The first investigative committee of the Saxon State Parliament regarding the state’s COVID-19 policies will convene on Friday, May 16, 2025, for its fourth session. The public hearing will feature virologist Christian Drosten, the director of the Institute of Virology at Charité Berlin, starting around 11:30 AM.
Drosten has been a key consultant to policymakers during the pandemic, making his insights particularly significant. Earlier in April, two prominent virologists expressed criticism about the handling of the pandemic. Alexander Kekulé, director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology in Halle, highlighted failures in the political and scientific response. He called for acknowledgment of mistakes as a basis for societal reflection, criticizing the vaccination mandate as a misstep and emphasizing inadequate communication with the public, which he argued undermined trust due to contradicting measures.
Kekulé insisted that the federal government relied too heavily on a limited number of advisors and that a broader spectrum of opinions should be considered to avoid future misjudgments. Similarly, Detlev Krüger, former head of the Institute of Virology at Charité Berlin, criticized the subordination of scientific expertise to political decisions. He described measures like contact tracing and the portrayal of unvaccinated individuals as significant pandemic drivers as problematic. Krüger advocated for independent scientific counsel and a more nuanced communication strategy during crises.
The committee was established at the request of the AfD party to examine the Saxon state government’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic between 2019 and 2024. It comprises 18 politicians, chaired by Andreas Nowak (CDU), with the aim of evaluating whether the regulations imposed, including lockdowns, school closures, and mask mandates, were appropriate and justified—a question that the AfD disputes. Official data indicates that approximately 17,750 deaths in Saxony have been linked to COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic.
This inquiry is not only a critical evaluation of past actions but can also serve as a crucial learning opportunity for future public health guidelines, emphasizing the importance of transparent communication and multi-faceted expert consultation in managing public health crises.