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Sometimes what is not said is almost more important than what is said. Stefan Kuster told the media today that in the future he will contribute where his strengths lie as an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist, that is, in the area of technical analysis and strategic work. He did not list the communication. That is not surprising. Although he always seemed calm, he could not convey assurance with that calm.
It is in stark contrast to its predecessor and also in its shadow. Daniel Koch was perceived as the “Mr. Corona” who calmly and prudently led the crisis. And that although the criticism burned against him again and again. Koch was a media professional and is still around as “Lord Crown” even after his departure – too present some would say. The contrast shows; Professional qualifications alone do not make good press in the position as “Mister Corona.”
BAG has to rethink
One may wonder if this claim is justified at all. In case of doubt, professional competence is preferred over appearance competence in the management of a FOPH department. It remains to be seen whether it is prudent to expose a department head so strongly in the media, especially since criticism of the BAG and its measures grew steadily in the course of the crisis, and with it the pressure on those responsible. Meanwhile, the highest level of the BAG, the leadership, has largely chosen to exit the media since the beginning of the crisis. A strategy that seems to be taking revenge with the departure of Stefan Kuster.
Exits and setbacks reduce confidence
To make matters worse, there were several communication setbacks for which he was responsible during his tenure as Head of Communicable Diseases at the BAG. The BAG reported incorrect numbers on the sites of infection or Kuster himself caused confusion at press conferences. For example, when he stated that the quarantine for travelers from risky countries would also apply retrospectively to those who had already entered or when he reported the death of a person under 30, despite the fact that he was alive and well. Together with Kuster’s departure, all of this diminishes trust in authority. Regardless of the reason for your departure, the impression of discomfort arises.
The riots could have been prevented
Today the BAG announced that it would distribute the burden of “Mister Corona” on different shoulders. It is difficult to understand that this was not done from the beginning. Because a pandemic was coming, that had been clear for years. Not in vain has he prepared for it with plans and exercises.
Blindly waiting for a “Mister Pandemic”, as it seems, who is professionally and medially convinced, seems to have been at least a naive illusion. Now hopefully BAG doesn’t get too bogged down in spreading the load across the various shoulders, because too many “Mister and Miss Corona” would cause even more uncertainty.
Keto Schumacher
Editor of the Bundestag
