Coronavirus Begins Shutting Down Public Life Across Germany
'Coronavirus Begins Shutting Down Public Life Across Germany,' DW, March 12, 2020.
With Italy as a warning of what could come, large events in Germany have been canceled. Many who can work from home. Experts say public life must be curbed further for Germany to stand a chance of slowing the virus. With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 pushing the number of confirmed cases in Europe higher by the day, the outbreak is beginning to have a visible effect on daily life in Germany and beyond.
Italy has taken the unprecedented step of placing the entire country of 60 million people under quarantine, limiting movement and shutting down public spaces for at least three weeks. Major events have been canceled, schools are shut nationwide, and all nonessential shops are to close, with people only authorized to move around for work or health needs. Riots have occurred in overcrowded prisons. The Corriere della Sera newspaper wrote that "the whole of Italy is closed."
- A local district administrator in Germany demonstrates being tested for coronavirus via a drive-through system.
Several European countries have begun to follow suit: Norway, Lithuania, Ireland and Austria have closed most schools. The list of closings is changing by the hour. In Germany, which after Italy, France and Spain has the largest number of coronavirus cases in Europe, the government hasn't resorted to such drastic measures — yet. But a global survey conducted by research firm Ipsos already in late February showed that 62% of Germans would support quarantine measures, should they be deemed necessary.
These sweeping efforts to contain the virus came after an initial reluctance by some governments to significantly disrupt public life and, subsequently, destabilize their economies and cause panic. As recently as March 3, when the number of cases in Spain was already at around 200, the Health Ministry was stressing that there is still "not a great deal of transmission at the national level." By March 12, confirmed cases rose to nearly 3,000.
The slow response is reminiscent of how authorities in Germany, the UK and France initially restricted reporting during the 1918 flu pandemic, fearing it would lower morale as troops were still fighting World War I. Even Spain, which first reported cases of the flu — leading to it erroneously being dubbed the "Spanish flu" — at first "hesitated because they knew it would have a negative impact on the economy, especially the growing tourist industry,"...
Read More, https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-begins-shutting-down-public-life-across-germany/a-52743358
- Handshakes and kisses in a time of coronavirus.
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