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The so-called R figure (which indicates how many people each infected self-infection) has increased to 1.1, according to the Robert Koch Institute of the German Federal Infection Protection Authority (RKI). An R number greater than 1 means that the spread of infection is increasing. As of Friday, RKI estimated the value to be 0.83.
“Bad preparation”
“Relief has been prepared too poorly,” tweeted Karl Lauterbach, a Social Democrat on Federation Day and professor of epidemiology.
Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in close contact with the heads of the federal government at regular video and phone conferences in recent weeks, when plans for the opening of German society were discussed. Much depends on each state to decide for itself, and reliefs go at different speeds in different parts of the country.
Recently, restrictions on museums, playgrounds and churches were lifted, and a week ago hundreds of thousands of students were allowed to return to school.
Open stores
On Wednesday, Merkel and state leaders also decided to open stores again, on the condition that certain hygiene measures be taken. However, theaters, concert halls and cinemas are still closed, and there is still a pre-introduced requirement of one and a half meters away from other people. Additionally, mask clogging is applied on public transportation and in grocery stores.
Germany has been more successful than other major European countries in dealing with the crown epidemic. Despite its larger population, the country has far fewer deaths than, for example, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
Pontus Ahlkvist / TT
Compared to other major European countries, Germany has had relatively few coronary deaths, which has sparked interest in the German strategy.
Unlike Italy and France, for example, Germany has not imposed a general curfew. However, residents have been required to spend time alone with family members and one other person, and to maintain a distance of 1.5 meters in public.
Germany’s initial position was favorable, with a well-developed health infrastructure and a much larger number of hospital beds and intensive care units per capita than, for example, Sweden. Since then, capacity has been further enhanced, with new specialized clinics for covid-19 patients. Germany has also rated its population to a much higher degree than many other countries.
Christian Drosten, one of Germany’s leading virologists, has highlighted Chancellor Angela Merkel’s research background (as a doctor of physical chemistry) as a positive factor in the fight against infection.
Source: Wall Street Journal, TT
