Almost none of the dystopian scenarios that scientists painted in mid-December in view of the approaching omicron “wall” came to pass.
(Photo: dpa)
After the battle, according to a Czech proverb, everyone is a general. Giving advice after the fact on how a critical situation could have been better managed is considered of little help in the country.
It is probably the language barrier that protects neighboring Germany from such insight. This is how the Germans are becoming a whole nation of generals these days, at least that is what the shrill statements of some business associations on the subject of Corona suggest. Everything is exaggerated, pointless scaremongering, many in retail, in gastronomy and among trade fair and tour operators complain. You knew it straight away.
In fact, the Omicron wave rushed past the domestic economy in the past two months without triggering the feared supply catastrophe. Almost none of the dystopian scenarios that scientists painted in mid-December in view of the approaching omicron “wall” came to pass.
Germany’s garbage collectors continued to empty the garbage cans as a matter of routine, waterworks provided fresh water as ever, and no hospital collapsed under the burden of the new admissions. Even toilet paper continued to reach the supermarket shelves in sufficient quantities. Even more astonishing: throughout January, when the number of infections climbed well above the 200,000 mark on some days, Germany’s logisticians even reported increasing free freight capacities. Transport prices fell by around ten percent.
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Researchers call this phenomenon the prevention paradox. Because none of the self-appointed generals knows what would have happened if there hadn’t been a massive booster campaign at the end of autumn. How would the situation have gotten worse if the mask requirement had fallen?
Nevertheless, the federal and state governments must draw concrete conclusions from the development of the pandemic during their consultations this Wednesday – and relax the reins significantly. It doesn’t have to be a “Freedom Day” right away, but please no more access controls for hotels, restaurants and retail shops.
More: The feared Omikron bottlenecks in logistics do not materialize