There is growing concern among the population about the coronavirus. The bike scene is not immune to this. As a trained pharmacist, former mountain bike pro Wolfram Kurschat not only knows about the current health situation, but also how bikers should behave in the current situation. He spoke openly on the subject in an interview.
BIKE: Many people are almost panicking at the moment. How bad is the coronavirus really?
Kurschat: If you look at the figures, the mortality rate from the coronavirus is currently 0.5%. That's nothing unusual. A young, healthy person usually survives an infection without any problems. The disease usually proceeds like a moderate to severe cold. Some even show no symptoms at all. It becomes dangerous for old and sick people. As the young and healthy act as a "carrier medium", it is so important to stop the spread.
BIKE: You work in a pharmacy these days. Disinfectants and face masks are sold out almost everywhere. What is the situation like at your employer?
Kurschat: We sold out of disinfectant and face masks within half a day. Pharmacies now have to produce their own disinfectants to make up for shortages.
BIKE: How useful are these protective measures?
Kurschat: First and foremost, it is important to follow the rules that the Robert Koch Institute says should be a matter of course during flu outbreaks anyway. Whoever general infection control measures such as coughing/sneezing rules and good hand hygiene, as well as keeping a distance of 1 to 2 metres from people who are ill, also minimises the risk of infection with the new coronavirus. If you have to be in large crowds of people, it makes sense to wear a face mask. However, you should avoid crowds of people as much as possible. It makes sense to clean your hands with disinfectant from time to time if you don't have the opportunity to wash your hands. However, you should not assume that these hygiene measures will make you immune to infection. That would be like looking for clothes that you can wear for 48 hours in the pouring rain without getting wet. There is no such thing. It is important to lead a particularly healthy lifestyle now in order to strengthen your immune system.
BIKE: What exactly does a healthy lifestyle look like?
Kurschat: Above all, you should make sure you have an adequate supply of micronutrients and vitamins and avoid unnecessary stress. Sport also contributes to good health.
BIKE: So bikers don't have to do without their favourite rides?
Kurschat: Absolutely not! Biking in nature is the best thing you can do. Where better to avoid the crowds than in the forest? Exercise in the fresh air also strengthens our immune system - as long as we don't overdo it. You should avoid severe colds or extreme exertion in the typical cold phase anyway.
BIKE: What is the situation for performance-orientated bikers? Should they stop their training programme?
Kurschat: No. No athlete has to stop their training programme. However, it is important to stay away from crowds and protect yourself from the cold after exercise. After a hard workout, the so-called open-window effect occurs. During this period, the immune system is less strong and the risk of infection is particularly high.
The quarantine measures are not about preventing the extinction of a population.
BIKE: Now is the time for training camps. Should cyclists avoid training abroad?
Kurschat: The problem is not cycling in another country. Let's leave Italy out of the equation due to the high number of infected people. The problem is travelling there. If you fly to the country you're travelling to, you're inevitably surrounded by countless people at the airport and on the plane you're sitting together with hundreds of people in a very confined space. The issue here is the level of probability. When simply cycling abroad (apart from Italy), the probability of infection is low. When flying there, on the other hand, it is very high.
BIKE: Honestly. What do you think of the panic? Is it just madness or is it really that dramatic?
Kurschat: It is a kind of hysteria. As I said, the mortality rate is 0.5 per cent. The quarantine measures are not about preventing a population from dying out, but about protecting old, sick and vulnerable people. That is why we should pay attention to these measures, but not isolate ourselves from the outside world.
