Many European countries fear a second wave of the Coruna virus, and German parliamentarian and health expert Karl Lauterbach says the German strategy must change. Instead of tracking contacts, it is required to focus more attention on the virus's publishers. The following are excerpts from the interview conducted by Der Spiegel:
- What is your biggest concern these days?
The second wave. It is already evolving, and we have beaten the first well and reasonably well, and we would have been better off if we had kept closing for another two to three weeks. And now, we are at the beginning of the second wave. To manage this, we urgently need to change strategy when it comes to fighting the epidemic.
What can we do to prevent the sharp increase in the number of injuries this fall?
We cannot tolerate another strict closure, as that would be terrible, but we also have to assume that people will not be disciplined, as they were during the first wave. As such, health authorities' strategies will be critical.
- Until now, the authorities have been tracking all contacts with new injuries in order to break the chain ... What is wrong with this strategy?
This approach is totally ineffective, and we are on the wrong track. Instead of communicating with everyone on the phone, the authorities should focus their efforts on the so-called "most severe publishers", which are the very few infectious cases that often afflict dozens of people in collective situations, and they are the driving force behind the epidemic, and if we do not change the course , The second wave will be severe.
Why is this strategy followed so far ineffective?
It is a large amount of work that uses a large number of employees, and has almost no effect. We are trying unsuccessfully to fight the epidemic, as patients are isolated at a time when they are no longer prepared. By this time, they have passed on the virus to others, long ago. People usually go to the doctor on the second day of symptoms, and this is often the fourth day of infection, as the first two days are free of symptoms.
- How do?
I support the adoption of Japan's strategy, which has proven to be the most effective in monitoring "the most publishers". Nor did the Japanese impose strict closures, during the first wave, but they were almost as successful as we were, and that is exactly what we need for the second wave. Virus scientist Christian Drosten, one of the leading figures, believes in the Covid-19 crisis that this strategy is the right course of action.
What does this mean for the health authorities in Germany?
- When a person is tested, he must be systematically questioned, with the help of a specific model, and make sure that he can be in contact with a person who has spread the virus, in the previous days, such as if he attended a concert or a wedding, or if he was a teacher in a school. If the test is positive, all other participants in the event must be isolated immediately without delay, even before their test, and this is the only way to prevent them from transmitting the virus during the period in which it is infectious.
- What if someone is injured in school?
Then, all students in the classroom and their families must be isolated for a week, and this is the only way to prevent classrooms from becoming very popular sites. By the way, more than a week of quarantine is not necessary.
Is it better to re-impose a ban on large gatherings?
We need to do everything in our power to prevent large gatherings from taking place through prohibitions and severe sanctions. Football matches in the Bundesliga should not be allowed with fans.
Patients are isolated at a time when they are no longer contagious. By this time, they have passed on the virus to others, long ago.