(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) Germany began to partly "unblock" Merkel warned that if he slackened or caused a second "closure"
China News Agency, Berlin, April 20 (Reporter Peng Dawei) After implementing strict anti-epidemic measures such as "closing the city" and social ban for more than a month, Germany began to take the first step of "unblocking" on the 20th, allowing 800 square meters The following shops are reopened. German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to the public and state governments to continue to maintain the highest degree of vigilance against the epidemic. She warned that "unblocking" must take a step-by-step, slow and prudent way, otherwise, if the epidemic is reinstated accidentally, the second implementation of "closing the city" will be inevitable.
Germany ’s current social ban and other measures have been implemented since March 16. According to the German "Times Online" report, as of 20:59 on the 20th local time, a total of 146,671 people were diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia, 83,438 people were cured, and 4,776 people died. In the past week, the number of new cases per day has dropped significantly from the beginning of April. As an important indicator of the German official observation to slow down the spread of the virus, the time required for the country to "multiply the cumulative number of confirmed cases" on April 5 was 10 days, and it has been extended to 19 days by April 20.
Merkel made the above statement after the cabinet meeting on the new coronary pneumonia. She described Germany's current epidemic prevention situation as still "fighting on thin ice." Once the number of basic infections rises again to slightly higher than "1", the German medical system will face the risk of overload. She said that at present, it is necessary to gradually "unblock" without ensuring the above situation. "The best way is to be cautious rather than careless."
Although the day was the first day of "unblocking" previously agreed upon by the federal government and the cantons, under the German federal system, the cantons have the right to determine the specific time and strength of unblocking. The city government of Berlin said on the same day that it would meet on the 21st to decide on the specific "unblocking" steps. It is expected that shops under 800 square meters will be allowed to reopen on the 22nd or 23rd.
Many German universities have resumed classes in the form of online teaching. Berlin University of Technology held the opening ceremony of the new semester through online video on the same day. President Thomson gave a welcome speech in the empty classroom.
On the same day, Bavaria (38,868), the largest number of diagnoses in Germany, announced the mandatory wearing of masks in shops and public transportation in the state from April 27. This state is the third federal state in Germany to take such measures. Thuringia in the east also announced that it will follow suit on the 24th. Although Berlin has not yet required the mandatory wearing of masks, the China News Agency reporters saw in the center of Berlin that day, the number of people wearing masks on the street was significantly more than before. (Finish)