Drosten: A clinic is a large-scale operation and the operations and treatments are its money-maker. If this fails temporarily during a pandemic, the entire company will run into huge financial problems. In addition, there are the enormous additional costs that have to be shouldered, such as infection control and protection for employees. But the greatest consequential damage is something else.
Drosten: The nursing staff suffered so much from the strain that people dropped out in droves. Large proportions of beds in large hospitals cannot be occupied today, simply because there is a lack of staff. Hospitals in places where there were high incidences are still suffering today.
You both give examples that the media should report on from your perspective. What responsibility does the press bear for the disruption caused by the pandemic?
Male: That’s too much of a general question for me. Could it be a little smaller?
Were journalists too sympathetic to politics?
Male: During the pandemic, many colleagues tried to keep up responsibly to the point of being overwhelmed and beyond. A particular challenge for journalists is the constant acceleration in our time. The more complicated the situation, the more important it is to step back and say: I need time to research things, to understand them. Too often there is no longer enough space for this today. But that is precisely what makes good journalism irreplaceable.
Unfortunately, operations are unlikely to get any slower. So it’s all spilled wine?
Male: No, that is the most important point for me: there is still a lot to clarify. And it is our job and duty to find out. We must not neglect this, no one else can do this. By the way, especially when the state refuses to process it.
We discussed mistakes in politics and journalism. Mr. Drosten, if you had to take action on your own behalf: What mistakes did you make during the pandemic?
As a scientist, as an important public figure in this pandemic.
Drosten: When I look back, I don’t see any scientific errors in my assessments. Rather small details that are not that interesting to the public. When it comes to the essential things, I don’t have the feeling that, given today’s knowledge, I would have said it completely differently. But I am aware that this is difficult to convey.
Drosten: Because the public has misconceptions about what I actually said and recommended, whether publicly or in political advice. We all have a perception of reality that only works through the media – and this perception is often wrong. But I’m relaxed about it. I only recommended to politicians what I explained in the NDR podcasts. And you can listen to and read it all. It is also proven and justified. Let others judge.
That still sounds bitter. What have you learned from dealing with the media?
Drosten: I was way too direct in my communication at the beginning. I didn’t even understand what range I had. It was only later that I realized how the media reinforced, sometimes shortened and distorted it. With this knowledge I would certainly communicate differently today or not at all. As an individual, I would no longer put myself in such danger.
What do you mean by “danger”?
Drosten: There was sometimes violence against me in the air. But another danger was much greater for me: the destruction of my public reputation. This happens in the media, it also happens intentionally. This is an enormous risk for an unprotected professional personality. There are many colleagues who have followed the interactions with me and will now be much more careful themselves. If we as a science do not find other ways to accompany such crises, a gap will arise.
Male: And that wouldn’t be a good development at all. Many of those who are made really well for today’s media world may not be the very best in their field.
Male: The question is: How do we solve this? How do we ensure that the very best determine the discourse – and not those who communicate best with the media.
Mr. Drosten, Mr. Mascolo, thank you very much for the interview.
* Editor’s note: After readers pointed out the Leopoldina paper signed by Christian Drosten, which recommends a job-related compulsory vaccination, t-online asked and added its answer at this point in the interview on October 10th.