"You all build bridges, you all achieve outstanding things," said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the opening of the award ceremony. The eleven women and ten men were awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany because they have made a special contribution to finding solutions to the global challenges of our time, such as the war of aggression against Ukraine, the coronavirus pandemic, combating poverty, migration and climate change, as well as strengthening cohesion in our country.
"The Order of Merit is an incredibly great honor and joy for me," said Dr. Camilla Rothe at the award ceremony in Berlin. Receiving this award personally from the Federal President is a very special distinction, she said "I often try to convey to my students that important findings that can change the world are not only gained in elaborately equipped laboratories, but that it is primarily in everyday medical practice that close observation and consistent action are important. I am delighted that the work of the Munich Tropical Institute is being honored in this special way."
The Federal President's Office justified the award to Dr. Camilla Rothe as follows: "On 27 January 2020, the doctor diagnosed the first coronavirus infection in Germany. She realized that the infection came from a person who was still asymptomatic at the time. She immediately published this discovery together with the director of the Munich Tropical Institute. The publication triggered a worldwide scientific dispute, which resulted in her findings being confirmed. Her early warning and her courage to stand firm on her findings were a significant contribution to containing the coronavirus pandemic in its first phase. From the very beginning, Camilla Rothe has also been involved in organizing hygiene measures and providing advice on minimizing the risk of infection in elderly care and educational institutions."
The video of the award ceremony at Bellevue Palace on September 30, 2022 is available on the website www.bundespräsident.de
