Merkel first appeared in an official photo, wearing a muzzle to prevent the emerging corona virus.
Merkel is shown in the picture wearing a black muzzle bearing the emblem of the German Presidency of the European Union, and the head of the Saxony-Anhalt state government, Rainer Hasloff, who was also wearing a muzzle bearing his emblem, stands beside her.
The picture was taken Thursday evening during the preliminary talks of the states led by the Christian Alliance, to which Merkel belongs, before the start of the Council of States (Bundesrat) today to represent the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Berlin.
Merkel recently presented a simple and practical response to a question about why she did not wear a muzzle, although she is known to be promoting it as a way to combat the Corona crisis.
At a press conference held by Merkel with French President Emmanuel Macron, a journalist asked on Monday evening a question to the German Chancellor about why she was never seen wearing a muzzle. "For example, when I go shopping, we don't seem to meet."
"Then you could have seen me wearing the muzzle, but I will not tell you when and where I will go shopping," Merkel added.
Merkel confirmed that she naturally adheres to the measures recommended by the German "Robert Koch" Institute for Disease Control in the pandemic.