper

published on Wednesday .

Corona in summer 2022: Virologist Drosten advocates FFP2 masks

With a view to the summer, the infection process must be controlled “probably with relatively mild measures”.

Drosten emphasizes: “Masks in rooms are still one of the most efficient means.” However, young people who have been vaccinated three times could move freely again in summer and, if they become infected, also build up immunity for the community.

And Long Covid is much rarer in vaccinated people, emphasizes the virologist.

Drosten had previously ruled out a completely carefree summer in the NDR podcast at the beginning of March.

And emphasizes that wearing FFP2 masks indoors is “the most efficient measure of all” in the long run.

Sobering forecast for Corona winter: Drosten still expects Corona measures in the coming years

"In winter we will very likely have to intervene even harder," estimates the Corona expert.

The reason: The current immunity would no longer help against transmissions in the fall.

Even the corona infections in summer are insufficient for “community immunity”.

"You can't have as many infections in one summer as you need for community immunity like influenza," explains the Berlin virologist.

"It will take years, so you will have to control the incidence for years to come with relatively mild measures in autumn and winter," said Drosten.

In his opinion, booster vaccinations in autumn for risk groups could keep the infection rate under control.

Vaccinations are the best protection against serious illnesses. What other mild measures the scientist has in mind, he did not go into detail.

But, if Drosten considers masks to be appropriate indoors in summer, they are probably an effective means in the cold winter months.

The virologist also emphasized that effective medication for risk patients would have to be made available in the fall.

 “It is wise to prepare for different scenarios”

virologist Christian Drosten

The scientist cannot currently say whether a corona vaccine*, adapted to the omicron variant, is sufficient.

Other new variants could play a role.

Putting everything on Omikron is not a successful strategy.

"It is wise to prepare for different scenarios," said Christian Drosten in the

interview.

The virologist points to a decisive advantage of Germany: "When we go into summer in the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere will experience the next winter.

If Omikron is still the dominant variant there, then the decision can be made with some certainty: we boost with a vaccine adapted to Omikron, and we start the vaccination campaign again in the oldest age groups, which are particularly at risk.”

Christian Drosten and Sandra Ciesek get off the NDR podcast "Coronavirus Update".

The Berlin virologist already announced this in a previous episode.

The corona pandemic is not over yet, but according to Drosten, he needs more time for research.

“People who are not interested in it will no longer be reached.

You can leave that to politicians as to how this will be handled,” says Drosten in the NDR podcast.

It's not interested in being a media figure.

Participation in the NDR podcast "is a support in the pandemic.

And that is no longer necessary in this form.”