Duration of the recovered status: Lauterbach wants to withdraw RKI competence

Duration of the recovered status
Lauterbach wants to withdraw RKI competence

How long does the recovered status apply after going through a corona infection? With the Protective Measures Ordinance from mid-January, politicians are placing this decision solely in the hands of science and transferring responsibility to the RKI – with chaotic consequences. The Federal Minister of Health now prefers to decide for himself.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wants to withdraw this competence from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) after criticism of the decision to shorten the convalescent status. “I would like to make decisions myself and directly about far-reaching decisions such as the recovered status,” Lauterbach told the “Bild” newspaper. “Otherwise I bear the political responsibility for the actions of others.”

With the Covid 19 protective measures exception ordinance of January, the RKI and the Paul Ehrlich Institute were authorized to decide who is considered recovered or vaccinated under what circumstances and for how long. The RKI was heavily criticized in mid-January because it had short-term reduced the convalescent status from six to three months, thereby changing access to gastronomy and events overnight for millions of Germans.

RKI boss Lothar Wieler was then violently attacked by the FDP, among others. However, Lauterbach had placed himself in front of the head of the authorities and assured him of his trust. According to a draft resolution for the federal-state consultations on Wednesday, which was announced in advance, the controversial shortening of the recovered status should also be reversed.

The RKI had already adjusted the recovered status on its website. The shortened period of 90 days therefore only applies to unvaccinated people. Vaccinated people are considered recovered for 180 days after an infection.

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