The first easing of the shutdown apparently fueled calls for further steps. Chancellor Angela Merkel is now criticizing the “opening discussion orgies”.
- Germany has been in the shutdown for about a month.
- Due to the Coronavirus * pandemic, strict contact blocks have been imposed on Germany.
- The first easing will come into effect on Monday, April 20. But just on that day, Chancellor Angela Merkel is backtracking - and warns of a relapse.
- Here are basic facts about the corona virus * and the corona news from Germany *. Also: the case numbers as a card *.
Update of March 21, 9:09 am: Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized "opening discussion orgies " in some federal states on Monday . For this, the Chancellor must now not only face an outcry from the press - but also criticism from all ranks of politics - even from her own party. Union parliamentary group vice-president Carsten Linnemann said on Tuesday in RTL's "early start": "On the contrary: I think this country needs a debate about it." . That is part of democracy and that is the only way to build trust in politics .
Nevertheless, Linnemann remains on the Merkel course and criticizes the different ways of loosening trade in the individual federal states. Large furniture stores opened in some countries despite the restriction of easing to 800-square-meter shops. "This is called distortion of competition. He doesn't think it would be right if there were "clear hygiene rules, distance rules and mask requirements in the shops" and everyone could open it - "regardless of the number of square meters," said Linnemann.
Chancellor Merkels' "opening discussion orgies" statement was awkward - but she is right about the matter, comments Christian Deutschländer.
Corona: Merkel warns of another shutdown - "orgies" statement flies around your ears
Update from April 20, 7.30 p.m .: FDP leader Christian Lindner criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel's attitude to adhering to everyday restrictions. "I am firmly convinced that today health protection is possible with other means than in previous weeks," said the Lindner to the picture.
Although he respected the Chancellor's decision, he wanted to emphasize that there was no alternative. "We not only have capacities in the healthcare sector, we not only have more masks and protective equipment, but above all we have a population that has a higher level of sensitivity." Given the need for protection concepts, the FDP chief therefore speaks in favor of opening up from catering establishments .
Corona: FDP chief Lindner reprimands Chancellor Merkel for "" statement
Lindner also didn't like the Chancellor's choice of words. Angela Merkel had spoken of " discussion orgies " about the measures in the population. "The Federal Constitutional Court has already criticized official decisions against assemblies in individual cases," said Lindner. "At a time when even the Constitutional Court is asking questions about proportionality, there is no orgy when you also express doubts as to why and to what extent all this is necessary in this way."
Update 3:53 p.m .: The Chancellor's short press conference ends . Angela Merkel thanks the representatives of the press who are present and leaves the room.
Corona: Merkel explains "discussion orgies" statement - call for "consistency and discipline"
Update 3:44 pm: "What exactly are you worried about?" The Chancellor is asked. You have the impression that a discussion has started since last Wednesday, which provides security that has not yet been given. One should not jeopardize the successful path that Germany has taken so far. As Chancellor Angela Merkel feels obliged to bring her position into the discussion. Her comment on the “opening discussion orgies” was meant as a warning.
"Very thin ice": Angela Merkel with clear warnings to Germans
Update 3:42 pm: One continues to move on thin ice, says Merkel, when she is asked about her statements about the “opening discussion orgies ”. They understand that there is an urgent desire in the population to return to normal everyday life. Nevertheless, the cautious way is now the right way. If the number of infections increases significantly again, tougher measures would have to be introduced again. A new shutdown would then be inevitable, says Merkel. "Preventing a setback is not only in the interest of fighting the pandemic, but also in the interests of the economy and a return to our normal social life."
Update 3:37 pm: "I will not let up on pointing out that we must continue to be consistent and disciplined" , the Chancellor repeats, citing the precise follow-up of infection chains as the most important step in the future. The federal and state governments will therefore take further measures to support the health authorities. Relaxation without better detection of infected people will not improve, the Chancellor concludes her short speech.
Corona Germany: Merkel live speaks in Berlin - "We mustn't weigh a second in safety"
Update 3:33 p.m .: The Federal Chancellor demands that the scope that the individual federal states have in implementing the measures should be implemented as tightly as possible . The consequences of reopening stores would only become apparent in 14 days. Therefore, one must continue to be careful when deciding on further measures. The primary goal is to prevent the health system from becoming overloaded.
Now Merkel is talking about the corona crisis in Germany
Update 3:31 pm: Now Angela Merkel speaks in the Federal Chancellery. "We must not weigh ourselves for a second in safety," says the Chancellor, demanding citizens to be vigilant and disciplined . "The situation we have right now is deceptive," added Angela Merkel. Germany now needs the strength for further hard and strict measures, said Merkel and summarizes the results of the press conference last Wednesday.
Update, 3:27 p.m .: Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to go to the press in the chancellery at 3:30 p.m. Initial information about the Chancellor's announcements has already been leaked. Sick leave due to colds is still possible in the Corona crisis , even by phone. This was announced by the chairman of the Federal Joint Committee on Health Care, Josef Hecken. Chancellor Merkel had requested this as well as numerous medical representatives.
Update, 1:03 pm: Parallel to Jens Spahn's press conference , Steffen Seibert is also informing the government conference about the current corona situation in Germany . Accordingly, Chancellor Merkel will report on the Corona Cabinet talks in a further press conference from 3:30 p.m.
Around 1.7 million people have so far been subjected to a corona test. Around 229 patients have so far been brought to Germany from abroad for treatment. The patients have so far been admitted from Italy, France and the Netherlands.
Corona virus: Jens Spahn informs about loosening
Update 12:51: Before the cabinet meeting on Monday, Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) also dampens hopes of further relaxation of the corona measures. The decisive parameters for the further action of the Federal Republic in relation to the corona crisis are that the public health service and the medical capacities are able to cope with the consequences of the virus pandemic.
They had the coronavirus pandemic * in Germany currently well under control and the infection could chains relate to that, so Spahn. But this traceability must also be given for larger numbers of cases. That is why the federal government wants to give the federal states a personal update - and a financial support program for the digital area. 150,000 euros should be made available to every regional health service at short notice and without complications. These measures are intended to help ensure that the number of infections does not increase uncontrollably despite loosening.
Merkel attacks her colleagues on the phone exceptionally sharply - Chancellor fears second wave
Update 11:59: "We have not yet made it," said Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) said about the coronavirus pandemic in a switching conference of the CDU Presidium. The chancellor had sharply criticized her colleagues in the conversation and warned of a relapse.
As the German press agency reports, citing groups of participants, the Chancellor is committed to strengthening the health authorities. Merkel therefore emphasized: "Our leeway is very small." In some federal states, the easing of the measures from Monday, April 20, but apparently already discussed further openings of the lockdown. The Chancellor is obviously bitter. She was very worried that the good development in corona infections would be reversed because too few people would abide by the contact restrictions. The discussion about easing was not helpful.
Merkel postponed further discussions about easing to the date already scheduled for April 30th. Then the federal and state governments should enter into the next negotiations on how to proceed. What is more important, however, is how it looks a week later. Only on May 8th or 9th will you have an overview of how to progress in the economy and how it looks in schools. Merkel should also insist on the contact rules . She had made it clear that she was banking on everyone adhering to the existing rules. Nevertheless, the Chancellor is skeptical in this regard.
Coronavirus: Merkel fears relapse - "We haven't made it yet"
Hesse's prime minister and CDU deputy Volker Bouffier, as well as deputy CDU chairwoman Julia Klöckner, criticized the information given in SPD-led Rhineland-Palatinate , where zoos and shopping malls were supposed to reopen. The SPD also allowed party events to take place there again.
According to this information, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet , who is also CDU federal vice, defended the further easing in his state. North Rhine-Westphalia is the land of kitchen builders, Laschet said among other things. Other participants said that Laschet fundamentally supported Merkel. The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia had announced, among other things, that furniture stores and baby specialty stores were to be opened as a first step . According to a report by the editorial network Germany, Laschet at the switching conference also opposed plans by Bavaria, among others, to lower the value added tax for the catering trade.
Other participants in the CDU deliberations said that, following the strict restrictions, a "race to loosen up" was now following in some countries . Caution should be exercised here, but country-specific solutions should still be possible. However, each country had to better justify the criteria for its decisions, otherwise acceptance would decrease and one would become reckless. Political leadership is necessary because it is more difficult to find the right time to reduce restrictions than to organize strict restrictions in a real danger.
At 3:30 p.m. Merkel wants to make a statement after the meeting of the " Corona Cabinet" .
But the signs are in the coronavirus pandemic on marathon: Before there is no vaccine *, it seems the tenor, it cannot be thought freely of an unrestricted opening.
Coronavirus: Merkel attacks her colleagues on the phone exceptionally sharply
Update 10:22: Chancellor Angela Merkel is apparently worried about the coronavirus pandemic . Above all, she is concerned with the waning discipline when it comes to complying with the corona protective measures. The first easing of the measures will apply from Monday, but the blocking of contacts, rules on distance between citizens and other protective measures are still essential, according to the Chancellor, according to AFP information.
Accordingly, Merkel is currently "skeptical" and "worried". Merkel was quoted as having the impression that only loosening was being discussed.
Analogously, she said: The first thing that matters is how the situation will develop by April 30, when the current protective provisions expire. The date of May 8 or May 9 is even more important - only until then will it become clear how the economy is doing and how school teaching is going to continue. Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier previously called for more unity in the corona crisis.
On Monday at 11 a.m. Merkel wants to discuss the current situation with the ministers in the Corona cabinet . However, new consequences are not planned, said Merkel, according to the information in the CDU Presidium.
Corona virus in Germany: Merkel attacks her colleagues on the phone with an exceptionally sharp attack
First report from April 20:
Berlin - Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has critically criticized the discussions about further easing of restrictions in the fight against the corona virus *. According to information from the German press agency from participants, Merkel made it clear in a switching conference of the CDU Presidium on Monday how dissatisfied she was that the message of cautious easing in some countries had led to "opening discussion orgies". This greatly increases the risk of relapse.
Merkel made it clear that she was very worried that the good development in corona infections would be reversed because too few people would abide by the contact restrictions. The discussion about easing was not helpful.
Shutdown in Germany: Merkel criticizes "opening discussion orgies"
The federal and state governments had agreed last Wednesday after almost four weeks of a break that small and medium-sized businesses with an area of up to 800 square meters could reopen from this Monday. The details depend on the industry and state. In the first countries, school should start again on Monday and the days after for the final classes. The strict contact and distance rules should continue to apply at least until May 3rd. We have summarized for you what changes from April 20 and what remains.
In Bavaria, however, there were calls from free voters for a mask requirement. Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) counters live * at a press conference.
Bavaria is the third federal state to introduce a mask requirement - we explain the background.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Markus Schreiber
