Measures required: “Delta will rush through schools”

In Germany, concerns about the end of the summer vacation are growing. Because the delta variant is spreading and especially endangers unvaccinated children and adolescents. Experts and politicians are therefore calling for quick action.

Although the corona infection situation in Germany has recently improved noticeably, politicians and researchers are concerned about the particularly contagious Delta variant. This is spreading more and more in Germany and is particularly at risk for unvaccinated children and adolescents.

The focus is therefore increasingly on possible safety precautions in the classrooms after the summer vacation. “The Delta variant will rush through schools very quickly after the summer holidays if we don’t take precautions,” warned the virologist Melanie Brinkmann from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in an interview with the editorial network Germany.

Brinkmann advocated the increased use of so-called lollipop tests or gargle tests – instead of the less precise rapid antigen tests. “That saves costs and can be evaluated using PCR.” Lollipop and gargle tests can also be taken in groups and evaluated all at once; individual retesting is only necessary if the result is positive.

Masks should also be worn to reduce the risk of infection. Fans directly in the window panes are also a good solution, says Brinkmann. “Without additional measures, the infections will increase again, there will be quarantine loops, as can already be seen in schools in Great Britain.”

Baerbock: air filters in every classroom

The Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock spoke out in favor of massive investments to arm all schools against the virus. “An air filter system must be made available for every classroom in this country,” she told the newspapers of the Funke media group and the French newspaper “Ouest-France”. That costs money. But one should not get back into a situation where some children have to study at home “just because no provision has been made”.

The virologist Brinkmann was skeptical in this regard: “I think that every classroom throughout Germany has an individually tailored ventilation system until after the holidays is an illusion.” A better test system is important.

Söder: Vaccinate young people quickly

Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder called on the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) to urgently consider when to recommend vaccinating young people. “The most effective means against the Delta variant is the school vaccination. Especially in the younger age groups, the incidence figures are highest,” said the CSU head of the “Bild am Sonntag”.

Vaccinating young people not only increases protection for everyone, but also gives back more freedom to a generation that has had to forego a lot, said Söder. Bavaria will start vaccinating the graduating classes this week. “Nationwide, we have to vaccinate quickly and specifically in schools as soon as the STIKO recommendation is available.”