Germany may impose another lockdown as coronavirus infections spike again in Europe, following the reopening of economies.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the country could be placed in lockdown if the number of Covid-19 cases increases. So far, Germany has not witnessed a surge in cases like its European neighbors Spain, France, and the UK.
The UK recorded 7,143 new cases and 71 deaths from the virus. Germany’s public health body had 2,089 new cases and 11 deaths.
Germany was able to limit deaths, but authorities are not complacent about another wave of cases.
“We want to act regionally, specifically and purposefully, rather than shutting down the whole country again — this must be prevented at all costs,” Merkel told a news conference, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
“We have learned a lot and did well throughout the summer,” Merkel said.
With the current state of infection, Germany may face more than 19,000 infections per day by the end of the year as she laid out new restrictions.
She also stressed existing rules on social distancing and personal hygiene as well as improvement of the test-and-trace system.
Response strategies
“The underlying strategy is still to keep infections low enough so that the tracing of infection chains remains possible, which is vital if schools and the economy are to remain open,” JPMorgan euro-area economist Greg Fuzesi noted Tuesday.
He mentioned the “three elements” of the country's strategy: a redirection on current hygiene and distancing policies, the test-and-trace system, and improvement of “the hotspot strategy.”
Regions will only allow 50 persons in a gathering if cases exceed 35 per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days. then, only 25 persons will be allowed at private functions if infections are over 50 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Individuals will pay the fine of 50 euros ($58) if they give the wrong contact details required for tracing purposes at restaurants and other indoor establishments.
Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, is one of those who hope that following protocols like wearing face masks and practicing social distancing “will suffice to turn the tide against the virus and prevent a widespread overburdening of health systems that could otherwise force countries to impose much harsher lockdowns again.”
“The new wave of regional and targeted measures across much of Europe restrict social activity rather than the ability to work and shop,” he said.
"Far from over"
Merkel previously said that the pandemic is far from over. Fears of a second wave of coronavirus are rooted in regional outbreaks. Two of the largest US states had to reimplement some coronavirus restrictions amid a rise in new infections.
Merkel announced in her weekly video podcast that she is prioritizing Europe’s economic recovery as Germany leads the rotating European Union presidency next week. However, she pointed out that everyone shared a “joint responsibility” in observing social distancing, mask-wearing, and hygiene protocols as lockdown rules are lifted.
“The risk posed by the virus is still serious,” Merkel said. “It’s easy to forget because Germany has gotten through the crisis well so far, but that doesn’t mean we are protected, that the risk has been averted; that is not the case, as is demonstrated by these regional outbreaks.”
