Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel once again urged people in Germany to stick to restrictions, saying the coronavirus pandemic is still a real danger.
During a session in the Bundestag, Merkel warned against possible setbacks as Germany learns to live with the virus. She also paid tribute to health workers.
“The basic facts have not changed,” Merkel said. As long as there is no treatment or vaccine, coronavirus continues to be a “danger for each and every one of us”.
Merkel said Germany could be satisfied with the way it has handled the pandemic so far. However, she urged people not to endanger what the country has achieved in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, adding the pandemic will be with us for some time.
“It would be depressing if we had to go back to the restrictions we want to leave behind because we want too much too quickly,” she said.3
Germany has managed to slow the number of infections down, and largely keep the reproduction rate – which shows how many people with coronavirus infect others – below or around 1.
As of Wednesday, May 13th, a total of 173,171 coronavirus infections had been registered in Germany, according to Johns Hopkins University figures. Of those cases, there have been around 7,738 deaths and 147,298 people have recovered.
The number of new infections “lies within an area that our health system can cope with,” said Merkel, who also praised the “fabulous work” of the health authorities.Members of parliament then put questions to Merkel on different topics. Here are a few of the highlights:
Tax increase: When asked whether the federal government was planning tax increases, the Chancellor said that was not on the cards at this point.
“As of today, there are no plans whatsoever to raise taxes and duties,” Merkel said.
In view of the situation of the economy and workers, Merkel referred to state aid such as short-time work (Kurzarbeit), liquidity support and the reduction of VAT for restaurateurs.
She said she was glad the pandemic had hit Germany while the country was in a stable economic situation. “We have the chance to cope with it well,” she said. “But I’m not saying nobody will notice a difference.”
Coronavirus infections in meatpacking districts: Merkel said action needed to be taken in view of coronavirus outbreaks in the workforces of meat factories, thought to be related to crowded housing conditions of workers.
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