Germany presses "pause button" for social life
China News Agency, Berlin, March 14th (Reporter Peng Dawei) According to German media reports, as of 20 o'clock on the 14th, the number of people diagnosed with new crown pneumonia in Germany has reached 4,500. With the rapid development of the epidemic, all 16 states in Germany have now announced that classes have been suspended, while the capital Berlin has implemented the decision to close public places such as bars and museums as soon as the 14th, and announced a ban on activities for 50 people. In response to the "circular closure" and "closed supermarket" statements circulating on the Internet, German officials urged the public not to believe in fake news and avoid rushing to stockpiles.
According to the German "Time Online" report, as of 20:45 on the day, a total of 4,500 German patients were diagnosed, 46 were cured, and 8 died. There are currently 216 confirmed cases in Berlin, with 1,636 people in the most severe state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Prior to this, the German states had responded to the federal proposal to ban more than a thousand people and the Bundesliga had been suspended. "Focus" reported online that starting next week, all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in the 16 states of Germany will be suspended. Many universities in Germany have adopted a postponement of this semester.
The Berlin City Government announced on the evening of the 14th that from now on all public or private events with a size of 50 participants will be prohibited. An order to close all bistros, bars, cinemas, clubs and public and private sports facilities in Berlin, which was originally scheduled to take effect on 17, will also take effect immediately. In addition, the city of Berlin has implemented stricter epidemic prevention requirements for hospitals and nursing homes.
In addition to Berlin, similar bans have been issued in many cities across Germany, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Karlsruhe. Large companies, including Daimler, also allow employees to work from home. Although restaurants and supermarkets are still operating, the implementation of the ban has meant that the social life of German cities has been gradually pressed by the "pause button" under the impact of the epidemic.
In response to a number of statements circulating on the Internet in recent days, the German Federal Ministry of Health posted on Facebook the same day saying "beware of fake news." It said that the German Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Health "will soon announce further measures to limit public life on a large scale" and called on the public to stop spreading such content.
In response to the food shortage in the supermarket, German Agriculture Minister Klerkner stressed on the same day that there is no shortage of supply in Germany. She called on citizens to avoid buying and hoarding supplies.
The two major German supermarket chains EDEKA and REWE also issued a statement on the same day, stressing that there is no shortage of supplies. EDEKA emphasized that the "fresh food supermarket closing shop" and "restricted purchase products" circulating on mobile instant messaging software are rumors. REWE also pointed out that its supermarket chains will be open as usual.
China News Agency reporters went to REWE, EDEKA, LIDL, DM and other major supermarket chains and cosmeceutical chains at different times of the day and noticed that although toilet paper, disinfection supplies and some German foods were sold out, they were still available for purchase There are no restrictions on purchases for various foods such as meat, eggs, milk, bread, vegetables and fruits. (Finish)