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Merkel warns coronavirus could infect two-thirds of Germany Merkel warns coronavirus could infect two-thirds of Germany
(about 4 hours later)
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Wednesday that more than two-thirds of Germany’s nearly 83 million people could be infected by the coronavirus. BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Wednesday that more than two-thirds of Germany's nearly 83 million people could be infected by the coronavirus before the end of the outbreak.
“The virus has arrived,” she said, speaking at a news conference in Berlin, the first time she had addressed the public on the issue. She urged the whole country to help work to slow the spread of the disease, as a slower infection rate would help ease the burden on the health-care system.“The virus has arrived,” she said, speaking at a news conference in Berlin, the first time she had addressed the public on the issue. She urged the whole country to help work to slow the spread of the disease, as a slower infection rate would help ease the burden on the health-care system.
She did not announce any new guidelines to mitigate the spread. If there continues to be no vaccine or treatment options, then 60 to 70 percent of people in Germany could be infected, Merkel said. With older people and those with preexisting health conditions at risk, “we must make sure that we protect these people and slow the expansion of the virus,” she said.
She did not announce any new guidelines to mitigate the spread. The number of confirmed cases in the country has risen steeply in recent weeks. At least 1,296 people have been infected, and two have died.
Germany has faced criticism for being slow to act. The country, which has a federal system, has also struggled to get states to comply with the Berlin government’s recommendations that gatherings over 1,000 people should be stopped, especially in the midst of soccer season.
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Germany has faced criticism for being slow to act, while confirmed cases of the virus rose steeply. At least 1,296 people in the country have been infected, and two have died. Policymakers here and across Europe have watched the rapid mushrooming of cases in Italy, where there are now more than 10,000 confirmed cases and 631 deaths. Despite having one of the best health-care systems in Europe, Italian hospitals are pushed to their limits. Other countries are worried about having to confront the same stresses.
In Italy, where the virus spread for weeks in the community before anyone noticed, there are now more than 10,000 confirmed cases and 631 deaths. Its health system is straining under the pressure. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said that the country has 28,000 intensive-care beds, about 25,000 of which have ventilation capacity, but that many are in use and that hospitals need to make plans to “deal with as many patients as possible.”
But the coronavirus response across Europe has been haphazard, with little policy unity in the face of a virus that does not recognize international borders, particularly those that allow freedom of movement. While some countries, like Germany, seem resigned to the fact that the virus will spread through the population, others are still fighting to contain it.
Hungary, with 12 confirmed cases, said Wednesday that it was banning travelers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran. Austria and Slovenia had announced the previous day that they were closing their borders to Italians. Meanwhile, Switzerland was allowing entrance by Italian workers, and France kept its border with Italy open.
The European Union has also seen fights about sharing protective equipment, such as face masks, as countries worry about having shortages of their own as the virus hits.
Germany last week banned the export of medical equipment except in special circumstances. Merkel said the ban didn’t mean that there would be no exports but was intended to ensure that equipment ended up in the “right hands.”
European Council President Charles Michel this week called for more coordination in stopping the spread of the virus, stemming the economic fallout, developing a vaccine and ensuring access to medical supplies. He announced a 7.5-billion-euro ($8.5 billion) fund to assist the continent’s health-care systems and economies.
Italy’s coronavirus lockdown upends the most basic routines and joysItaly’s coronavirus lockdown upends the most basic routines and joys
If there continues to be no vaccine or treatment options, then 60 to 70 percent of people in Germany could be infected, Merkel said. With older people and those with preexisting health conditions at risk, “we must make sure that we protect these people and slow the expansion of the virus,” she said. However, it was China that stepped in to fill an urgent emerging need for ventilators in Italy on Tuesday, agreeing to send 10,000, plus more than 2 million face masks.
As the first deaths were recorded this week, Health Minister Jens Spahn recommended that gatherings with more than 1,000 attendees should be postponed. However, Germany has faced problems in enforcing measures in its federalized system. Spahn said the recommendation does not mean that all events with fewer than 1,000 people should go ahead, saying caution is needed with more crowded gatherings, such as music concerts. “The response from other European countries was not encouraging, and this was a pity,” said Giovanni Rezza, director of the infectious-disease department at the Italian National Institute of Health.
He said the country has 28,000 intensive-care beds, about 25,000 of which have ventilation capacity, but that many are in use and that hospitals need to make plans to “deal with as many patients as possible.”
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