The government announces end of Covid laws. But now an expert warns: the problem will persist. An appropriate pandemic law is needed.
Health Minister Johannes Rauch and Chancellor Karl Nehammer declared an end to the pandemic and associated laws through “Krone”. A sigh of relief across the country. But be warned of overconfidence and hasty shots. GECKO boss Katharina Reich says the pandemic is not over.
“The Problem Remains”
Microbiologist and corona expert Ulrich Elling says: “Whether it is a pandemic or an endemic disease, that is an academic discussion that is of no use to us in practice. One thing is certain: the problem remains.”
Due to the enormous immunity, the virus will sleep a bit in the near future. This is also the view of epidemiologist Gerald Gartlehner, who is therefore also in favor of repeal of the laws and a return to normality. Nevertheless, as with the flu, the virus can reawaken and intensify.
Expert advocates for pandemic laws
Ulrich Elling therefore also argues for pandemic laws: they are there to monitor and control in a stressful situation. “The current laws are written with a hot pen. It makes sense to fundamentally review them, as Minister Rauch is considering. But I think it would be wrong to abolish them altogether.” Then you can only observe the waste water. This is not accurate enough and too little. There are no patient-related data. New variants can go unnoticed.
“Otherwise we will be caught cold again”
The WHO is calling for a comprehensive analysis of all those who come to hospital with respiratory illness. Then, according to Elling, you can compare with waste water data. “The virus can surprise us again – also with a new variant – so we need a certain level of monitoring, including test systems.”
In any case, a general, reasonable law and, above all, the functioning structures are needed. If this does not happen, then, according to the scientist, we will be “out in the cold again”. Microbiologist Ulrich Elling does not believe in mandatory testing for people entering China. This is xenophobic and populist. “The next wave with a sub-variant will not come from China, with obsolete variants, but from New York – it’s already spreading across the country.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
