Thread by @kakape

Kudos to Lothar Wieler, head of @rki_de (essentially Germany’s CDC), who had some very candid words for politicians today about the current #covid19 situation in Germany:

@rki_de Wieler started by telling them that of today's 52k notified cases (given CFR of 0,8%), about 400 will die.
“Everyone listening needs to realise: this cannot be changed”, he said. "None of us sitting here can help these people. That is a bucket of water that has been spilled."

@rki_de Already normal patient care is impacted in every region of Germany, Wieler told them:
Surgeries are being postponed, ambulances are spending an hour or two searching for a bed for stroke patients, children who need an ICU bed are being transferred far away.

@rki_de He also noted that there are less ICU beds available now than last year, because there are less nurses and doctors.
And he thanked all those working in the hospitals. “This country owes you a hell of a lot.”

@rki_de Prognoses for ICU occupancy are dire, he said. "We have an emergency situation in this country”, Wieler said. “Anyone who does not see that is making a huge mistake."

@rki_de He also came out clearly in favour of letting pharmacists give shots. “We are in an emergency situation”, he said.” Millions of people need boosters. “Everyone who can give shots, should give shots. Otherwise we will not manage this crisis."

@rki_de Anyone thinking it was possible to protect people in care homes given high infection rates was “naive”, Wieler said.
“That does not work. This virus is too contagious… Maybe if you lock these people away… but that is obviously unacceptable for many reasons."

@rki_de He also confronted politicians with RKI's prognoses from summer that vaccination coverage was not high enough to avoid a fourth wave with very high infection rates. “The modelled scenario has come true. We have known this since July."

@rki_de “We opened up too fast in too many areas”, Wieler said. Clubs and bars are hotspots. “They have to be closed." People need to reduce their contacts and vaccination rate needs to increase, he said. And boosters are needed.

@rki_de “We are heading into a serious emergency situation. We will have a very bad Christmas if we don’t act now”, he said.

@rki_de Don't think I’ve ever heard him quite this clear and candid.
He ended by saying:
“These are clear words, but after 21 months I simply cannot stand it anymore, when it is not recognised what I and others are saying."

Here’s a link that takes you straight to where Wieler’s part begins:

https://twitter.com/corneliusroemer/status/1461094835289575426