Twelve members, a noticeably smaller working group of the Leopoldina National Academy, have decided to intervene politically in the national pandemic management in a five-page paper entitled “Clear and consistent measures - immediately!”. That was quite surprising, and personally a courageous decision. After the first ad hoc statements, many of the Leopoldina working group members were insulted, and some were covered with threats of violence and death. Charité virologist Christian Drosten was one of them, but now he's back at the head of the Leopoldina group. Not only with this did the twelve National Academy members testify to their independent spirit.

The old and repeated accusation that the Leopoldina was an agent of government policy in the pandemic is refuted on each of the five pages of this statement. Seldom has one read such a clear resistance to the official pandemic policy from a scientist's perspective and such a clear warning against the continued paralysis of the politically responsible institutions and parties. The criticism of the decision-makers' spin-off course is also unmistakable: to end the epidemic emergency of national scope, as well as the restrictions on measures in the new Infection Protection Act. "Measures that can be implemented quickly" such as area-wide event bans would be "intervention-intensive" but "effective". Indirectly, a change in the law is required, hardly that the new, moderated regulation applies.  

What the Leopoldina is calling for concrete measures instead is nothing less than an epidemic political headwash: not tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, no, action must be taken right at the beginning of the coming week. No waiting, no lengthy discussions, but "immediate countermeasures" to avert further "disastrous consequences of the corona pandemic: even more deaths, even more long-term Covid 19 victims. The proposed measures take up practically everything that is slowed down on the political stage, sometimes by these interest groups: 

  • Massively accelerate vaccinations: pharmacists, dentists, nurses, midwives and, if necessary, with the support of the Bundeswehr, also disaster relief workers should vaccinate;

    plus more vaccination centers, and mobile vaccination teams at train stations, in offices, shopping centers, homes, social hot spots. 

  • Compulsory vaccination - first for all employees in medical facilities, at the same time "preparation" for a general compulsory vaccination.

    In the opinion of the Leopoldina, the latter is also ethically and legally permissible. 

  • Booster obligation after five to six months: Anyone who does not get the booster injection should lose their valid vaccination certificate. 

  • “Significant contact reduction” - the term lockdown is not used, but de facto a clear lockdown is required, at least for unvaccinated persons (contact restrictions also in private). Where there is a high incidence, vaccinated and convalescent people should also have to limit themselves temporarily: contact restrictions in bars, at events and wherever people are indoors. Wherever people still have to come together, the following should apply: mask requirement and 2-G rule without exception. Strict and controlled 2G rules alone are not enough for the Leopoldina to break the fourth wave.  

  • Protect children and young people from the ban on attendance - i.e. school and daycare closings - by bringing the Christmas holidays early. In addition, it is compulsory to wear a mask in all indoor areas and test at least three times a week. Vaccination for children between the ages of five and eleven is - in anticipation of the recommendation of the Standing Vaccination Commission announced for the end of December - "recommended" after EMA approval has already been granted. 

Of course, the Leopoldina working group knows that many of the specifically proposed restrictive measures have embarked on wildly angry political and ethical waters.

But she sees “a majority of the population for good reasons” behind her.

And she consciously takes the risk of new hostility, each of those involved personally.

Incidentally, in no passage do the twelve members write that they are speaking in the name of science.

But who in this precarious situation wants to prevent them from expressing their assessments and opinions like others?