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In order to contain the corona pandemic in Germany, the virologist Christian Drosten has spoken out in favor of a quick tightening of the measures.
"It is the case that we absolutely have to do something now," said the Charité scientist in the "Coronavirus Update" on Tuesday at NDR-Info.
The probability is high that the Christmas season will lead to an increase in the number of cases.
If there is no readjustment now, there is a threat of a lockdown "at the end of January and beyond all of February" with massive consequences for the economy.
Drosten is one of the experts who contributed to a statement published on Tuesday by the National Science Academy Leopoldina.
It is recommended to use the holidays and the turn of the year for a "hard lockdown".
From December 24th to at least January 10th, "public life in all of Germany should be largely idle".
As early as December 14th, contacts would have to be reduced to an “absolute minimum”.
The virologist said the paper should perhaps be understood as "a clear and final warning from science".
If politicians decide differently, they will no longer have chosen science.
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At the beginning of the year, the virologist can imagine a return to normal school operations.
"I don't want to be a preacher for school closings," he says on the podcast.
“I think it is very important that schools are kept going.” However, one must face the reality that schools are also part of the infection process.
Drosten advocates alternating lessons: "If you split a class into two parts, you prevent half of the infections."