COVID-19: Temperature In Germany Is Rising – Nigerian Journalist Writes About Threat To Stay-At-Home Order

Germany announced strict measures in March to stem the spread of Covid-19, which allows residents to leave their homes only for essential needs, such as grocery shopping, doctors’ appointment and exercise or a walk.

The nationwide coronavirus restrictions, which were originally slated to end on April 5, was further extended until April 19th, urging German residents not to travel over the Easter holidays, with Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the disease as the country’s biggest challenge since World War II.

“We have assessed the situation today and confirmed that the restrictions … will be valid up to and including April 19,” Merkel said last week, adding that she had agreed with the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states that the nationwide lockdown would be extended until the end of the school holidays.

This means restaurants, bars, non-essential shops and all public gathering of more than two persons remain banned till after April 19th.

Meanwhile, eateries are only permitted to provide food for collection and home delivery, while hair salons and tattoo parlors will remain closed for the entire period of the lockdown.

The number of coronavirus cases in Germany is still rising sharply. As of Saturday morning, April 11, there were 122,171 confirmed infections in the country, including 2,736 deaths, according to the latest data from the worldometer.

Merkel further stated that the current restrictions would be reviewed again on April 14, adding that, “we are still very far away from what we need to achieve.”

Local reports have it that certain regions, schools, restaurants and bars would reopen after April 19, but large events and private celebrations would remain prohibited.

Furthermore, face masks will be made mandatory in buses, trains, factories and buildings, however this was not confirmed by the Chancelor or any of the country’s ministers.

Economy

On the economic front, Germany, which boasts the best economy in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, was severely hit by the coronavirus, with indications that economic growth could drop by around 2% in the first quarter – with worse to come.

“We don’t need to speculate; it’s clear there will be a negative economic impact. Anyone could say that just by looking at the empty high streets,” Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told journalists in Berlin last month. “Probably be at least as large as during the financial crisis” of 2007-2008, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier was quoted by Bloomberg.

“The costs are likely to exceed anything Germany has experienced in recent decades as a result of economic crises or natural disasters,” Clemens Fuest, President of Ifo, Germany’s influential economic think tank, said. “The crisis will also cause massive upheaval on the job market. This could put the situation at the high point of the financial crisis into the shadows.”

The country also recently earmarked up to €750 billion, almost double its 2020 total approved Budget, to combat the coronavirus Pandemic

The measures agreed include, but not limited to, state guarantees for loans to businesses, easier access to benefits for workers placed on reduced hours, health care spending increase of more than €3 billion, protection for renters unable to meet their bills, larger companies will have the opportunity to take out bridging capital via a special fund, however, Altmaier said there were limits to what the government could do.

German airline industry was also severely hit, with the country’s flagship carrier Lufthansa grounding 95% of its regular flights, at least until April 19.

“We cut our flight plans more severely and far more swiftly than our competition,” Lufthansa’s Carsten Spohr said when announcing the decision. “That was met with laughter from our competitors at first. But I can tell you, nobody in our industry is laughing any more.”

Germany’s automobile industry, which plays a major role in accounting for the country’s strong economy, have seen a slump in its global sales in the aftermath of the pandemic.

The industry, which include car makers such as BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz, with its parent company Daimler, was already in the midst of an existential crisis before this outbreak as a result of the US-China trade conflict and Brexit .

According to the local Germany, in the first quarter, Daimler’s worldwide sales slumped 15 percent year-on-year, with Mercedes-Benz cars alone seeing a 20-percent drop in China and 16 percent in Europe.

Daimler’s rival BMW said Tuesday that it would extend a production stop until April 30th, while Ford’s European factories are on hold until at least May 4th.

However, Volkswagen said it would begin increasing production from April 14th in “a few” factories building car components, which are currently operating at much reduced capacity.

Unemployment is reported to rise about 5 percent this year, with the number of workers on shorter hours meanwhile expected to hit 2.4 million.

Consequences of the Lockdown

According to reports in the country, experts are beginning to analyse the impact of the lockdown on the mental health of residents, who are confined to the walls of their homes.

The German Ethics Council, an independent panel of experts working on societal questions, in a recent paper to the Ministry of Health echoed the concerns of residents who may be negatively affected by the strict measures, according to Straittimes.

“For centuries we have fought for our individual freedoms at all levels, for laws and human rights. And all of a sudden, much of this is simply wiped away practically overnight,” Dr Alexander Dibelius, long-time head of the investment firm Goldman Sachs in Germany, was quoted as saying in an interview.

A reporter with THE WHISTLER, who is currently in Germany, observed that the measures put in place by the government were strictly adhered to by businesses.

The correspondent, however, noted that while some residents are observing the social distancing order, others who are perhaps tired of being confined to their homes are beginning to flout it, with people seen hanging around parks with family and friends.

Germany had banned public gatherings of more than two persons to help curb the spread of the virus.

When asked,  a resident who was at one of the parks with his girlfriend and a third person, said “the weather is good, it is sunny, we love it.”

Since the beginning of the week, temperatures in Germany have risen to an average of 20 degrees, which is said to have attracted majority of residents outdoor, more people are seen taking a walk with family and friends, while some others prefer to spend some time with a few friends at the park.

Education

All schools in Germany are currently shut due to the general lockdown restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The schools are expected to remain shut till at least after April 19th, the week after the Easter celebrations.

Universities across the country also closed down and all lectures are expected to commence online. Examinations, final-year thesis have all been postponed till at least after April 19. For example the University of Freiburg moved all its exams till the week from April 20 till May 8, with the Summer semester expected to begin on May 11. Decisions on the mode of teaching are expected to be made in the coming days or week.

“The lecture mode of the summer semester 2020 begins due to the Corona epidemic May 11, 2020 on, lectures in the summer term ends on 31 July 2020, ” a memo sent to all students by the Rector of the University of Freiburg reads.

“The time of April 20 – May 8, 2020 serves fancy tests (if permitted, even online) catch and written coursework and examinations, due to the interruption of the trial operation on 16 March – are not edited April 19, 2020 were to complete. There is also the possibility of demand (eg, block seminars, etc.) to start courses in the summer semester.”

Students across the country are bracing up for the online classes, as other EU countries that already began the summer semester were doing currently. When asked how the new measures were being implemented, Tosin, a Nigerian student currently studying at the University of Lisbon, Portuagl, said “the online classes are really boring,”  adding that “I have been inside my house for about two weeks now. I only got out to buy food once in a while.”

It is yet to be seen how effective the online classes will be in Germany that is if it will be implemented as most people believe. Only time will tell, as classes are expected to begin in a couple of weeks.