Experts in Virology Urge Transparent Review of COVID-19 Policy
In a recent interview with the “New Osnabrück Times”, virologist Klaus Stöhr emphasized the importance of a transparent and objective analysis of the COVID-19 situation, stating, “It’s not about assigning blame, but about being fair and unbiased in our assessment, so we can be better prepared for the next time.”
Alexander Kekulé, another virologist, criticized politicians, including Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, for allegedly stalling on the review of COVID-19 policy due to personal interests. “Now they claim that those who profited from the pandemic should be the ones to review their own mistakes”Kekulé said. “This is a mechanism that doesn’t work. The history is being written by the profiteers.”
Kekulé called for a critical review of the COVID-19 measures in the lead-up to the federal election, stating, “We have only a little time left to restore at least a basic trust and prevent a similar ideological split like in the US from occurring here.”He added that without the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, Donald Trump would not have been re-elected as president.
According to Kekulé and fellow virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, the review should also include an apology from former Health Minister Jens Spahn for his claim that there was a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”.
Schmidt-Chanasit expressed doubts about whether Germany is better prepared for pandemics today, saying, “Assuming a new pandemic emerges in two years, are we then reasonably prepared? I dare to doubt it, despite the many lessons we’ve learned.