“Words fail me” – Frankfurt virologist renews Drosten’s corona emergency number

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Frankfurt virologist about Corona: no vaccination effect in sight

First registration from Wednesday, April 7th, 2021: Frankfurt – On Tuesday (April 6th, 2021), Saarland was the only federal state to start a nationwide model project that relies on openings. The basis for citizens to benefit from this is a negative corona test. Sandra Ciesek, a virologist from Frankfurt, is critical of such opening strategies in times of the corona pandemic. “The responsibility is passed on to the citizen,” said the director of the Institute for Medical Virology at the Frankfurt University Hospital on Tuesday in the “NDR” podcast “The Coronavirus Update”.

“When the door is opened, it must be clear to the citizen that it has nothing to do with security,” said Ciesek. Accordingly, this impression should not be created, added the virologist. Rather, everyone has to decide individually whether to accept these freedoms in view of the new corona infections or to exercise caution.

Corona: Virologist Ciesek sees no reason to reject the measures

Although there was a certain leveling off in the development of new corona infections before Easter, the incidence values ​​also fell in some cities over the holidays. Nevertheless, she considers it risky to derive a rejection of corona measures and restrictions from these numbers, the virologist continued. On the one hand, it is well known that testing is less frequent over the holidays, and on the other hand, some people may have restricted contacts before Easter in order to be able to meet relatives on the holidays, says Ciesek: “You have to see how things will go after Easter.”

In particular, the increase in the number of patients in hospitals and the increase in the occupancy of intensive care beds by younger people is a cause for concern. The latter would have better chances of survival than 80 or 90-year-olds, but would sometimes spend a long time in intensive care units: “Weeks or months,” said the virologist. Patients of the second wave of infections are still in intensive care units – that is a completely different situation than last summer.

Corona opening strategies: virologist sees no vaccination effect

Furthermore, a vaccination effect is not yet in sight for Sandra Ciesek. It is also not enough to look at the effect of the corona vaccinations in order to be able to lift contact restrictions. It is also important that vaccinated people do not forego precautionary measures after the first vaccination. There is the “dangerous phase” after the first vaccination, as antibodies first have to develop, said Ciesek about the carelessness of those who believed they were immediately protected from a corona infection after the vaccination.

Regarding the obligation to test for those returning from travel, the virologist said: “I already have the feeling that travel is a risk factor.” On the one hand, new variants could be brought into the country by returning, on the other hand, one behaves differently – otherwise it wasn’t Vacation. ”Many people then behaved more carelessly than in everyday life, says Ciesek. However, a test is “only a snapshot”, she emphasized. In her opinion, it is not enough to just secure the airports. Travelers who drive to Germany, for example, fell through the grid: “There is definitely still a need for optimization,” says Ciesek. (ktho / slo / dpa) * hna.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

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