Covid-19: Despite Germany’s Modest Showing, The Country Says It Is Not Out Of Danger
The Oasis Reporters
June 28, 2020
Compared to other countries in the European Union, Germany ought to say with some element of modesty that it did not fare as badly as Italy, France and even the UK in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. While most European nations complained at some time of lacking PPE, ventilators or even masks, the country had bed redundancies in many hospitals.
This is because Germany’s economy is resilient and its manufacturing ability remains top grade and in good shape.
But Covid-19 has lingered without a vaccine so far, and the virus continues to surge. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 256 to 193,499, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday.
The reported death toll rose by three to 8,957, according to a report put together by Reuters.
While frantically moving and meeting other EU leaders on virtual platforms to revive not only the German economy but the entire EU economy Chancellor Angela Merkel says that the Virus must be taken seriously as her country is not out of danger.
Even though Germany has weathered the coronavirus pandemic relatively well, it is not out of danger yet, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, warning residents against reckless behaviour.
“The danger posed by the virus remains serious,’’ she said, pointing to several regions where outbreaks are currently spreading quickly.
She reminded residents that stopping the spread of the coronavirus was everyone’s obligation, which means continuing to adhere to social distancing and hygiene rules.
“Take it seriously, because it’s serious,’’ she said in her weekly video message released on Saturday.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Germany’s infectious diseases body, reported that the virus death toll grew by six, to reach 8,954, added the RKI.
In the districts of Guetersloh and Warendorf, where an outbreak stemming from a meat-processing facility had forced more than 600,000 people into lockdown by Tuesday, the infection rate has been falling.
However, while Warendorf is below the figure of 50 new infections per 100,000 – the point at which increased controls are triggered – Guetersloh is still well above that number, with 164.2 cases per 100,000 on Saturday.
Roughly 1,000 FC Schalke football club fans gathered near an arena on Saturday to protest against the owner of the meat-processing facility, who is also a chairman on the team’s supervisory board.
Clemens Toennies has come under fire for the outbreak at his factory, where it is alleged that health and sanitary guidelines were not followed.
“Schalke fans have had to be ashamed recently of their fandom,’’ said another organiser, Katharina Strohmeyer.
“But we expect the team’s management to live up to our mission statement,’’ she added.
Protesters held banners reading “Our board – a social and moral flop!” or “The biggest bulldozer won’t help anymore! Toennies gone!”
Angela Merkel was a leading figure as well as French president, Emmanuel Macron to inject 750 million Euros into the regional economy to kick start it after the near collapse from the health challenge and lockdown the EU suffered. Now Europe wants to play it safe while work goes on. For the worst pandemic is to have a flattened economy.
