Expert Weiss: When could normalcy return? – Coronavirus –

Innsbruck. Regarding antigen mass testing, Weiss, who is a member of the advisory staff of the Corona Task Force at the Ministry of Health, also referred to the example of Slovakia: “Almost the entire population went there. But you don’t give the impression that I have done something positive for the infection process. It was a storm in a glass of water that did not bring lasting success. “

He understands the “desperation of politics,” but such antigen testing in asymptomatic individuals is simply not the appropriate instrument, Weiss said, repeating his mantra: “Testing must be conducted. And not through the garden.” One of the main problems is the “false security” that results from a false negative test. Here it was also not well communicated and mediated: “It is a dangerous message when I hear about the media: ‘Go try it, and then Christmas will be saved.’ A negative antigen test says little. You can still currently infected or the next day and being a carrier of the disease. ” Incorrect expectations inevitably lead to protection measures being prolonged. A higher number of new infections more than negates the relatively small number of positive “leaks”. The “risk-benefit assessment” is simply not correct, stressed the senior physician.

This also applies to testing in the critical infrastructure area. As a positive, sometimes some contagious people can be filtered, but due to the lower sensitivity of these tests, only some of those “who really have something” can be found: “The others enter – with the result of the corresponding collateral damage.

It also “hurts” for Weiss when he thinks of the enormous financial resources that are being spent on massive testing, “to a modest effect.” “For this money, it could build and maintain one or two of the best research centers, with sustainable profits.”

Once again, Weiss advocated for targeted testing and the highest possible protection for vulnerable population groups – that is, the elderly or those with prior illnesses. The point is to evaluate symptomatic people immediately; These tests are designed for this, especially in the private sector. And I know that no one can hear it anymore, but it is still important to respect the rules of distance and hygiene ”. Because although the number of intensive care patients has already dropped by a third, the number of new infections is still too high. You’re on the right track, but you’re not there yet: “It’s not five minutes to twelve anymore. We’re back at half past eleven.”

As little as Weiss thinks of mass testing, he hopes that vaccination, which has also been launched in Europe, will be the decisive means to finally leave the pandemic behind. “Spring is perhaps a little too sporty. But I assume normality in early summer. I can imagine it very well,” said the doctor. With vaccination, the “first step towards normalcy will begin early next year, especially when those particularly affected by the pandemic are vaccinated for the first time.” After everything we know so far, we could say that its “very high percentage of protection is guaranteed, even for the elderly, at least for a few months.” “The more you can vaccinate, the better. The less relevant the issue of the crown will be in the future,” the infectologist appealed to the population. Because the vaccine protects against the spread of the virus in the body.

It is important to inform the population clearly and completely. After studying the data so far, Weiss did not see any special side effects that are outside the usual range for vaccines, such as flu vaccines. At most, it can sometimes lead to a slight fever or a little exhaustion or fatigue, but: “These are not really side effects, but rather signs that the immune system is activating,” said the expert. It is a normal vaccination reaction.

Incidentally, Weiss sees the lockdown measures, as they have now been relaunched, less promising, at least in the long term. And above all for one reason: around a third of the population is simply no longer available, neither through the media nor through the appeals of those responsible. “Unfortunately,” Weiss said. The reasons are varied and range from sometimes incomprehensible decisions, too many rules, a lack of solidarity to a lot of “finger wagging.”

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