Across the world, medical researchers and epidemiologists were suddenly thrust into the limelight by the pandemic.

For months on end, they were all over the media. It was no different for the researchers of the Covid-19 task force in Luxembourg. Back in August, the results from an initial analysis of Covid in schools were presented to the public by Professor Dr. Paul Wilmes from the task force.

A similar press conference in November took place without the researchers present. Had there been a break with the government? Not at all, both sides confirmed.

Minister Claude Meisch explained that it was merely a matter of time and availability. The task force, after all, was not only working for him, but for the entire government, and they were doing the best work they could.

Dr. Wilmes agrees: "I wouldn't say we've retreated, on the contrary. We are closely following the situation in all areas of society, and the education sector hasn't particularly stood out."

Covid-19-Task Force schafft nees méi am Hannergrond
Quasi iwwerall op der Welt war et dat selwecht: duerch d'Pandemie sinn d'Wëssenschaftler an de Virdergrond geréckelt.

Ultimately, the media limelight is not necessarily the place for scientific researchers, who prefer to do their work in the background and take the time for thorough analyses. The urgency of the early pandemic was an extraordinary situation in that respect.

This doesn't mean their work is over, of course. Prof. Dr. Ulf Nehrbass explains: "From a scientific point of view, we are only at the beginning. [...] But as far as the pandemic in general is concerned, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel." With the release of the vaccines, he is hoping for it to be over by summer.