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Chancellor Angela Merkel: It was always serious, but now it's getting really serious again
Photo: Stefanie Loos / dpa
Let's not pretend to be surprised.
The number of corona infections in Germany has been increasing for weeks, mainly in metropolitan areas, but also in rural areas.
In the past few days the curve has been pointing upwards.
It was clear that something had to be done if we want to get the completely uncontrolled spread of the damned Corona virus under control.
After a reasonably carefree summer, the pandemic has hit the country again, possibly in a more dangerous way than in spring, when the spread could be traced back to localized hotspots.
Now the conflagration threatens.
It's getting really serious again
It is good that, after weeks of confusing individual regional measures, the federal government and the federal states have now agreed on a common line on how the spread in areas with high levels of infection is to be contained.
Strictly limited private celebrations, curfew in restaurants, only a maximum of ten people together in public spaces with incidence values from 50 per week, from 35 an extended mask requirement.
Wash hands, ventilate, keep your distance, use the Corona warning app.
All of this makes sense, all of which can be remembered, so all of this is better than confusing, hyper-local regulations such as time-limited mask regulations in Hamburg, which only apply to specific streets with house numbers.
That could be the most important message, the most important result of the Corona summit in the Chancellery: A common understanding of the seriousness of the situation.
In Berlin, the Chancellor and the country leaders wrestled over the number of infections from which the new measures should apply.
Armin Laschet, for example, is said to have mentioned the restrictions on private celebrations too early and too rigorously, while Markus Söder and others advocated a fast pace.
When it comes to the ban on accommodation, it was not possible to agree on a common line.
On the whole, however, it is now less important and the specific limit values.
But above all, that the population hears and understands a common voice: It was always serious, but now it's getting really serious again.
We're tired of it, but that doesn't change anything
Die-hard corona deniers will not be impressed by this renewed political appeal.
And cautious people have held back from the new warning.
But the many in between have grown tired.
The cursed virus itself hasn't caught them yet, but its side effect gnaws at them: the attrition.
You want to meet friends.
Go on vacation.
Finally living a normal life again.
And not having to think about Corona, Corona, Corona all the time.
But the virus doesn't care about our needs and sensitivities.
If we want to stop it, we must all become more vigilant again.
If the increase in the number of infections as a result of the tightened measures does not come within ten days at the latest, "further targeted restriction steps are inevitable in order to further reduce public contacts", so it is in the joint resolution.
This sounds like a warning, but it is actually an announcement of the inevitable.
Even if a complete lockdown were to apply from tomorrow, the numbers would continue to rise, because the infections that are visible and measurable in a week have already happened.
We're chasing the virus.
Let us hope that the measures adopted today will narrow the gap again a little so that we can gain time until a vaccine is finally available.
But let's not kid ourselves: They weren't the last and the toughest Corona resolutions.
It's going to be a long, dark winter.
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