Wiesn 2022 despite increasing corona numbers?
Health expert gives assessment
Created: 06/18/2022, 06:08
By: Theresa Kuchler
Will Corona still make the Oktoberfest 2022 fail?
The numbers are increasing - and Dieter Reiter only wants the Wiesn completely or not at all.
Health politician Johannes Wagner assesses the situation.
Munich – The anticipation for Oktoberfest 2022 is huge.
The Oktoberfest had to be canceled for two years because the pandemic didn't allow it, but this year the world's largest folk festival can finally go up again.
Or not?
The number of corona infections is climbing again.
If this trend continues until autumn, the Wiesn plans could seriously be in jeopardy.
After all, Munich's* Mayor Dieter Reiter has already made it clear: The Oktoberfest 2022 only exists completely or not at all.
In an interview with
Bayerischer Rundfunk
, the SPD politician said that access restrictions “cannot be pulled out of a hat four weeks in advance”.
The Green health politician Johannes Wagner also warns against false promises about this year's Wiesn.
Oktoberfest 2022 despite Corona?
Health expert Johannes Wagner gives an assessment
The 31-year-old doctor has been in the Bundestag for the Coburg constituency in Franconia since 2021.
In an interview, Wagner told
t-online.de
that it was "totally difficult to predict" whether the Oktoberfest could rise this year or not.
Experience has shown that the number of infections will decrease in summer.
"However, there are variants that are so contagious that we could see the numbers spike again."
Is the Oktoberfest 2022 still on the brink because of Corona?
(Archive image) © Imagebroker/Imago
This is exactly what can be seen at the moment with the omicron subtype BA.5, which is spreading rapidly in Europe and is causing corona infections to skyrocket despite high temperatures.
With a view to the Oktoberfest, which is scheduled to take place from September 17 to October 3, 2022, Wagner says that it is “so incredibly difficult to make exact predictions”.
It is just as difficult to comply with the requirements at a folk festival of this size.
Oktoberfest in Munich 2022: Wagner warns of "false promises"
On the one hand, the controls of tens of thousands of people would pose great challenges for everyone involved.
"And the controls are the least of the problems," says Wagner to
t-online.de
.
"In the tent, it then becomes unreasonable for the staff to enforce hygiene measures between intoxicated guests.
I can understand the statements of the mayor well: either completely or not at all.” Wagner therefore appeals not to make “false promises”.
Green health politician Janosch Dahmen also said in May: "I'm not sure whether it's wise or right to make promises now that large gatherings of people should definitely be possible again in autumn".
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is of the same opinion.
Unlike the Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU).
He immediately countered to Dahmen that he found the “yes” to the Wiesn “justifiable, also in view of the current development of the corona pandemic”.
In late summer it is easier to predict whether the Oktoberfest 2022 can take place or not
In any case, Johannes Wagner does not rule out that the Wiesn will also be called off shortly before the tapping.
"If you have to intervene again, the principle applies: 'Hit hard and early', i.e. act early and decisively." The health politician expects that by late summer - "end of August, beginning of September" - more clarity about the virus is happening Has.
"Then you can certainly predict much better whether the Oktoberfest will take place or not."
(kuc)
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