The Corona crisis and the pandemic management of recent years are to be investigated and processed by an independent commission. This is required by a group of more than three dozen scientists, including virologists Klaus Stöhr and Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit as well as medical statistician Gerd Antes.
Kim Björn Becker
Editor in politics.
- Follow I follow
The reappraisal should be carried out "as depersonalized as possible and independent of political interests," according to a letter obtained by the F.A.Z.
The scientists from different disciplines emphasize that the response to the pandemic was "not optimal in many respects". They cite what they see as disproportionate closures of schools, day-care centres and universities as examples.
Likewise, it is already recognized that the "psychological and social isolation of the most vulnerable groups", including the mentally ill and the very elderly, is "collateral damage caused by insufficiently balanced protective measures". However, the assessment of the corona measures is still "too selective", according to the researchers.
"An orderly and systematic reappraisal is needed to draw robust lessons for future crises and avoid similar mistakes." As a result, the requested commission should take into account the "learning progress of the last three years" and, in comparison with other countries, also name examples of good crisis management. The signatories of the letter also hope that the work of such a commission will have an "integrative effect of an open debate on civil society".
By whom and in what form the Corona crisis is to be dealt with remains open in the letter. Also, with what means such a commission should be financed. At one point it is said that a "commission appointed by the Bundestag" is only a first step in the reappraisal. "It must be flanked by participatory forums that are independent of politics and for which a suitable infrastructure must be created."
There are already calls in the Bundestag to critically review the Corona measures. The FDP health politician Andrew Ullmann and the health policy spokesman of the Union parliamentary group, Tino Sorge (CDU), have each spoken out in favor of setting up an enquete commission for this purpose.