Visualization of the number of intensive care patients, the test frequency and mobility
The mirror
In mid-December, fears were great.
The number of known new corona infections and the daily reported deaths rose rapidly, Christmas was just around the corner.
Would traveling across the country and meeting family and friends accelerate the already worrying pandemic events even further?
Politicians reacted to prevent this, entirely plausible, scenario.
The existing measures were only slightly relaxed over the Christmas period.
Christmas with the family should not be prevented entirely, but risks should be limited wherever possible.
"Please reduce your contacts and only spend Christmas in a small circle," Lothar Wieler, President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), appealed to the population.
For a long time after Christmas it was difficult to take stock of how well the chosen strategy and the appeals had worked.
For the time being, the numbers were sketchy and difficult to interpret, and very different reports were heard from private individuals.
Some spent Christmas completely alone as a precaution, while others maxed out the maximum number of allowed guests every day or perhaps did not count them so precisely.
Read more with Spiegel Plus
More perspectives, more understanding.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +
Icon: Check
SPIEGEL as a magazine
as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader
Icon: Check
All articles on SPIEGEL.de
Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers
Icon: Check
Try one month for free
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
One month for € 0.00
Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right
Already have a digital subscription? Register here
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.
24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.
You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.
In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you have to link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.
With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.
