Lauterbach warns of “collective stupidity” and a “scandal” with regard to Corona-Herbst
Created: 05/25/2022, 04:57
By: Marcus Giebel
Please listen to me!
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach sees dark clouds gathering on the autumn horizon.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
The corona pandemic made the headlines for almost two years.
The virus now seems to be a side issue.
But Karl Lauterbach steers against it with warning words.
Munich – Karl Lauterbach is already looking far ahead.
In political terms, it's almost in the far too distant future.
But the Minister of Health is already looking ahead to the approaching summer and the following autumn with good reason.
After all, this time Germany should finally be better prepared for an impending corona recurrence - with the number of infections increasing rapidly again in the worst case, significantly more severe Covid 19 courses and a health system in dire need.
Lauterbach on Corona autumn: Oversleeping the preparation would be “a scandal”
Therefore, the SPD politician used the opening of the German Doctors' Day in Bremen to issue a warning.
In the direction of politics, but also in the direction of society.
"Unfortunately, the pandemic is not over - we will have to expect more infections and new variants in autumn," emphasized Lauterbach.
Germany must prepare for this, everything else “would be collective stupidity and a scandal”.
Drastic words, but they are also necessary.
To make themselves heard in view of the general elation after the end of most of the restrictions, which sometimes complicated everyday life for months.
It was no coincidence that Lauterbach pointed out just a few weeks ago that a corona killer variant could definitely develop - contagious like Omicron, dangerous like Delta.
What hopefully remains a horror story.
Lauterbach calls for new infection protection law: focus not only on the obligation to wear masks indoors
According to Lauterbach, his ministry is already developing a new vaccination, testing and treatment strategy.
He also campaigned for a new infection protection law that should not be limited to the requirement to wear a mask indoors.
The current version regarding the Corona measures is valid until September 23.
Accordingly, the mouth and nose must be covered in care facilities, hospitals, other health care facilities, certain communal accommodations, in public transport as well as in air and long-distance passenger transport.
"What we have now will not be enough," the health expert warned.
And: “We have to be better prepared this time.” Also a dig at the previous government, which seemed to be surprised by every corona wave because it didn’t recognize a shot across the bow as such.
In any case, Germany was a long way from a real strategy for success in the first two years of Corona.
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According to Lauterbach, what makes things even more difficult is that the time between new variants is getting shorter and shorter.
As a result, it is not only necessary to act with foresight, but also to react quickly.
The epidemiologist, who also has to deal with the monkeypox that has arisen at least sporadically in the Federal Republic of Germany, also suggested a more intensive examination of "the problem of Long Covid".
These long-term consequences of a corona infection, which are often difficult to diagnose, could therefore develop into a new "widespread disease".
Lauterbach called for better research into the phenomenon, as well as the optimization of treatment options.
So there is a lot to do.
And no time to lose.
Lauterbach is obviously aware of this.
(mg)