Drosten defends corona loosening – but you “have to take tougher action again”

Created: 03/25/2022, 22:16

By: Kai Hartwig

Virologist Christian Drosten classified the corona situation in the "daily topics".

© Screenshot / ARD Mediathek

With the mild temperatures, the corona measures are currently being relaxed.

Virologist Christian Drosten supports this path.

And appeals to take countermeasures if necessary.

Berlin – The Omicron wave continues to ensure very high Corona* numbers in Germany.

The fact that there are still loosening is observed in part critically.

The head of virology at the Berlin Charité, Christian Drosten*, defended this step.

"Something has changed.

We have another virus, the omicron variant, and increasing vaccination protection in the population," said the virologist in the

daily topics.

After all, you can see easing not only in Germany, but also in other countries.

"It's important that you don't see this as an unthinking opening and not thinking about it anymore."

Virologist Christian Drosten: "The virus has not become absolutely harmless"

The corona situation must continue to be closely monitored, said Drosten.

“The virus has not become absolutely harmless.

You have to moderate the situation and not just let it run its course,” the scientist affirmed.

When asked by moderator Caren Miosga whether politicians would let the virus freely through their corona easing and whether they would deliberately infect the population, he said no.

In the course of the corona pandemic*, it was repeatedly the case that original decisions had to be regulated, Drosten classified.

Drosten: No conscious corona infection of the population - "Not everyone accepts protection"

“An epidemic means that you let a virus run in the population without protection so that immunity develops.

This protection is now guaranteed,” said Drosten, referring to the corona vaccinations.

“Not everyone accepts this protection, but everyone can be vaccinated.” There are therefore reasons to relax the measures.

The further course of the pandemic is characterized by “seasonality”.

"We have to be careful.

For the very near future it is certainly the case that we will keep these high numbers for the time being, ”said the virus expert.

He described the development that “over 65-year-olds are increasingly becoming infected” as a “bigger problem”.

In this age group in particular, there is a poor vaccination rate in Germany.

Corona in summer: Drosten gives hope and advertises masks indoors

According to Drosten, the upcoming Easter holidays could have a positive effect.

The “by far” highest incidences are observed in schools, the holidays should now prevent this, the virologist hoped.

The late timing of Easter this year could also help, so it stays warmer even after the holidays are over.

Drosten expects the infection rate to increase towards the summer.

But: "If we wear a mask* indoors, for example, then you can moderate what's happening in such a way that it doesn't get out of control."

"Then winter comes, you have to take tougher action again," predicted Drosten.

Despite all the alleviation of the corona symptoms *, it must still be assumed that numerous infected people will be on sick leave.

"You then inevitably have to regulate against it again, otherwise social life no longer works," warned Drosten.

Drosten on the corona pandemic: Omikron has “reshuffled the cards”

Omikron "reshuffled the cards".

One cannot expect protection against the transmission of the virus from the corona vaccination.

The vaccination "continues to protect very well against the serious illness," said Drosten: "It provides excellent protection against death." In the case of Omikron, protection against corona infection or transmission of the virus is weaker than with previous variants.

Drosten therefore campaigned for a return to the mask requirement if the situation worsened again after the summer.

"Politicians have to plan for this now," he demanded.