Pandemic containment: RKI boss recommends wearing masks in schools by 2022

Pandemic containment: RKI boss recommends wearing masks in schools by 2022

The summer holidays have just started in the first federal states. Many are already thinking about what it could look like afterwards. The RKI is already giving a forecast for the coming year.

The President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, advocates protective measures in schools until next spring.

“We recommend that further tests are carried out in schools and that mouth and nose protection be worn. From today’s perspective, I would say that it should be like this until next spring, ”said Wieler of the“ Rheinische Post ”. “On the one hand, we want to keep the incidence of infections low, because children can also become seriously ill. And on the other hand, of course, we aim to keep the schools open. ”

According to his own statement, he expects an increase in the number of infections in schools. “There will be more cases in children, we are already seeing larger outbreaks of the Delta variant in schools.”

The further course of the pandemic depends on the behavior of all of us. “Especially indoors, we should continue to wear mouth and nose protection, reduce contacts and use test offers. When the numbers rise again, it also depends on the vaccination progress, ”says Wieler. “That is why the timing is difficult to predict. What is certain, however, is that the numbers will rise again in autumn and winter. ”

No one can seriously rule out more stringent measures. “But what I know for sure: If we remain careful now, if we continue to wear masks in closed rooms, if we keep our distance and vaccination rates continue to rise, then we can avoid that. I am convinced of that. I can only express my hope that we will succeed together. ”

So far there is no evidence that the approved vaccines are not effective against the Delta variant. “But of course we are concerned because new variants are constantly emerging. They have to be recognized quickly and then the contact follow-up has to be carried out intensively. The lower the incidences, the better the health authorities can do, ”said Wieler.

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