Medical Associations Letter

COVID is not over,

Deutsch | English

Golda Schlaff and 15 other prominent doctors are calling for more respect for patients, the reintroduction of FFP2 masks in the face of rising incidence rates, and the widespread use of HEPA filters in medical facilities.

We support this cause and would like to ask doctors and health workers outside Austria to sign this letter. Please use the comment function at the end of this article.

Brief von 15 Top-Ärzte: Comeback von FFP2-Masken in Ordinationen & Spitäler
Ärztin Golda Schlaff organisierte einen Brief an die Ärztekammer. 15 prominente Ärzte unterstützen das Anliegen. Warum sie Lufthygiene, Masken und "Respekt für Patienten" fordern. Und "Aufklärung über die Gefahren und Spätfolgen" von wieder…
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Public letter

Downloads:
[DE] Öffentlicher Brief an Ärztekammer (PDF, 306 kB)
[EN] Medical Associations Letter (PDF, 147 kB)

Dear Colleagues,

With this letter, we would like to remind medical professionals of our foremost duty and priority: protecting the health of our patients. This can be accomplished by using three simple measures:

1. Informing and Educating the general population

As healthcare professionals, we must always act to the best of our knowledge and beliefs. We provide information about the benefits, risks and side effects of medications and medical interventions. We also point out the possible long-term consequences of everyday behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sunburns, eating habits, and infectious diseases.

The majority of the population cannot and does not want to imagine that a simple viral infection can lead to serious, long-term health issues. However, we know that this is not rare; human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) may cause cancer (cervix, pharynx, lymphoma, etc.) years later. An untreated HIV infection manifests as AIDS only after several years. This also applies to bacteria: Borrelia and Treponema pallidum can lead to severe neurological diseases months to years later. Once pathogens spread systemically, the site of the primary infection no longer determines the course of the disease.

It is common practice in science to use currently available research data to make predictions for the future. The scientific community has been conducting intensive research in the area of COVID-19 and its sequelae for over 3 years. We have extensive preclinical, clinical, and postmortem data from around the world. Once you are aware of these data, the handling of the pandemic and the management of this health crisis are absolutely appalling. We CANNOT take responsibility for the continuous, unmitigated spread of a vascular-damaging, neurotropic virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, where prior infections fail to provide long-term protection against future infections! Due to infections and reinfections, people are losing their healthy life years, and the excess mortality rate is persistently too high. In Europe alone, 36 million people have become chronically ill owing to SARS-CoV-2 infections. COVID-19 is not just a runny nose or common cold. It is a systemic, primarily vascular disease that spreads mainly through the respiratory route via aerosols.

The continued, uncontrolled spread of the virus not only poses immediate and long-term health risks, but also creates an environment in which the virus evolves and develops capabilities for immune escape, as well as drug and vaccine resistance.

2. Regular, mandatory training for doctors and interdisciplinary exchange

Based on experience, it can be said that the majority of physicians lack knowledge of the current scientific data. Many doctors likely obtain their information about COVID-19 primarily from mass media, rather than from serious medical journals and peer-reviewed scientific studies. This must urgently change! Physicians need to be better trained to provide their patients with reliable and accurate information.

Continued interdisciplinary education on COVID-19 should be made mandatory. A deeper understanding and knowledge of the following topics are essential:

  • Transmission routes and survival of SARS-CoV-2 (aerosols!)
  • Knowledge of infection-prevention and air quality control methods
  • Correlation between disease risk and severity and infectious dose (viral load)
  • Use of anti-viral medications

SARS-CoV-2 infection has systemic effects:

  • It causes endothelial damage to our vessels and the formation of microclots (common target organs: heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, intestines, toes etc.) (1-16)
  • It behaves neurotropically, leading to neurological disorders such as headaches, hearing loss, loss of smell, neuropathic pain, fatigue, cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration and dementia-like symptoms (17-31)
  • It can lead to changes in the immune system, such as immune dysfunction with increased susceptibility to infections, or act as a trigger for autoimmune processes (type I diabetes, neuropathies, vasculitis, rheumatic diseases, GBS). (32-41)
  • Long COVID, Post-COVID, PASC, ME/CFS: definitions, symptoms, theories of development (persistent viral reservoirs found throughout all organ-systems for months after infection; activation of dormant viruses), diagnosis, and therapy (42-48)
  • Cumulative risks and long-term consequences of reinfections: risks for thrombosis, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, etc., increase with each additional infection. (49-54)
  • Known risks in children, pregnant women, athletes, healthcare workers, healthy adults, and people with pre-existing health conditions (55-80).

3. Use of preventive measures and exemplary behavior in everyday clinical practice

Since the removal of mandatory protective measures in the medical field, all patients, including highly vulnerable individuals, are being exposed to the risks of a SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary care settings as well as in hospitals. Many people have no way to reliably protect themselves in healthcare settings and are thus forced to contract COVID-19.

Policymakers have declared the pandemic over and equated SARS-CoV-2 with a rhinovirus. However, COVID-19 is neither over nor a harmless infection without consequences. Medical professionals must take an exemplary role and act to protect all people, and NOT continue to submit to the pressures of society, media, and politics.

Simple, yet very effective infection prevention measures include the following:

  • Use of CO2-monitors indoors
  • Good ventilation by means of built in ventilation systems or open windows
  • Air purification with HEPA filters (in winter or where ventilation is limited)
  • Testing and isolation in case of symptoms or contact with COVID-19 patients
  • Registry of COVID-19 cases; Insight into vigilance system (e.g., wastewater data, hospitalizations, deaths)
  • FFP2/N95 respirator masks or better
  • Reserve blocked time slots on defined days for vulnerable individuals
  • Establish a voluntary list of physicians, who adhere to preventive measures

We ask the Medical Associations to advocate for the development of long-term strategies to manage this health crisis. We ask that you reinvigorate the idea of prevention! It is also critical to increase collaboration within the medical community and to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and data related to COVID-19 and its sequelae. Now is the time to demonstrate leadership, unity, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the general population. By applying a comprehensive, strategic, and sustained approach, we can effectively control the transmission and impact of SARS-CoV-2 through simple means.

We are confident that you will show dedication to our profession and promote the highest standards of patient safety and care. We hope to hear from you soon, and look forward to working with you.

References

1. Damage to endothelial barriers and its contribution to long COVID. Wu X, et al. s.l. : Angiogenesis, 2023.

2. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19. Xie Y, et al. s.l. : Nat Med, 2022.

3. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in COVID-19 survivors among non-vaccinated population: A retrospective cohort study from the TriNetX US collaborative networks. Wang W, et al. s.l. : EClinicalMedicine, 2022.

4. One-Year Adverse Outcomes Among US Adults With Post-COVID-19 Condition vs Those Without COVID-19 in a Large Commercial Insurance Database. DeVries A, et al. s.l. : JAMA Health Forum, 2023.

5. Association of COVID-19 with short- and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: a prospective cohort in UK Biobank. Wan EYF, et al. s.l. : Cardiovascular Research, 2022.

6. Intestinal Damage, Inflammation and Microbiota Alteration during COVID-19 Infection (Review). Saviano A, et al. s.l. : Biomedicines, 2023.

7. Damage to endothelial barriers and its contribution to long COVID (Review). Wu X, et al. s.l. : Angiogenesis, 2022.

8. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients seemingly recovered from COVID-19. Bussani R, et al. s.l. : J Pathol, 2023.

9. Outcomes of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients Recently Recovered From Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Puntmann VO, et al. s.l. : JAMA Cardiol, 2020.

10. COVID-19 and cutaneous manifestations: A review of the published literature (Review). Martora F, et al. s.l. : Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022.

11. Livedo reticularis as a presenting sign of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Khalil S, et al. s.l. : American Academy of Dermatology Association, 2020.

12. Cerebral small vessel disease pathology in COVID-19 patients: A systemaic review. Owens CD, et al. s.l. : Ageing Research Reviews, 2023.

13. Vascular Dysfunctions Contribute to the Long-term Cognitive Deficits Following COVID-19. Shabani Z, et al. s.l. : preprints.org (preprint), 2023.

14. Long-term cardiac pathology in individuals with mild initial COVID-19 illness. Puntmann VO, et al. s.l. : Nature Medicine, 2022.

15. Coronary microvascular health in symptomatic patients with prior COVID-19 infection: an updated analysis. Ahmad AI, et al. s.l. : European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging, 2023.

16. Long COVID and the cardiovascular system—elucidating causes and cellular mechanisms in order to develop targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies: a joint Scientific Statement of the ESC Working Groups on Cellular Biology of the Heart and Myocardial . Gyöngyösi M, et al. s.l. : Cardiovasc Res, 2023.

17. Neuroinflammation After COVID-19 with Persistent Depressive and Cognitive Symptoms. Braga J, et al. 2023, JAMA Psychiatry.

18. Cerebral blood flow in patients recovered from mild COVID-19. Sen S, et al. s.l. : J Neuroimaging, 2023.

19. Brain hypoxia, neurocognitive impairment, and quality of life in people post-COVID-19. Adingupu DD, et al. s.l. : Journal of Neurology, 2023.

20. SARS-CoV-2 Infects the Brain Choroid Plexus and Disrupts the Blood-CSF Barrier in Human Brain Organoids. Pellegrini L, et al. s.l. : Cell Stem Cell., 2020.

21. Long-term neurologic outcomes of COVID-19. Xu E, et al. s.l. : Nat Med, 2022.

22. The functional and structural changes in the hippocampus of COVID-19 patients. Nouraeinejad A, et al. s.l. : Acta Neurol Belg, 2023.

23. Severe Neuro-COVID is associated with peripheral immune signatures, autoimmunity and neurodegeneration: a prospective cross-sectional study. Etter MM, et al. s.l. : Nat Commun, 2022.

24. SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy. Stein SR, et al. s.l. : Nature, 2022.

25. Cortical Grey matter volume depletion links to neurological sequelae in post COVID-19 »long haulers”. Rothstein TL, et al. s.l. : BMC Neurol, 2023.

26. SARS-CoV-2 is associated with changes in brain structure in UK Biobank. Douaud G, et al. s.l. : Nature, 2022.

27. The cerebral network of COVID-19-related encephalopathy: a longitudinal voxel-based 18F-FDG-PET study. Kas A, et al. s.l. : Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging, 2021.

28. One year on: an updated systematic review of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and audio-vestibular symptoms. Almufarrij I, et al. s.l. : Int J Audiol, 2021.

29. Alzheimer’s-like signaling in brains of COVID-19 patients. Reiken S, et al. s.l. : Alzheimers Dement., 2022.

30. Risk factors and abnormal cerebrospinal fluid associate with cognitive symptoms after mild COVID-19. Apple AC, et al. s.l. : Ann Clin Transl Neurol., 2022.

31. Vagus nerve inflammation contributes to dysautonomia in COVID-19. Woo MS., et al. s.l. : medRxiv (preprint), 2023.

32. Immune mechanisms underlying COVID-19 pathology and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) (Review). Mohandas S, et al. s.l. : Elife, 2023.

33. New Onset of Autoimmune Diseases Following COVID-19 Diagnosis (REVIEW). Gracia-Ramos AE, et al. s.l. : Cells., 2021.

34. Immune-mediated neurological syndromes in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. Guilmot A, et al. s.l. : J Neurol, 2021.

35. Impaired function and delayed regeneration of dendritic cells in COVID-19. Winheim E, et al. s.l. : PLoS Pathog, 2021.

36. Risk of autoimmune diseases in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study. Chang R, et al. s.l. : EClinicalMedicine, 2023.

37. Association of COVID-19 Vaccination With Risk for Incident Diabetes After COVID-19 Infection. Kwan AC, et al. s.l. : JAMA Netw Open, 2023.

38. Risk for newly diagnosed diabetes after COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Zhang T, et al. s.l. : BMC Med, 2022.

39. Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Phetsouphanh C, et al. s.l. : Nat Immunol, 2022.

40. Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling. Klein J, et al. s.l. : medRxiv (preprint), 2022.

41. High risk of autoimmune diseases after COVID-19. Sharma C, et al. s.l. : Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2023.

42. Biomarkers in long COVID-19: A systematic review. Lai YJ, et al. s.l. : Front Med (Lausanne), 2023.

43. Postacute COVID-19 is Characterized by Gut Viral Antigen Persistence in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Zollner A, et al. s.l. : Gastroenterology, 2022.

44. Gastrointestinal manifestations of long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Choudhury A, et al. s.l. : Therap Adv Gastroenterol., 2022.

45. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID (Review). Vojdani A, et al. s.l. : Viruses, 2023.

46. Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations (Review). Davis HE, et al. s.l. : Nat Rev Microbiol, 2023.

47. Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. Davis HE, et al. s.l. : EClinicalMedicine, 2021.

48. Long COVID: pathophysiological factors and abnormalities of coagulation. Turner S, et al. s.l. : Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2023.

49. COVID-19 as a risk factor for long-term mortality in patients managed by the emergency medical system: A prospective, multicenter, ambulance-based cohort study. Martin-Conty JL, et al. s.l. : Front Public Health, 2023.

50. High prevalence of persistent symptoms and reduced health-related quality of life 6 months after COVID-19. Ahmad I, et al. s.l. : Front Public Health, 2023.

51. Analysis of well-annotated next-generation sequencing data reveals increasing cases of SARS- CoV-2 reinfection with Omicron. Burkholz S, et al. s.l. : Commun Biol, 2023.

52. Risks of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding after covid-19: nationwide self- controlled cases series and matched cohort study. Katsoularis I, et al. s.l. : BMJ, 2022.

53. Acute and postacute sequelae associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. Bowe B, et al. s.l. : Nat Med, 2022.

54. Incident autoimmune diseases in association with a SARS-CoV-2 infection: A matched cohort study (preprint). Tesch F, et al. s.l. : medRxiv, 2023.

55. Ocular manifestations of COVID-19 in pediatric patients (Review). Ichhpujani P, et al. s.l. : Ther Adv Ophthalmol., 2023.

56. Long-COVID in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Lopez-Leon S, et al. s.l. : Sci Rep, 2022.

57. SARS-CoV-2 variant-related abnormalities detected by prenatal MRI: a prospective case-control study. Kienast P, et al. s.l. : Lancet Reg Health Eur, 2023.

58. Aerobic capacity of professional soccer players before and after COVID-19 infection. Parpa K, et al. s.l. : Sci Rep., 2022.

59. Pulmonary Dysfunction after Pediatric COVID-19. Heiss R, et al. s.l. : Radiology, 2022.

60. Evidence for Biological Age Acceleration and Telomere Shortening in COVID-19 Survivors. Mongelli A, et al. s.l. : Int J Mol Sci, 2021.

61. Mid- and Long-Term Atrio-Ventricular Functional Changes in Children after Recovery from COVID-19. Sabatino J, et al. s.l. : J Clin Med, 2022.

62. Maternal SARS-CoV-2, Placental Changes and Brain Injury in 2 Neonates . Benny M, et al. 2023 : Pediatrics.

63. Long-Term Effect of COVID-19 on Lung Imaging and Function, Cardiorespiratory Symptoms, Fatigue, Exercise Capacity, and Functional Capacity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Campos C, et al. s.l. : Healthcare, 2022.

64. Cerebrovascular Complications of COVID-19 Disease in Children: A Single-Center Case Series. Spanelova K, et al. s.l. : Pediatric Neurology, 2022.

65. Left ventricular longitudinal strain alterations in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic paediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sirico D, et al. s.l. : European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging, 2022.

66. COVID-19 Associated Vasculitis Confirmed by the Tissues RT-PCR: A Case Series Report. Belozerov KE, et al. s.l. : Biomedicines, 2023.

67. Cardiac screening prior to return to play after SARS-CoV-2 infection: focus on the child and adolescent athlete: A Clinical Consensus Statement of the Task Force for Childhood Health of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology. D’Ascenzi F, et al. s.l. : European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2022.

68. COVID-19 and athletes: Endurance sport and activity resilience study—CAESAR study. Sliz D, et al. s.l. : Front Physiol., 2022.

69. Vascular alterations among male elite athletes recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Bauer P, et al. s.l. : Scientific Reports, 2022.

70. Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness Post-COVID-19: A Narrative Review. Schwendinger F, et al. s.l. : Sports Medicine, 2023.

71. Respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in unvaccinated athletes before and after COVID-19 infection: A prospective cohort study. Bostanci Ö, et al. s.l. : Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology, 2023.

72. Effects of SARS-CoV-2 on prenatal lung growth assessed by fetal MRI. Stoecklein S, et al. s.l. : Lancet Respir Med., 2022.

73. Adverse maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes among pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Smith ER, et al. s.l. : BMJ Global Health, 2022.

74. The effects of preconception and early gestation SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy outcomes and placental pathology. Hernandez PV, et al. s.l. : Annals of Diagnsotic Pathology, 2023.

75. The placental pathology in Coronavirus disease 2019 infected mothers and its impact on pregnancy outcome. Joshi B, et al. s.l. : Placenta, 2022.

76. SARS CoV-2 detected in neonatal stool remote from maternal COVID-19 during pregnancy. Jin JC, et al. s.l. : Pediatric Research, 2022.

77. Viral persistence in children infected with SARS-CoV-2: current evidence and future research strategies. Buonsenso D, et al. s.l. : The Lancet Microbe, 2023.

78. Long-term multiple metabolic abnormalities among healthy and high-risk people following nonsevere COVID-19. Washirasaksiri C, et al. s.l. : Nature – Scientific Reports, August 2023.

79. Determinants of the onset and prognosis of the post-COVID-19 condition: a 2-year prospective observational cohort study. Mateu L, et al. s.l. : The Lancet, September 2023.

80. SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Proal AD, et al. s.l. : Nature Immunology, September 2023.

Living with SARS

Comments (57)

  1. Guten Tag,
    hier schreibt das “BildungAberSicher”-Team aus Deutschland.
    Wir haben auf X (ehemals Twitter) Ihren Aufruf zur Unterzeichnung geteilt, damit unsere Impfärzt*innen diesen Brief möglichst auch unterzeichnen.
    An uns wurde die Frage herangetragen, ob nur Ärzt*innen, oder ob auch Gesundheitspersonal unterzeichnen dürfen.

    Liebe Grüße
    und viel Erfolg
    Sabine Reißig

    Reply

    1. Liebe Frau Reißig,

      vielen Dank für das Teilen des Beitrags! Gern kann auch Gesundheitspersonal unterschreiben. Der Text im Beitrag wurde entsprechend angepasst.

      Liebe Grüße

      René Schulze

      Reply

  3. Volle Unterstützung des Anliegens unserer engagierten Kolleginnen und Kollegen.
    Die aktuelle Gesundheitspolitik ist eine peinliche Katastrophe.

    Reply

  4. Ich unterstütze all diese Forderungen vorbehaltlos. Die momentane Vogel-Strauß-Politik ist eine Schande und Katastrophe.

    Reply

  5. Als Neurologin und Gründerin des Long Covid Netzwerks Solothurn begrüsse ich diesen offenen Brief und stimme 100% zu.
    Anzufügen ist, dass Long Covid Betroffene (36 Millionen in Europa, 4.8% der Bevölkerung; WHO, 06/23) mit jeder weiteren SARS-CoV-2-Infektion 80% Risiko haben, sich weiter zu verschlechtern. Insbesondere in Arztpraxen und Krankenhäusern müssten sie besonders geschützt werden!

    Reply

  6. Wenn wir die geforderte Vorgehensweise wählen, zeigen wir, dass wir aus der Krise gelernt haben und können in den nächsten Monaten viel Leid verhindern.
    Daher unterstütze ich das und hoffe auf Umsetzung.

    Reply

  8. Volle Unterstützung für diese Forderungen. Ich setze in meiner Ordination bereits das davon um was ich kann.
    Würde mir vor allem auch mehr Schutz in den Schulen wünschen.

    Reply

  10. Volle Unterstützung meinerseits!
    Maßnahmen sollten speziell im Gesundheitsbereich aufrecht erhalten werden.

    Reply

  11. Ich unterstütze das Anliegen voll und ganz und wünsche mir auch für uns in Deutschland eine solche Initiative! Für jeden im Gesundheitswesen Tätigen sollten die genannten Maßnahmen selbstverständlich werden.

    Reply

  14. I am writing in support of this letter and its authors. SARS-CoV-2 causes acute disease, but is also associated with chronic disease, including thrombovascular disease, immunosuppression, neurological disease, autoimmune disease, gastrointestional disease, renal disease; these are beginning to manifest now, almost four years into the pandemic, but will carry long-term, life-long consequences. Outcomes are worse with each additional infection in an individual. In healthcare, schools, and other places with congregated populations, it is essential to try to decrease the incidence of COVID with testing, ventilation, and masking as much as possible. Regards, Amy Geng, MD (California)

    Reply

  15. Julie Geng, MD (USA)
    I agree completely with your letter and you have my full support! I would especially like to see masking in the healthcare setting, and implementation of CO2 monitoring with improved ventilation/air filtration in our buildings, especially in our schools. Wastewater monitoring is a must so that we may stay abreast of the virus (community spread, developing variants, etc). Thank you for writing this.

    Reply

  17. Als Psychotherapeutin behandle ich Patient*innen mit Immunsuppression, Autoimmunerkrankungen und Long Covid, die sich in keiner Weise mehr sicher fühlen im Gesundheitssystem. Das kann nicht unsere Zukunft sein- ohne Evidenzen und Maßnahmen wird dieser Winter katastrophal.
    Ich kann ich diese Forderungen nur voll unterstützen und begrüße sie sehr!

    Reply

  18. Vielen Dank für Ihr Engagement!

    Die tägliche Diskussion mit den Patienten wegen der FFP2 Maskenpflicht in meiner Ordination ist kräftezehrend!!
    Ich habe die Pflicht nie ausgesetzt und fühle mich von Ihnen bestätigt und unterstützt, danke!

    Reply

  19. Danke für Ihr Engagement in dieser Sache… ich bin neben unserem Atemtherapeuten die einzige konsequente Maskenträgerin auf unserer Intensivstation… und ich denke, ich bin es den Patienten, Angehörigen, Kollegen und auch mir schuldig, das beizubehalten😷!

    Reply

  20. Sehr guter und wichtiger Brief..Es sollte viel mehr veröffentlicht werden das Covid eben kein Schnupfen ist. Und auch immer noch nicht endemisch ist.

    Reply

  21. Thank you for this important work! I enthusiastically add my name. I’m a physical therapist in NYC and I have worked on the front lines since 2019, in the emergency departments, ICUs (I was on a proning team), inpatient wards, and in outpatient practice. I’m appalled that my workplace continues to not require masking in high-risk inpatient units and that my profession by and large ignores the pandemic except for a few important voices. We can do better!

    Reply

  22. Thank you for expressing the above concerns. My name is Rachael O’Byrne, I am a Clinical Psychologist in Australia and I add my name here in support of this call to action to reduce transmission of SARS-Cov-2 and protect the international community from the extensive health impacts caused by this virus.

    Reply

  23. Thank you so much for the opportunity to sign this wonderfully expressed letter. I am in full agreement and wish to add my name to this call to action. I am a retired medical practitioner(General/Family practice) in Australia.
    Linda Thomson MBBS 1980 FRACGP 1989

    Reply

  24. I am an Endocrinologist in Irvine California USA. I fully support the points made in your letter. We as healthcare providers must continue to counter disinformation about COVID.

    Reply

  25. I provided the primary direct IT support from 2019 to 2022 for the laboratories, including our infectious disease laboratory, in the hospital in which I work. I saw day after day of over 1000 samples coming in for testing.

    If the effects of multiple infections cause cumulative damage to people as the evidence indicates, we need to better protect healthcare workers and patients from those effects.

    My Regards.

    Reply

  26. Ich unterstütze die Wiedereinführung der FFP2-Maskenpflicht und der flächendeckenden HEPA13 Filter Installation im Gesundheitswesen. für besseren Patienten- und Mitarbeiterschutz, weniger Longcovid und niedrigere Krankenstände!

    Reply

  27. Here in Argentina, it is at the discretion of each health worker to inform themselves, protect themselves and protect patients and the general population, test and inform, and the majority of health establishments do not have strict protocols, facilities or adequate material to control intranosocomial transmission of sar cov 2.

    Reply

    1. Insbesondere als Kinderfachärztin unterstütze die Forderung zur Wiedereinführung der FFP2-Masken und den Einsatz von HEPA Filter im Gesundheitswesen für besseren Patient*innen- und Mitarbeiter*innenschutz, weniger Longcovid/andere Residuen sowie generell niedrigere Krankenstände!

      Reply

  28. I am an pulmonologist in Redlands, California USA. I fully support the points made in your letter. We as healthcare providers must continue to counter disinformation about COVID and also provide salient proven measures to counteract the virus. Some of these may be pharmaceuticals others will get at the root cause of disease and involve lifestyle changes badly needed. I will continue to educate on both. Thank you

    Reply

  30. I am an occupational physician based in Ireland. I fully support the points made in this letter and wish to add my name to the letter.

    Reply

  31. As a biochemist, university teacher and father of two children in school I would like to support this innitiative.

    Reply

  33. Besser hätte man die Problematik nicht beschreiben können. Ich teile die Beurteilung der Kolleginnen und Kollegen zu 100%.

    Reply

  34. Unter https://www.igoe.at/igoe-plakette-fuer-saubereluft/
    kann die IGÖ-Plakette für #SaubereLuft online beantragt werden:
    https://www.igoe.at/igoe-plakette-fuer-saubereluft/

    Falls jemand Betriebe /Ordinationen kennt, wo Achtsamkeit für gute Luft ein Thema ist, bitte eintragen und auch gerne weiter sagen & auf die Plakette aufmerksam machen.
    Die IGÖ (www.igoe.at) hofft auf viele Orte in Österreich, die zeigen, dass #SaubereLuft auch Indoor wichtig ist.

    Reply

  35. Covid is a mass disabling event that Capitalism wants to ignore. Money controls all. Let ‘er Rip is Eugenics.

    Bring back masking in health care and public spaces…and do something about ventilation! Corsi-Rosenthal boxes are cheap and easy to make!

    Disabled people do not want more disability (every infection causes organ damage-plus there is no proof that Covid actually clears from tissues after infection-spike bad!) and most certainly don’t want to die an early death…see Case Deaton study…

    Reply

  37. https://whn.global/open-letter-to-medical-associations/

    Our letter has also been published by the WHN. If you would like to join the WHN healthcare group for airborne infection prevention, go to https://whn.global/get-involved/. We are looking for medical, healthcare, and medical science experts who would like to contribute to getting care, not COVID (and other airborne infections) to patients, educate practitioners, and perhaps eventually try to solve the riddle of Long COVID.

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  38. Sehr gut auf den Punkt gebracht.
    Danke dafür.
    Ich unterstütze es voll inhaltlich.

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  39. Leben mit Covid heißt nicht im Dreijährigenmodus es total zu ignorieren, sondern für saubere Luft, gute Behandlung, den Schutz Vulnerabler und weitere Forschung zu sorgen. Bleiben wir dran und lassen wir uns diese Politik nicht gefallen!

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  40. Long Covid, Fatigue, die Coronafolgen nehmen einem den Lebensmut und die Lebensqualität.
    Man ist, wie lebendig begraben.
    Nicht ernst genommen und zum Psychotherapeuten geschickt.
    Der bekommt meinen SPO2 auch nicht auf einen Wert über 94.
    Der gibt mir meine Kraft nicht wieder.
    Der hält meinen Puls nicht bei geringster Anstrengung unten.

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  41. Als Beraterin, Bildungspartnerin, Rehabilitationsmedizinerin und Gesundheitsökonomin unterstütze ich die Anliegen in dem offenen Brief in jeder Hinsicht. Dies gilt selbstverständlich auch für Deutschland. Es ist erschreckend, dass die Notwendigkeit von Aufklärung der Bevölkerung über die möglichen Langzeitfolgen einer Corona-Infektion überhaupt zur Verhandlung steht. Gleiches gilt für die unabdingbaren regelmäßigen Fortbildungen und den interdisziplinären Austausch für die Ärzteschaft und/mit andere(n) Gesundheitsfachpersonen. Zudem sind die großen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit ohne kurz-, mittel- und langfristig wirksame Prävention nicht mehr zu schultern. Was ist der Preis?

    Ich wünsche mir sehr, dass sich im Klinik- und Praxisalltag ein entsprechendes Umdenken und Verhalten durchsetzt, das dem grundlegenden Professionsverständnis aller im Gesundheitswesen Tätigen und den ureigenen Aufgaben eines Gesundheitssystems gerecht wird – ein System, das in erster Linie den Menschen dient. Dazu gehört die persönliche Positionierung ebenso wie Professionalität im individuellen und kollektiven Umgang mit der Gesundheitskrise.

    Lernen wir daraus! Fangen wir an, auf Befähigung zu setzen und neue Wege durch komplexitätsbewusste Kommunikation und Vorleben guter Praktiken zu unterstützen. Dafür braucht es nicht viel. Doch die Rahmenbedingungen und Strukturen sind natürlich auch zu schaffen und von organisationaler, institutioneller, unternehmerischer, ökonomischer und politischer Seite zu tragen. Weil es um die gesamtgesellschaftliche Verantwortung für Gesundheit, soziale Teilhabe und nachhaltiges Auskommen für lebenswerte Zukünfte geht. Für alle.

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  42. Ich unterstütze die Forderung zur Wiedereinführung der FFP2-Maskenpflicht und der flächendeckenden HEPA13 Filter Installation im Gesundheitswesen. für besseren Patient*innen- und Mitarbeiter*innenschutz, weniger Longcovid sowie weitere Langzeitschäden und niedrigere Krankenstände!

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  46. “Primum non nocere” beinhaltet auch das Verhindern nosokomialer Infektionen.
    Dazu halte ich Schutzmaskenpflicht in medizinischen Einrichtungen für eine elementare Voraussetzung.

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  48. Als Patientin wünsche ich mir, im Rahmen von Untersuchungen und Behandlungen keine zusätzlichen vermeidbaren Erkrankungen davonzutragen.Daher stimme ich diesen Forderungen voll und ganz zu !

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