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Coronavirus in Germany: Merkel focuses on education and solidarity

2020-03-18T21:04:30.193Z


The coronavirus pandemic is "the greatest challenge" that Germany has known "since the Second World War" according to the German Chancellor.


From our correspondent in Berlin

The coronavirus pandemic is " the greatest challenge " that Germany has experienced " since the Second World War ". Angela Merkel could not have used heavier words to emphasize the gravity of the coronavirus epidemic which, in Germany alone, has caused between twelve and sixteen deaths and leaves 8000 people infected. For the first time since the start of her first term as head of the country 14 years ago, and apart from traditional New Year wishes, the Chancellor made an exceptional speech on television, Wednesday evening around 8 p.m.

Read also: Coronavirus: Germany repels American assaults on one of its laboratories

" It's serious, take it seriously " exhorted the head of government while during the day, many Berliners took advantage of the mild spring, showing their carelessness. " These are not only abstract statistics but it is a father, a grandfather, a mother, a grandmother or a spouse? We are a community where every life and every person counts . ” Although the restrictive measures do not yet go as far as confinement imposed in France, they are " difficult ", unprecedented since the advent of the Federal Republic and " affect our lives and our image of democracy ", acknowledged Angela Merkel. She rightly highlighted her experience as a former citizen of the GDR where " freedom of movement was dearly won ".

25,000 intensive care beds

Angela Merkel has announced no other measure than those placidly announced two days ago, while, due to decentralization, local authorities are still acting in dispersed order. She repeated basic hygiene instructions and asked for respect for safety distances vis-à-vis others. She also called for solidarity and discipline by denouncing panic purchases in stores. Berlin seeks first to save " time " by seeking, like all the other European countries, to avoid that the resuscitation services are overwhelmed. For this, Germany plans to transform hotels and halls into hospitals in order to free up beds in the intensive care units of patients with Covid-19. Germany already has around 25,000 beds of this type to date, far more than in France or Italy for example. " We may have the best health care system in the world, " said the Chancellor.

Angela Merkel was speaking in her office facing the Reichstag dome, with in the corner of the frame a piece of the German flag and more peekingly, during a panorama, a fragment of the European flag. She made no reference to the European Union. In this moment of national emergency, she first relies on civility and the awareness of her own fellow citizens.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-03-18

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