Doctors urge further precautions for health crises

Berlin - The President of the German Medical Association (BÄK), Klaus Reinhardt, is pressing for further improvements in the crisis mechanisms in view of the pandemic. "We have to use the time now so that we are well prepared for a possible flare-up of corona infections and for future epidemics," he said.

The crisis had shown that closer European networking and coordination were necessary. This applies to reporting structures, technical platforms for corona apps, stocks of protective equipment and the development of medicines and vaccines.

"In Germany politics did a lot of things right," said Reinhardt. "Nevertheless, we still have to reform structures here." The responsibilities of the federal and state governments in times of crisis should be clearly regulated.

"We need a networked system of crisis teams that is permanently on standby." It should also be kept in mind that the federal government, the federal states, municipalities and public institutions regularly update pandemic plans and activate them for training purposes.

Reinhardt advocated further easing of corona restrictions, the effects of which can be observed very closely. Fortunately, even after the previous opening steps, the infection process is still at a low level. "It is therefore advisable and, from the point of view of infection control, also entirely responsible to check the lifting of further restrictions."

With a view to further easing in Thuringia, Reinhardt said that the country is betting on more personal responsibility. "That is not wrong per se, but the newly created opportunities for major events such as folk festivals and festivals go too far."

In Thuringia, contact restrictions have been lifted the day before yesterday. It is now only recommended to meet only one other household or a maximum of ten people. Folk festivals and festivals should be allowed again in individual cases.

"We have to make sure that there is no uncontrolled dynamic," said Reinhardt. It is important that countries and municipalities can react quickly. "We need tailor-made containment measures on site so that we don't have to shut down an entire country or entire region if it flares up again."

The BÄK President emphasized that major events had to be more reserved. This definitely does not have to be now, even if it is of course bitter for organizers. “So we should wait until there is a vaccine or at least good therapy for severe cases. It is precisely such events in which a few infected people can quickly infect a large number of people. "

With regard to the schools, Reinhardt spoke of a difficult question. "It is not very easy to maintain some distance and hygiene rules in some form, especially in smaller children, in normal school operations."

On the other hand, children haven't been to school regularly for months. Homeschooling cannot replace that, especially the cooperation with peers. "It's about the educational opportunities and lifespan of children that are not easy to make up for or make up for."