Coronavirus: Angela Merkel's TV speech announced - that's what it's about

Coronavirus: Angela Merkel (CDU) will make a TV address on ARD tonight - that's what it's about.

• Angela Merkel (CDU) will give a television speech on Wednesday due to the Coronavirus * crisis.
• A government spokeswoman said that the chancellor wants to appeal to the citizens.
• The chancellor's recorded speech will be broadcast on Wednesday evening from 7.15 p.m. on ntv and RTL, from 7.20 p.m. on ZDF and from 8.15 p.m. on ARD.

4:11 p.m .: The corona virus puts the Federal Republic in an unprecedented crisis. This ensures an extraordinary premiere even in the Chancellor's 15-year career. For the first time in her tenure, Angela Merkel (CDU) will address the population directly in a television address on the political situation. Government spokesmen had repeatedly emphasized in advance that this should be an appeal and not the announcement of further measures.

1:21 pm : At the federal press conference , government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer explicitly explains that Chancellor Angela Merkel does not want to talk about new measures for Germany on Wednesday evening.

“This speech will in no way be about announcing new measures. But that in Germany it is now a matter of slowing the spread of the virus, ”said the spokeswoman.

Merkel wants to address the citizens, "with the aim of explaining how we can all together, slow down the spread of the virus and how everyone can participate in it".

Coronavirus: ARD / ZDF television speech by Angela Merkel tonight - that's what it's about

First announcement of March 18, 2020: Berlin - Government spokesman Steffen Seibert reports on Twitter that Angela Merkel * wants to address the population this evening. In the past few days, the federal government has already taken drastic measures and largely restricted social life in Germany. Schools and universities have been closed for a long time in most federal states.

Bars, pubs and restaurants in Germany have been closed since Monday until further notice. With exceptions to ensure the supply. Nevertheless, in the summer temperatures, many people in Germany still frolic in parks or during leisure activities. The Chancellor recently issued a ban on visiting playgrounds. The message is clear: if citizens do not stick to social isolation, the government's containment strategy will also lapse. "We do not close all schools so that the same students can meet on the playground," the Chancellor said on Monday in the federal press conference.

Coronavirus: ARD and ZDF broadcast Angela Merkel's television speech tonight

Seibert reports that the Chancellor's speech on television on Wednesday evening should not be about announcing new measures. Rather, it is a call to participate in existing protective measures .

Chancellor #Merkel is addressing the citizens in a television speech tonight.

Again and again pictures are circulating on the Internet , in which people, despite the requirement to stay away from crowds of people, are in groups in public.

* Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network.

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