German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized the behavior of some states in easing Corona restrictions.
Merkel said in a government statement that she delivered to the parliament (the Bundestag) yesterday, that the implementation of the decisions of the federal government and the states issued last week made these states "very confident of themselves in some matters, if not to say they are overly confident in themselves." But Merkel did not refer explicitly to the states that concern her with this criticism.
Merkel said Germany was still at the start of the Corona virus, and would have to live with it for a long time.
"We are not in the last stage of the epidemic, but we are still at the beginning," she added.
"We gained some time," she added, adding that this was well used to strengthen the country's healthcare system.
The German chancellor called on her citizens to endure and discipline in the current Corona crisis.
Merkel said that the numbers of new infections and recoverers represent a staged success "but, precisely because these numbers gave rise to hopes, I have an obligation to say that this interim result is fragile, and we are moving on a thin layer of ice, but we can say on the thinnest layer of ice."
Merkel said that the current numbers do not foretell anything about what it will be like in a week or two, if a significant increase in social contacts is allowed.
"If we mobilize as much endurance and discipline as possible in the first of this pandemic, we will be able to return more quickly to public, social and economic life, and in a sustainable way as well," she added.
The German chancellor pledged solidarity with European partners severely affected by the Corona crisis, and at the same time warned of the divisions.
"For us in Germany, the commitment to a united Europe is part of the national interest," Merkel said. "This is not a material for Sunday sermons. Rather, this is completely realistic."
"This pandemic has hit everyone, but not equally, and if we don't pay attention, it will give an excuse to those who divide society," Merkel added.
Merkel said that Europe is a group with a common destiny «Europe must prove this in the unexpected challenge of the pandemic, and Europe will not be Europe if it does not stand with one another in the crisis of distress caused by no one».
The German chancellor pledges solidarity to the European partners affected by Corona.