Epidemiologist on the Corona situation: “We are in a wave of the wave”

tagesschau.de: Which measures should remain in place as a matter of urgency?

Zeeb: The mask requirement, especially indoors, should remain nationwide, perhaps with an opt-out clause. But first the numbers have to go down, especially the number of deaths, before this highly effective measure is given up.

The mask as a symbol

tagesschau.de: The masks are a very simple and at the same time very effective measure to prevent infections …

Zeeb: Correct. In the course of the pandemic, the mask has also become a symbol for corona restrictions. If the mask requirement now falls, the signal also goes out: Corona is no longer worth this restriction. I am surprised that the federal government now wants to give up this measure of all things. I see that very critically.

tagesschau.de: Should masks still be compulsory in schools?

Zeeb: The number of infections in schools is high. It is therefore quite problematic not to wear masks here, as infections are passed on – even if the desire for lessons without masks is understandable. One way could be to do without masks, at least in elementary school. They should continue to be used in the upper classes.

tagesschau.de: When would be the right time to relax? The restrictions cannot last forever.

Zeeb: The number of cases should fall by the summer. We should wait for that. The daily number of deaths is also still far too high, and the burden in the hospitals is also increasing again. If there is a downward trend here, everything speaks for easing.

Older unvaccinated people are particularly at risk

tagesschau.de: People’s awareness of the dangers is also declining because infections with the omicron variant are often mild. But now there is data from Hong Kong that shows that older unvaccinated people often have a severe or even fatal course. What does that mean for us here in Germany?

Zeeb: That should make us think. Because our vaccination rate is comparatively low, especially for older people. More than two million people over 60 are still unvaccinated in this country. Relaxation should therefore lead to a higher number of cases in this group of people in particular. Now our sluggish pace of vaccination is taking its revenge. We’re just not good here.

tagesschau.de: But soon the general vaccination will come. In the health and care sector, it even applies…

Zeeb: We urgently need to close the significant gap in vaccinations, including mandatory vaccinations, if you will. Of course, it would be better if we were to increase the vaccination rate without obligation – for example through good vaccination campaigns and low-threshold offers. But we didn’t manage that. The fact is: our vaccination rate is too low, the pace of vaccination is slow, and boosters are no longer a success story. Compulsory vaccination can bring the impetus that we urgently need.

“A Dangerous Development”

tagesschau.de: The Corona Expert Council calls on the federal government to remain capable of acting in an emergency. In other words, being able to quickly impose measures again if the pandemic situation continues to deteriorate. But now she hands over almost all the instruments. Are we making the same mistakes as last spring?

Zeeb: It looks like this. Even if many federal states are at least slowing down a bit here, and the hotspot regulation also allows for stricter measures. But overall this is a dangerous development, because the incidences are still high and they will increase again in autumn and winter. Corona is not over, even if we wish it was.

“It would be like resignation”

tagesschau.de: What would you specifically suggest to politicians so that we can start the autumn with some certainty?

Zeeb: Two things: vaccination and masks. So, increase the vaccination rate and now quickly implement the vaccination requirement. And to maintain the mask requirement indoors nationwide.

tagesschau.de: With the omicron variant, there was great hope that it would now enter an endemic phase. Justified or naive?

Zeeb: We are in the transition to an endemic phase, but the number of cases is still far too high. This is absolutely unfavorable. Sure, Corona will stay, but as long as the virus does not circulate at a lower level and cause less damage to health, we must not put up with it. That would be tantamount to resignation. We have protections. Giving it away now is already negligent. Because this also sends out the signal that the pandemic is over and that easing is justifiable. But they are not entirely justifiable – not at this point in time.

Learning to live with Corona

tagesschau.de: They say Corona will stay. So what is the goal? Learning to live with Corona, reacting to outbreaks again and again, swinging from wave to wave?

Zeeb: We will live with Corona, but we should avoid large waves of infection. And we have to protect the people who are particularly vulnerable, i.e. the elderly and the chronically ill. This has to work better than before.

tagesschau.de: But after two years of the pandemic, isn’t it time to take more personal responsibility? If you want, you can continue to wear a mask.

Zeeb: I see no reason to rely on more personal responsibility at this point in time with the high incidence. Especially since there has always been scope for personal responsibility – for example, by getting tested before visiting parents or grandparents. Wearing the mask, on the other hand, falls within the scope for government action. Anything else would be a shift in responsibility.