Day 1 of the partial lockdown in Germany: The Chancellor shows understanding for the displeasure of some people. But she calls for the rules to be followed. Then there could be a “bearable December”. Merkel cannot, however, make any hope.
Berlin (AP) – On the first day of the corona-related partial lockdown, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) urged people in Germany to follow the new rules. She showed understanding for the displeasure of many citizens about the renewed extensive shutdown of public life in November – but this is essential in order to reduce the number of new infections again. At the same time, the Chancellor made it clear that there could be no return to normality of the pre-Corona period in the foreseeable future.
Merkel hopes for a turning point in the corona pandemic
“Whether this great joint effort brings anything in the month of November depends not only on the rules, but above all on whether these rules are followed,” said Merkel on Monday in Berlin in the federal press conference after a meeting of the Corona cabinet . “It is up to everyone to make this November our joint success, at a turning point back to a traceability of the pandemic.”
If we succeed in slowing the spread of the virus in November, “then we will create the conditions for a bearable December, of course still under corona rules (…), but again with more freedom”. However: “On December 1st, normality will not return as we knew it before Corona.” There will be no major events and parties during the entire four winter months. “I don’t think there are big, lavish New Year’s parties,” she added.
The public shut down since midnight
Merkel compared the corona pandemic to a natural disaster and described it as the greatest test since the end of the Second World War. The restrictions now in force are tough. But it is not enough now to take half-hearted measures. “The virus punishes half-heartedness.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
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A four-week partial lockdown began throughout Germany on Monday (November 2), which is intended to break the second corona wave. Since midnight in all federal states, hotels and restaurants, cinemas, museums and theaters as well as other leisure facilities are largely closed. Stricter rules also apply to personal meetings: in most federal states only two households are allowed to come together – in some cases this even applies to meetings in private rooms. In contrast to the first shutdown of public life in spring, daycare centers, schools and shops will remain open this time.
Declared goal: 7-day incidence in Germany average back below 50
The Chancellor emphasized that it was a matter of reducing the number of contacts in daily life to a quarter. The aim is to significantly reduce the so-called seven-day incidence – i.e. how many people per 100,000 inhabitants are newly infected within a week. This value is currently at 127.8. “We have to go back down to below 50,” said Merkel. Because only then will the health authorities be able to comprehensively trace infection chains and then break them.
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Merkel defended the closure of the catering trade in November and again promised those affected quick help. You would not be left alone with the loss of income, she said. The federal government had already decided on emergency aid of ten billion euros. The aid should also reach culture, stressed Merkel. She assumed that the hygiene concepts that had been developed in the catering industry would still be very valuable if there could be some relaxation. At the same time, she emphasized that the VAT reduction that has been in effect since July will not be extended. This expires automatically at the end of the year.
The lockdown should be assessed after 2 weeks
Merkel did not want to decide how things would go after the partial lockdown in November. She announced that there would be another meeting with the prime ministers of the federal states on November 16. If it turns out that the measures now taken are not sufficient to greatly reduce the number of new infections, additional restrictions may also be necessary. With a view to other states, the Chancellor also emphasized that she did not want a curfew in Germany “if it can be avoided somehow”.
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“In any case, we will try politically to do everything we can to ensure that it remains limited to November,” said Merkel about the partial lockdown. But even then, from December onwards, there will be no “free life” again as before the pandemic. The hygiene and distance rules would continue to apply. According to Merkel, this will also apply to Christmas: “It will be Christmas under Corona conditions, but it should not be Christmas in solitude.”
Merkel sees no other way than the lockdown
The Chancellor said that in the summer there had been a “large number of negligence” in observing the hygiene and distance rules. “You can’t afford that in autumn and winter.” You can understand the displeasure and displeasure of many citizens, but still have to campaign for acceptance because there is no other way.
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