It’s autumn, the corona numbers are rising. People with Covid-19 are also more likely to be suffering from Covid-19 in their personal environment. There are no longer any mandatory regulations, but what behavior is sensible now? Six virologists, infectiologists and immunologists report on how they personally plan to deal with viruses and other annoyances this winter – and what they recommend.
Are you currently changing your behavior in view of the increasing Corona numbers?
Ulrike Protzer, Director of Virology at the Helmholtz Center and the Technical University of Munich: The rising numbers don’t actually affect my behavior at the moment. We know that the number of respiratory diseases always increases in autumn. And accordingly, you simply behave a little more cautiously. I also always go for vaccinations in the fall. Previously only against flu, now also against Corona.
Can be vaccinated – against flu and corona: Ulrike Protzer, virologist in Munich.
(Photo: Falk Heller/© argum)
Christoph Lübbert, Chief Physician of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the St. Georg Hospital and the Leipzig University Hospital: I’ve been acting differently for about two weeks now. When we have a clinic meeting with a lot of doctors, I pay a lot of attention to ventilating things. I also remind you again and again that in the medical field there is also the option of working from home if you are sick. And anyone in my department who is experiencing a mild respiratory infection is required to wear a mask.
Ventilates in meetings with many people: Christoph Lübbert, infectiologist in Leipzig.
(Photo: Stefan Straube/UKL)
Christine Falk, Head of the Institute for Transplantation Immunology at the Hannover Medical School: No, I haven’t changed anything yet. But that might not be a bad thing, because the chances of catching a cold are now increasing again. And actually I have far too much to do to want to get sick and miss work.
Wearing a mask is an individual decision, says Christine Falk, an immunologist in Hanover.
(Photo: Karin Kaiser/MHH)
Carsten Watzl, Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology and Professor at the TU Dortmund: I haven’t changed my behavior at the moment, but there are things that I think are important: This includes staying at home for three to five days and keeping your feet still if you have a respiratory infection. You shouldn’t carry viruses to work in a supposedly heroic way. Corona is over for many, but not for some. Long Covid is an issue, and very old and seriously ill people are still at risk. I want to protect these people.
Also wants to protect other people: Carsten Watzl, immunologist in Dortmund.
(Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Leibniz Institute)
Hans-Georg Kräusslich, Director of Virology at Heidelberg University Hospital: Yes, I am changing my behavior. I’m more careful now. Not in the supermarket, not when visiting a museum, I don’t think the risk is high enough at the moment. But when I spend a long time with a large number of people in a relatively limited environment, I try to protect myself. For me it’s not just about Corona, but about respiratory infections overall. I don’t want to get influenza, and I can easily avoid other cold viruses.
From now on, Hans-Georg Kräusslich, virologist in Heidelberg, will make a new decision every winter.
(Photo: UK Heidelberg)
Clemens Wendtner, infectiologist and chief physician at the Munich Clinic Schwabing: I have become a little more careful with gatherings of people again. Together with the Munich University Hospitals, we are currently working on recommendations for action for patients and employees. Our motto should be: Wear a mask from autumn to Easter. Of course we can’t dictate this, but it would be good if as many people as possible adhered to it.
Wants to wear a mask regularly on buses and trains: Clemens Wendtner, infectious disease specialist in Munich.
(Photo: Peter Kneffel/dpa)
Does it make sense to wear masks again outside of hospitals and nursing homes?
Ulrike Protzer: The most sensible thing to do is to wear a mask if you are infected yourself. This protects others and is especially important when dealing with vulnerable people. But you can of course also use masks for self-protection, especially if an indoor space is tight or the people next to you obviously have a respiratory infection.
Christoph Lübbert: If there is a Corona wave, it certainly makes sense to put on a mask on buses and trains. In my opinion, a surgical mask is usually sufficient. But if you are a high-risk patient or have experienced that Covid-19 is a serious illness, I would put on an FFP2 mask.
Christine Falk: It is an individual decision. If you can’t afford to miss a few days with a bad cold, then the mask makes perfect sense. Especially where there are a lot of people together in a small space. And of course when you hear sniffling and coughing from all sides.
Carsten Watzl: I don’t think we will have or need a mask requirement again. If I’m sitting on a very full ICE soon and everyone around me is blowing their nose, then I can well imagine that I’ll put on a mask again.
Hans-Georg Kräusslich: I definitely think it makes sense on public transport. Next weekend I’m flying to Finland and in a few weeks I’m taking the train to Berlin. In situations like this, I now put on a mask again.
Clemens Wendtner: On the train and on the plane – whenever I’m in a tube with lots of people, I’ll wear a mask again if the numbers continue to rise. I just haven’t decided yet whether a simple mask is enough or whether I’ll use an FFP2 mask.
Masks undoubtedly protect against corona and other respiratory infections. But could it also have negative effects if you only rarely get infected?
Ulrike Protzer: Masks themselves have no effect on the immune system. But every infection has an influence. And when I have an infection, it stimulates my immune system. But only against the exact pathogen that got me. You then have to decide whether you want this immune stimulation.
Christoph Lübbert: If you wear a mask always and everywhere and have no contact with viruses, you lose immunity, there is no question about it. Young people in particular died in the Spanish flu over 100 years ago. The older ones were protected because they had previously been in contact with a similar flu virus. It’s been similar in Australia over the past few months, where winter has just come to an end. There was a sharp wave of influenza there. A striking number of children became seriously ill. This was probably also because the children had not had an influenza infection for a long time due to the lockdowns and the mask requirement, or even never before; their immune systems were not trained. Basically, it’s good to keep refreshing your immunity. But you have to weigh that against the dangers of infection. Sars-CoV-2 does not only affect the respiratory tract, and Long Covid is a problem that we have not yet been able to treat causally. That’s why I wear a mask in winter wherever it gets tight.
Christine Falk: Wearing a mask for a few hours a day certainly does not change the fitness of the immune system. And there is no need for extra training for the immune system due to infections. So there’s nothing wrong with wearing a mask, except for comfort. Of course, this only applies to immune-healthy people. For immunocompromised or older people, for example transplant recipients, the mask has an important protective function and is therefore worn more often. Then a booster vaccination with the adapted vaccines in accordance with the recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission is also important, if necessary in combination with the flu vaccination.
Carsten Watzl: I currently no longer see the risk of immune gaps developing. During the pandemic, everyone was required to wear a mask, and there were also contact restrictions. As a result, viruses hardly had a chance, there were hardly any colds, and the flu season was basically canceled. But it won’t be that extreme anymore. The strict rules no longer exist, so I don’t see the risk of us developing immune gaps, even if we wear a mask in crowded rooms. It’s also not a problem for a healthy adult if they don’t get influenza or RSV for a few winters, as you don’t come into contact with all viruses every winter even without a mask. It could be problematic for children if they only have their first contact with individual viruses at an older age. They should not wear masks.
Hans-Georg Kräusslich: We’re only talking about the fourth winter with a mask, so I don’t see any problems, as immune protection only wears off after years. But in the long term you definitely have to weigh things up, you also need infections in between. I would decide this anew every winter, not apodictically, but pragmatically.
Clemens Wendtner: A certain amount of immunological training for important infections is certainly not a bad thing; then the memory cells are reactivated and the immune response is more powerful and faster for the next infection. When it comes to Covid-19 and influenza, you shouldn’t forget that there is another way to keep your immune system active: I get vaccinated against both.