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The People’s Chancellor urged the Germans to focus and respect the restrictions, not to recognize those who refuse to follow science in the fight against the spread of the disease.
“Let me be clear: lies and misinformation, conspiracy [teorijos] and hatred is detrimental not only to the democratic debate but also to the fight against the coronavirus, ”Merkel told the lower house of parliament.
His speech was interrupted by whistles from far-right AfD MPs, prompting the rare intervention of House Speaker Wolfgang Schaeuble. He threatened sanctions for non-disciplinary deputies.
Merkel agreed to close restaurants, bars, cinemas, theaters, gyms, public swimming pools and other entertainment venues by November in a video conference with leaders in 16 German states on Wednesday to stop the accelerating spread of the virus.
Schools, kindergartens, shops and other key institutions will continue to function and people will be able to leave their homes freely, unlike France, the worst hit.
The chancellor has secured support from almost the entire political spectrum, but industry groups have warned that it will be difficult for companies, especially small ones, to survive despite the expected 10 billion euros. euro of state aid.
In recent months, the country has also seen an increase in protests by people skeptical of the pandemic, some of which have resulted in outbreaks of violence.
Merkel told lawmakers Thursday that strict restrictions were the only responsible option, as the number of new infections recorded per day doubled last week and intensive care units were rapidly approaching their capacity limits.
“The measures we are taking are appropriate, necessary and proportionate,” he said. “With the onset of the cold season, we find ourselves in a dramatic situation.”
“Despair”
According to the chancellor, his goal is to reduce German personal contacts to an “absolute minimum” so that the curve for new infections becomes flat.
However, he added that he understood “frustration, yes, despair” in those sectors most affected by the quarantine measures.
“The winter will be tough, four long and tough months, but it will end,” Merkel said.
Germany survived the first phase of the pandemic better than most of its neighbors, and the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the most populous country in the European Union is just over 10,000.
But the country has been rocked by a series of large-scale demonstrations against government measures to control the virus. Extreme activists accuse Merkel of using the pandemic to concentrate power.
Merkel vehemently rejected such claims, calling populism “not only unreal, but also irresponsible.”
“The things that science has denied must be questioned,” he said.
Merkel, whose fourth and final term as chancellor will end next year, is experiencing a peak in popularity.
“Freedom does not mean that everyone does what they want, but that everyone has a responsibility,” he said.
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