Corona reappraisal: Streeck sees gaps in research

Virologist Hendrik Streeck pointed out the lack of systematic research during the crisis in Germany in the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.

Streeck identified gaps in the systematic recording of the incidence of infection and immunity in the population. The effectiveness of the measures and their adverse effects, such as psychological consequences or vaccine damage, are also not well recorded.

"Leaving room for speculation alone is not good for a crisis like this," said Streeck. According to him, scientific studies should have been coordinated centrally in order to be able to draw comparisons. Streeck spoke of a Germany-wide omission.

Lessons must be learned from this time, said Streeck. He described the coronavirus pandemic as a proxy for other crises, from which a great deal can be learned. In the case of climate change or war, for example, scientific expertise is required and politicians must act relatively quickly. "We have a field of tension here that we have not professionalized in Germany," said Streeck.

First witness testimony in the parliamentary committee

The virologist, who won the direct mandate in Bonn for the CDU in the Bundestag elections, was the first witness to testify in the parliamentary committee of inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic. For three hours, he answered the committee members' questions as an expert witness. Virologist Klaus Stöhr was also invited as an expert witness.

Streeck emphasized several times that he had no specific knowledge of the situation in the Free State, such as the actual incidence of infection or the situation in local hospitals. He made it clear at the beginning that he had not dealt with Saxony in detail during this time.

U Committee was set up at the instigation of the AfD

The committee of inquiry was set up at the instigation of the AfD. A large part of the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance had agreed to the AfD motion to set up the committee.

The committee consists of 18 members, with the CDU representing seven MPs, the AfD six and the BSW two. The SPD, Greens and Left Party can each send one MP. The chairman is CDU politician Andreas Nowak. The committee held its second meeting on Thursday. In addition to the U-Committee, a commission of inquiry is also looking into the pandemic in Saxony.