Hard lockdown in Germany

[George K]

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/23/980272577/basically-in-a-new-pandemic-says-merkel-as-germany-extends-lockdown

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday announced an intensified coronavirus lockdown going into Easter, warning that new mutations raised the specter of a potentially deadly "third wave" of COVID-19 as Europe struggles in its vaccination campaign.

Speaking early Tuesday, Merkel said restrictions would be extended until April 18. She called on citizens to stay home and for shops to close for five days over the Easter holiday.

"We are now basically in a new pandemic. The British mutation has become dominant," Merkel said after late-night videoconference sessions with leaders of Germany's 16 states.

"Fundamentally, we face a new virus of the same kind but with very different characteristics," she said. "More deadly, more infectious, and infectious for longer."

The move marks an about-face for Germany, where leaders earlier this month had set in motion a gradual easing of restrictions.

However, last week, German Health Minister Jens Spahn warned that vaccines won't arrive quickly enough to prevent a third wave of the pandemic. He said new infections in Germany were rising at an "exponential rate" and that there wasn't enough vaccine to stop it.

[Aqua Letifer]

@george-k said in Hard lockdown in Germany:

and for shops to close for five days over the Easter holiday.

Ouch.

[LuFins Dad]

What’s the daily vaccination rate vs new case count?

[Copper]

@george-k said in Hard lockdown in Germany:

"More deadly, more infectious, and infectious for longer."

I'm trying to remember a pandemic that wasn't more, more and longer

[Loki]

@lufins-dad said in Hard lockdown in Germany:

What’s the daily vaccination rate vs new case count?

Great question.

In the US 1/3 of those over 18 have been vaccinated with at least one shot and 70% over 65. We are near 3 million a day and growing.

The data in the US says while cases are flat or rising deaths continue to drop like a stone. Cut in half again in the last 22 days alone.

So there is great reason to be hopeful that any spike in cases will not lead to a rise in hospitalizations and deaths. So far that’s what the data shows in the US.

[Klaus]

My sentiment about Germany at the moment is similar to Larry's sentiment about the US on a day after the democrats won an election.

[kluurs]

@klaus said in Hard lockdown in Germany:

My sentiment about Germany at the moment is similar to Larry's sentiment about the US on a day after the democrats won an election.

ouch!