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Contents

1. Preface

......................................................... 9How everything started ................................. 10Coronaviruses: the basics ............................. 11China: the dread threat emerges .................... 12

2. How dangerous is the new “killer” virus?

.... 15Compared to conventional coronaviruses ...... 15Regarding the number of deaths .................... 17How does the new coronavirus compare with inﬂuenza viruses? ........................................... 27The situation in Italy, Spain, England and the USA ............................................................... 34

3. Corona-situation in Germany

....................... 41The German narrative ................................... 43The pandemic is declared .............................. 44Nationwide lockdown ................................... 49April 2020: no reason to prolong the lock-down ............................................................. 53The lockdown is extended ............................. 54Mandatory masks ......................................... 55Last argument for extension of lockdown: the impending second wave? ............................... 56Relaxing the restrictions with the emergency brake applied ................................................. 58

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4. Too much? Too little? What happened?

....... 63Overburdened hospitals ................................ 63Shortage of ventilators? ................................. 67Were the measures appropriate? .................... 69What did the government do right? ............... 70What did the government do wrong? ............ 70What should our government have done? ...... 71

5. Collateral damage

........................................ 73Economic consequences ................................. 75Disruption of medical care ............................ 76Drugs and suicide .......................................... 77Heart attack and stroke ................................. 77Other ailments ............................................... 78Further consequences for the elderly .............. 79Innocent and vulnerable: our children ........... 81Consequences for the world’s poorest ............ 83

6. Did other countries fare better – Sweden as a role model?

.................................................. 87Are there beneﬁts of lockdown measures? ..... 91So which measures would have actually been correct? ......................................................... 98

7. Is vaccination the universal remedy?

.......... 99On the question of immunity against COVID-19 .................................................... 101To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that is the question ......................................................... 108