Children. Are they the secret drivers of the pandemic? Or are they the victims of the lockdowns? This is what the JKU Corona Update is about today, which is of course broadcast live.
Linz (OTS) – In addition to the known vulnerable groups of high-risk patients, there is one group whose situation has been talked about a lot in recent months: the children. Are they the secret drivers of the pandemic? Without symptoms, but highly contagious? Or are they the victims of the lockdowns? Without school? Without education? Without future? JKU Rector Meinhard Lukas will talk about this on Monday with the microbiologist Michael Wagner – head of the gurgle test studies – and with the educational scientist Christoph Helm.
The mass gurgle tests at Austrian schools have shown that children and young people play a normal role in the infection process. But what derivations does that entail? The federal government is now switching back to distance learning by January 18, as a measure to get the infection process under control. At the same time, however, research also shows that distance learning and lockdown schools lead to a knock-out situation for some children. No access to education for some social groups.
What consequences are we willing to accept here in order to control the infection process? And how far do we as a society conform to Friedrich Schiller, who in “Bride of Messina” means: “Life is not the highest of goods.
Discuss this – as usual at jku.at or on the JKU YouTube channel – on Monday at 12 noon
Rector Meinhard Lukas:
- Michael Wagner, Professor at the University of Vienna, head of the Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, winner of the Wittgenstein Prize and head of the Gurgel study
- Christoph Helm, Institute for Education and Psychology, Johannes Kepler University Linz
Livestream at https://youtu.be/tP8vU7RH_Gs
Inquiries & contact:
Jürgen Schwarz
T +43 732 2468 3019
M +43 664 60 2468 352
juergen.schwarz@jku.at
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