While politicians still seem undecided about how to proceed with the coronavirus, epidemiologist Gerald Gartlehner (Donau Uni Krems) expresses serious doubts about the usefulness of the quarantine rules in force after an infection. Too many people are trying to bypass all the “separation machines,” Gartlehner said.
In the third year of the pandemic, the coronavirus has now brought the warm summer months under control – the number of infections has recently skyrocketed, despite reduced testing activity. So has the train to contain the pandemic already left?
Too many don’t participate anymore
You could get such an impression based on Gartlehner’s statements in Thursday’s Ö1 “Morning Journal”. The willingness of the population to support the measures is relatively low, he said resignedly. Too many people would stop taking a test not to get into the “divorce machine”, he immediately questioned the quarantine regulations: “We cannot deny this reality.”
It is, of course, difficult for affected people to recognize how contagious they really are with an infection, he continued. A large proportion of those infected also walk around without symptoms – then the infection happens so quickly that the damage is usually done “before people can even be isolated”.
Measures like these with “little benefit”
It is also known from model calculations that segregation and isolation make little sense “if the number of infections in the population is very high and if we are dealing with a virus that is very contagious and which can also be transmitted by humans without symptoms,” says Mr. Gartlehner.
So how to deal with the virus? In any case, Gartlehner sees no government strategy: “What would be important would be a strong focus on vulnerable people. Only ten percent of people over 65 are currently fully vaccinated,” he urges a campaign to ensure they really get the booster they need.
Everything stands and falls with personal responsibility
Otherwise, a lot depends on personal responsibility. Sick people are not allowed to go to work – “not with the flu and not with Corona” – but in the individual office there is nothing against going to work infected with a mask, according to the epidemiologist.
Older and frail people in particular should be tested regularly: if you notice an infection quickly, you can take countermeasures with antivirals.
Source: Krone
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