Although even Germany's best-known virologist sees the first signs of "the coming end of the pandemic", Karl Lauterbach does not mind.
The Minister of Health continues to regard himself as the supreme admonisher and warner against "early carelessness" and firmly believes that another "winter wave" is rolling towards the country.
Lauterbach also admits that there are "indications of a defusing of the situation".
But he would like to stick to the isolation requirement for infected people, which has already been lifted in four and soon five federal states, well into next year.
The impression is reinforced that Lauterbach cannot or does not want to find his way out of his role as Cassandra, despite the falling number of corona cases and a broad basic immunization of the population.
However, measures that restrict freedom, such as the obligation to wear a mask and the obligation to isolate, cannot be extended indefinitely if the situation has changed fundamentally in the third year of the pandemic.
There is no longer a real risk that the healthcare system will be overburdened at times.
The risk of severe cases is much lower in the early stages of the disease than at the beginning of the pandemic, given the high vaccination rate and effective medication.
Its end should therefore not be artificially lengthened.