Without masks and without distance: This is how the SPD parliamentary group presented its new members on Wednesday via Twitter. The photo posted triggered critical reactions. Karl Lauterbach has now defended his colleagues.
On Wednesday, the new SPD MPs met for the first time after the federal election. The result: a group photo of the 206 members – crowded together on a staircase without masks. The picture that the group published on Twitter caused outrage and amusement alike. If some echoed about the corona rules that were not being observed, others had to smile at health experts Lauterbach. Because he was the only one wearing a mask. Agency photos show, however, that a few party colleagues also wore a mask.
Nevertheless, Twitter users rated the picture as evidence of the growing carelessness in the midst of the corona pandemic. On Thursday, the RKI pointed out in its current status report that the number of corona cases could rise again in autumn and winter. The main reason for this is the slow vaccination progress and the increased contact indoors.
Lauterbach calls for caution
The SPD parliamentary group later stated that all MPs had been vaccinated or recovered, reports the “Spiegel”. Meanwhile, Lauterbach has also commented on the picture and defended his group colleagues. In the “Bild” broadcast “Viertel nach Acht” he said it was only a “very brief moment” and that the parliamentary group was “vaccinated and tested. So there was no risk.” The colleagues wouldn’t have done anything wrong. “Of course, at a moment like this when a photo is being taken, from my point of view you can also remove the mask, that’s very clear.”
On the same day, the SPD health expert warned against neglecting the fight against pandemics in the phase of government formation. “Unfortunately, we are not yet through Corona,” he said in the “Bild” broadcast. Like the RKI, Lauterbach also expects more corona cases in autumn and winter. Therefore, he hopes for a stronger enforcement of the 2G rule. At the same time, he pointed out that 30 percent of the under-60s are still unvaccinated. “We underestimate this enormous number. It is too high to prevent an increase in the number of infections,” he said in an interview with the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”.
Meanwhile, a selfie by the SPD health expert provides amusement online. On Thursday, Lauterbach published a photo on Twitter, on which the virologist Christian Drosten smiles friendly into the camera. “Not a rock band. But at least full of ideas on how the 4th wave could wash over Germany as flatly as possible, “Lauterbach tweeted. An allusion to the recently published group photo of the FDP and Greens politicians after the first meeting? At least many Internet users also took this selfie as an occasion for jokes.
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