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Berlin public transport operator pokes fun at coronavirus conspiracy theories

From Bill Gates to cell phone radiation, Berlin's public transport provider humorously shed light on a growing number of conspiracy theories about the coronavirus circulating around Germany.

Berlin public transport operator pokes fun at coronavirus conspiracy theories
A tram in Berlin. Photo: DPA

Playing on conspiracy theories which have circulated around Germany about the coronavirus in the last weeks, Berlin transport provider BVG published a tweet poking fun at the various myths. 

Their jokes included:

  • “Don’t be afraid of 5G, there's not even 3G with us,” they wrote, making light of the poor reception within many trains and the theory about cell phone radiation spreading the virus.

  • “Brandenburger Tore (English: Gates) are stuck to the Fenstern (English: Windows),” they said, describing the target of many conspiracy theorists’, Microsoft founder Bill Gates.  

  • People, avoid Kotti [referring to the U-Bahn station Kottbusser Tor, known for being a crime and drug dealing hotspot]. Everybody injects [impfen] themselves there. The verb ‘impfen’ means both inject and vaccinate in German.

  • Watch out for the kiosk sellers. They want to implant potato chips.

The BVG is famed for its satirical sense of humour. In December, they applied for UNESCO World Heritage status, humorously portraying in a parody video that their historically slow and antiquated service qualifies them as a landmark.

READ ALSO: 'Nope, no joke': Berlin Transport Authority applies for UNESCO World Heritage Status

Growing conspiracy theories and protests

The growth of conspiracy theories in Germany, however, has not been seen as a laughing matter by the many politicians and scientists who have spoken out against the spread of misinformation.

On Tuesday, Charite virologist Christian Drosten criticised millions of YouTube videos, which are “full of nonsense” – even by “apparent experts”.

“The idea that the pandemic was deliberately brought about in order to control the people, and that Bill Gates or other supposedly sinister powers are behind it, reaches far into the middle of society,” Thuringian Minister of the Interior Georg Maier (of the centre-left Social Democrats, or SPD) told the news magazine Der Spiegel last week.

In many German cities there have been demonstrations in recent days against the measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus – with demonstrators made up of conspiracy theorists, right-wing radicals, anti-Semites and anti-vaccination activists.

READ ALSO: Germany concerned coronavirus protests may lead to radicalisation

Some participants have included well-known figures such as Berlin chef Attila Hildmann, who made a call out to join them on his Telegram channel.

Many of the rallies have not been registered, and have turned violent, resulting in attacks on journalists and police.

There have been a number of theses, rumours and fake news spreading throughout social media outlets.

A chat bot was recently launched to clean up WhatsApp's corona rumor mill – the artificial intelligence answers users' questions about the coronavirus crisis and double checks widespread false information.

Vocabulary

conspiracy theories – (die) Verschwörungstheorien

an increase – (eine) Zunahme

rumours – (die) Gerüchte

fake news – (die) Falschmeldungen, or simply (die) Fake News

We're aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Let us know.

 

 

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HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

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