If the number of infections is extremely high, the federal and state governments are struggling to continue the corona course and possible easing. Will 2G fall in retail? A look through scientific glasses.
Berlin – The debate about easing the corona measures is in full swing in Germany – before the next federal-state meeting next Wednesday, you will also hear different voices from the scientific community as to what the right way is.
Some warn against opening steps too quickly, others are already aiming for the way back to normality. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) recently promised easing “well before Easter”.
The 2G and 2G plus regulations are under discussion. In retail, for example, the requirements in the countries are sometimes different: In some, 2G has already been phased out, other countries are planning accordingly. Epidemiologist Timo Ulrichs from the Akkon University of Human Sciences in Berlin told the German Press Agency: “In general, a current relaxation of the 2G rules would be risky because we still cannot estimate how this will affect the omicron spread and thus with a time delay would affect the admission of unvaccinated infected and sick people to hospitals.”
Streck: “Cautiously back to normality”
The Bonn virologist Hendrik Streeck had recently assessed it somewhat differently and questioned the G regulations: “We have to carefully return to normality. From my point of view, there should be no difference between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated,” he told the “Münchner Merkur”. In his view, those who have been vaccinated twice transmit the virus like those who have not been vaccinated. With the booster, that will change somewhat, but only for a few months. “Therefore, you have to ask yourself the general question of whether you want to stick to the G-rules.”
When asked, the immunologist Carsten Watzl pointed out that the 2G regulations are not so much about unvaccinated people generally becoming infected more quickly, but about the fact that they have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill. “This is still the case with Omikron, even if the probability of a severe course with an Omikron infection compared to a Delta infection is also reduced for unvaccinated people,” said the Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology. Vaccination and especially boosters provide very good protection against such a severe course, confirmed Watzl.
With a view to the question of the extent to which the risk of infection in the particularly easily transmitted omicron variant differs between the unvaccinated, those with basic immunization and people with a booster vaccination, Watzl points out that this is due to other factors such as the time since the last vaccination or the vaccinated.
Hajo Zeeb from the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology in Bremen referred to a recent report by the British Health Authority (UKHSA). Thus, while the effectiveness of vaccination and boosters against Omicron is lower than against Delta, it is still clearly present, while the unvaccinated have no protection, Zeeb explained. The protection against a severe course that leads to the hospital is also significantly higher with Omikron.
Ulrichs: “Keep wearing masks”
Ulrichs, Watzl and Zeeb emphasized how important FFP2 masks remained in the fight against omicron. “The general wearing of FFP-2 masks is very important for slowing down the spread of omicrons,” says Ulrichs. “We should continue to wear masks at least until the omicron wave has completely subsided.”
From Zeeb’s point of view, the mask is likely to be the protective measure to be maintained for the longest time, even if more and more restrictions will be imposed in the foreseeable future – “possibly simply as a requirement and not as an obligation,” says the expert.
But in his view, reducing contact and distancing regulations remain important. Even if the 2G regulations are gradually falling everywhere, he thinks it makes sense to “think about limiting the number of people indoors” – both in shops and in restaurants.
Streeck had told the “Münchner Merkur” that he thought it would be desirable to abolish corona measures – including the obligation to wear a mask – for the summer. “I advocate a summer mode and a winter mode”. In the warm season, measures can be dispensed with, in autumn and winter there must be measures. dpa
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