News from Germany

[rvallee]

Research and care funds are being reduced from around 150 million euros to just 16 million — a cut of nearly 90 percent. This happens despite studies estimating annual economic losses of over 63 billion euros, with total costs since the pandemic exceeding 250 billion euros.

Appalling, and so very foolish. Every single possible good news can't be taken for granted, everything can just be yanked away for no reason. I'm pretty sure there was a lot of lobbying from psychosomatic ideologues behind the scenes, there always is. Disgusting.

 

[Yann04]

Every single possible good news can't be taken for granted, everything can just be yanked away for no reason.

I can’t imagine what its like for the advocates who put their health on the line to campaign for this for so long. Just to have the government go “yeah nah”.

 

[Chandelier]

Long Covid - Der lange Schatten der Pandemie

Knapp sechs Jahre nach Beginn der Pandemie leiden viele Menschen unter den Langzeitfolgen einer Covid-19-Infektion. Axel Dorloff diskutiert am 11. November, um 17:30 Uhr in der Technologiestiftung Berlin mit seinen Gästen über aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse und Gesundheitsdaten sowie digitale...

www.inforadio.de

Upcoming Discussion: Long Covid – The Long Shadow of the Pandemic

Almost six years after the beginning of the pandemic, many people continue to suffer from the long-term effects of a Covid-19 infection. On November 11 at 5:30 p.m., Axel Dorloff will host a discussion at the Technologiestiftung Berlin with his guests about current research findings, health data, and digital infrastructures in the search for causes and effective therapies.

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Panelists​

Dr. Christian Gogoll, Specialist in Internal Medicine and Pulmonology, lead author of the Long Covid Patient Guideline

Max B. Eckert, Research Associate and Data Scientist at the CityLAB of the Technologiestiftung Berlin, co-developer of a post-Covid data model

Dr. Elisa Stein, Institute of Medical Immunology at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, researcher on Post-Covid and ME/CFS

Moderator: Axel Dorloff

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Registration and Further Information​

If you would like to attend, please register in advance via the following link:
https://www.technologiestiftung-berlin.de/veranstaltungen/long-covid-der-lange-schatten-der-pandemie

Venue: Technologiestiftung Berlin, Grunewaldstraße 61–62, 10825 Berlin
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 5:30 p.m.

 

[Chandelier]

Handelsblatt

www.handelsblatt.com

AI Summary:

German Government Cuts Funding for Long Covid Research

The latest federal budget includes almost no new funding for Long Covid research, a decision that scientists criticize as short-sighted and potentially costly for the economy. Experts estimate that the long-term economic consequences could reach billions of euros.

Shrinking Budgets Despite Promises
In July, Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) had expressed determination to support Long Covid research, promising substantial financial backing. However, the 2026 draft budget tells a different story. New research funding has been cut dramatically—from around €140–150 million in the previous legislative period under former Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) to only about €16 million.

Of this, €15 million is earmarked for care models for children and adolescents with Long Covid, and €200,000 for information and counseling services. Although Long and Post Covid are still listed as research priorities, the total health research budget of €41.47 million also covers seven other major areas, such as women’s health, digitalization, and prevention. These are not new funds but continuations of existing programs, and even this amount has been slightly reduced compared to last year (€43.08 million).

When asked about the lack of new funding, the Health Ministry referred vaguely to €118 million from ongoing programs but did not explain why no new money was allocated despite previous public promises.

Limited Support from the Research Ministry
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), led by Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU), is responsible for developing new treatments and medications. Although about €187 million is planned for “widespread diseases” in 2026—including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and mental health—Long Covid is not listed separately. It is only indirectly supported through broader programs such as the National Network of University Medicine and ME/CFS research. Sources suggest that roughly €16 million of this total will benefit Long Covid projects.

Economic Costs and Health Consequences
According to the ME/CFS Research Foundation and partners, Long Covid and ME/CFS have already caused economic damages of over €250 billion in Germany since the pandemic began. Annual costs could reach €63 billion—about 1.5% of Germany’s GDP.

Economist Alexander Häring from the RWI-Leibniz Institute warns that cutting research will lead to higher long-term costs, as recovery often takes years and a lack of research slows the development of treatments and rehabilitation. Without government support, foundations and private institutions would have to fill the gap, though this is not a sustainable solution.

High Patient Numbers and Unmet Medical Needs
As of 2024, approximately 871,000 people in Germany were living with Long Covid and 650,000 with ME/CFS. Although some drugs have been approved for use, they were originally developed for other diseases. There is still no specific medication or therapy designed for Long Covid.

The need for research remains urgent, as each new infection increases the risk of developing the condition, and the social and psychological toll on patients continues to grow.

 

[bobbler]

Erkältung und Psyche: Fühlt sich an wie eine Depression, ist aber keine

Forschende entschlüsseln, was bei einer Erkältung mit der Psyche passiert. Woher das Leiden kommt und warum manche mehr jammern als andere.

www.zeit.de

Wtf to those last three sections

What a made up frankly product of a not right mind load of poisonous tosh. The sort of thing a really nasty person would use as Chinese whispers against some enemy and in a normal world most they’d try it with would take more from it about the teller and to watch out for them than the person it’s being said about

Bug the world seems to be going crazier atm

 

[Chandelier]

Anwalt verklagt Schulverwaltung: Berliner Schüler will in eine „Post-Covid-Klasse“

Wegen ihrer Long-Covid-Erkrankung fallen manche Kinder aus dem Schulsystem. Ein Anwalt erklärt im Interview, wieso er eine Spezialklasse für sie durchsetzen will.

www.berliner-zeitung.de

AI Summary:

Lawyer Sues Berlin School Authorities: Student Demands a “Post-Covid Class”
By Martin Rücker, October 23–24, 2025

Challenges for Students with Long Covid​

For many children suffering from Long or Post Covid, regular school attendance is impossible. Some struggle only with physical activity, while others cannot tolerate classroom noise or sustain attention for several hours. The most severely affected are bedridden, and some experience alternating phases of illness and near-normal health. According to lawyer Friedrich Alexander Barthel, the Berlin school system often fails to provide the necessary flexibility for these children.

Lack of Understanding and Support​

Barthel explains that many schools misunderstand the illness. Teachers sometimes doubt the legitimacy of absences when a child’s condition fluctuates, leading to a refusal to accept medical certificates. Children with Long Covid are legally entitled to home schooling under Berlin’s special education regulations—up to 16 hours per week. In practice, some receive only two hours or none at all. Barthel estimates that dozens of children who could be taught receive little or no instruction.

Legal Rights and Administrative Shortcomings​

Schools often wrongly assume that home teaching depends on available staff. Barthel emphasizes that this right is unconditional. Even bedridden children can benefit from limited lessons. However, the total number of home teaching hours per district is capped at 100, forcing schools to divide the limited time among all sick students.

Proposal for “Post-Covid Classes”​

To address isolation and lack of structure, Barthel is representing a family suing the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district and the Berlin education authority to establish a “Post-Covid class.” This special class would combine students from different grades who have Long Covid, allowing small groups of about five children to study together. Those unable to attend in person could join via digital avatars. Such classes would help maintain social contact and could even reduce teacher workload compared to one-on-one home lessons.

Resistance from Authorities​

The district and the Berlin education administration oppose the idea, citing lack of space and logistical difficulties, since schools are organized by district rather than citywide. Barthel calls these arguments short-sighted, noting that many small unused rooms in old school buildings could serve such groups.

Use of Avatars as an Interim Solution​

Some Berlin schools already use avatars—digital devices placed on a student’s desk that transmit lessons home and allow remote participation. Implementation, however, varies widely between districts. Barthel sees inconsistency in how school officials exercise their discretion in such cases.

Call for Political Action​

Barthel urges the education senator to issue clear guidelines recognizing Long Covid as an organic disease. Without this classification, schools often treat affected children as psychologically ill, referring them to therapy rather than providing educational support or assistive tools like avatars. He also calls for clearer rules to ensure that schools and authorities act in the students’ best interests and for avatars to be legally recognized as educational aids.

Administrative and Technical Obstacles​

Barthel criticizes communication barriers with schools, which are no longer reachable via fax and are not connected to the secure electronic legal communication system. Because emails are not legally binding, he must rely on postal mail, which is too slow and unreliable for urgent matters. This, he says, makes it difficult to represent students’ interests effectively and within legal time limits.

 

[Sean]

What exactly would you like to have translated?

These four. I can take an informed guess at it, but would like to be certain. Thanks.

 

[Chandelier]

These four. I can take an informed guess at it, but would like to be certain. Thanks.

Slight overkill but I thought a picture recreation would be the least exhausting to comsume.