The Omikron variant is also on the advance in Germany and is causing new concerns for politicians and citizens.
Top virologist Hendrik Streeck (44) has now given a first look at the coming Corona year. The member of the Expert Council of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (63, SPD): “I have good news and bad news”.
The good ones first. In an interview with the dpa he said: “We will have a quiet summer again. In March or April the numbers will drop significantly again. “
But there is also bad news: “I think” the Germans have to come to terms with it, according to Streeck, “that everyone in Germany will come into contact with the virus again and again in the next few years.”
This also means: Everyone must “prepare to be tested positive for Corona in their life.” After all, infections “that occur in those who have been vaccinated, recovered and especially in the summer months” should not cause any major problems. Even if you can’t prevent every severe course.
Streeck predicted: In addition to the summer months, in which one could deal with “many things” in a more “relaxed” manner, there should be more waves in autumn and winter. “How exactly they will look like,” explains the director of the Institute for Virology at the University Clinic in Bonn, depends on many factors. “About the variants that are still to come.”
In plain language: “We have to develop a summer tire and a winter tire mode.”
“That was a fatal signal”
In an interview with the dpa, Streeck also talked about mistakes that have been made in recent months, such as insufficient preparation “for autumn and winter” – and particularly focuses on wrong messages.
“With the vaccination I got the feeling that the pandemic was over. It was communicated that way. “The message was:” Get vaccinated, then Corona is over for you. ”
But: “That was a fatal signal. It was not made clear that vaccinated people are still in the pandemic. ”
And then came Omicron …
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