Joshua Kimmich has Corona: The case and the consequences for Bavaria

Joshua Kimmich’s infection is driving the corona turbulence at Bayern to extremes. After weeks of debate about Germany’s most famous unvaccinated people, the national soccer player has now taken the virus himself. The people of Munich assured on Wednesday evening that Kimmich was doing well – but the aftermath of this Corona case should still occupy Bavaria and the DFB selection. At the annual general meeting of the serial master on Thursday (7 p.m.), the vaccination issue in the professional squad could cause additional explosiveness.

What does the positive test mean for Kimmich?

The compulsory break for the 26-year-old continues. Even as an unvaccinated contact person for the infected Niklas Süle, Kimmich had to leave the national team at the beginning of November and go into quarantine. As soon as this was over for him, the next followed. This time because of contact with an infected person in private. The midfielder was therefore absent from the games in Augsburg and Kiev. Now he is affected himself. That means: at least 14 days of quarantine from the time of the positive test. If he does not show any symptoms of Covid 19 disease, he can test himself free with a negative PCR or antigen test.

What does that mean for FC Bayern?

In the Bundesliga home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday and probably also at the league summit in Dortmund on December 4th, coach Julian Nagelsmann has to plan without his midfield boss. Even a return in the sportingly insignificant Champions League game against FC Barcelona on December 8th is uncertain. Kimmich is a key player for Munich, his absence a noticeable weakening. Because a number of professionals were absent due to infections, quarantines and injuries, Nagelsmann had to improvise, and the burden on the remaining players increased. The missing professionals like Kimmich could lose shape and rhythm. That could endanger Bayern’s high goals and depress the mood in the team.

Why is there so much excitement about the Kimmich case?

The national player involuntarily got at the center of the highly explosive social debate about vaccination. After the “Bild” reported on Kimmich’s vaccination status in October, he himself confirmed that he had not yet received a Corona Pik due to worries about long-term consequences. However, experts rule out long-term side effects. Far beyond the football industry, the effect of Kimmich’s dubious statements with regard to the role model role of the national player was discussed, and Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) also spoke up. Most recently, top politicians such as Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder even brought up a game ban for unvaccinated football professionals, while FC Bayern is allegedly planning salary cuts for these players in the event of quarantine.

And what does that mean for national coach Hansi Flick?

Kimmich also plays an important role in Flick’s plans for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022 and the future of the DFB selection. From a personal conversation on Wednesday, Flick reported that Kimmich’s tendency was now to vaccinate. The national players Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry, most recently also in quarantine at Bayern, are now said to have received a vaccination. After recovering from an infection, Kimmich would have a little longer time to think about a vaccination. According to the Robert Koch Institute, he would have been immunized against the virus for at least six months. After that, the RKI recommends a vaccine dose. In six months, the questions about the vaccination could catch up with Kimmich, FC Bayern and Hansi Flick’s team.