Following prolonged rumors - The RKI releases its coronavirus protocols with minimal redactions.
Around two months after rumors of outside influence on the risk assessment by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) regarding the Corona pandemic, the organization has revealed protocols for Corona crisis talks with minimal redactions. The RKI made these documents accessible for "public interest," as stated on Thursday. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced this action in March.
Corona Protocols: Redacted Sections Fueled Controversy
The impetus for this was the publication of protocols from January 2020 to April 2021 by the online magazine "Multipolar." The platform, which describes its mission as showcasing various perspectives on social and political topics, was criticized by detractors as having ties to conspiracy-theory publications. "Multipolar" obtained these released protocols through legal measures in response to a Freedom of Information request.
Numerous sections were withheld at the time, igniting arguments regarding the independence of the RKI. In a protocol from March 16, 2020, it was mentioned previously: "This will be escalated this week. The risk assessment will be published as soon as (redacted passage) an indicator for it appears."
Ex-RKI Vice President's Name Revealed
"Multipolar" inferred from this that the escalation of the risk assessment as the foundation for later Corona restrictions was not based on the professional assessment of the institute, but rather on the political instruction of an external figure. The individual's name was redacted. The Federal Health Ministry declared at the time that withholding names is customary in these situations, as employee privacy must be safeguarded. In the now public RKI version, the redacted portion makes it clear that the name under the erasure is Lars Schaade, who was previously the RKI Vice President and is now the RKI President.
The RKI justified the deletions on Thursday by referencing the protection of personal data, intellectual property, trade secrets, and special public interests like internal and public security and international relations. The documents span the timeframe from January 2020 to April 2021. "The remaining protocols up to the completion of the meetings in July 2023 should be published as promptly as possible after proper review and third-party involvement," the institute announced on Thursday.
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- The release of the partially redacted protocols by the RKI has sparked discussions about the potential influence of external factors on the Coronavirus risk assessment, with some questioning the independence of the organization.
- SPD politician and Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced in March that the RKI would make its coronavirus protocols publicly available, following the publication of the documents by the online magazine "Multipolar."
- The revelation that Lars Schaade, who was previously the RKI Vice President and is now the RKI President, was mentioned in a redacted part of the March 16, 2020, protocol has fueled speculation about potential political involvement in the risk assessment.
- The RKI has justified its decision to redact certain parts of the protocols by citing the protection of personal data, intellectual property, trade secrets, and special public interests, such as internal and public security and international relations.
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