Experts at Gecko argue that virus monitoring should continue even after Covid-19 legislation is lifted. Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) announced the end of Covid laws in the middle of the year. According to experts, the inclusion of other respiratory infections-causing pathogens (eg RSV, influenza) in the surveillance system in addition to Sars-CoV-2 should also be considered.

“From Gecko’s point of view, in the event of possible repeal of Covid-19 legislation, care should be taken to maintain an appropriate level of surveillance. In particular, wastewater monitoring and genomic surveillance (sequencing of positive samples) have proven effective for assessing viral load in the general population,” he says. current Advisory Panel document.

Protection of vulnerable groups

The committee’s new “Executive Report” therefore says the collection and analysis of previous and future data on Sars-CoV-2 should “represent an important and indispensable aspect in planning the transfer of pandemic management to regular operation.”

The protection of “vulnerable groups” should remain a focus “and especially as the current set of rules comes to an end”. Regarding the Covid 19 drug, procurement and administration should be incorporated into regular operations.