Non-German native speakers have a hard time to stay on top of the news concerning the development of the situation of CoViD-19 specifically in Germany. Because of that, we curate a live blog in English for all people living in Germany. The information published on this site is translated from German and is based on the live blog of Tagesschau.
We are using the combination of custom-trained machine translation models and expert linguists to provide these translations.
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17:13 Latvia introduces warning app
Latvia has introduced a warning app to help better understand the coronavirus infection chains. The application issued by the National Health Authority bears the name "Apturi Covid". The use of the app is voluntary and will initially only work in the Baltic State which has nearly two million inhabitants. "We need to learn to live wisely with Covid-19," said Head of Government Krisjanis Karins.
After installing the app on a smartphone, it can recognize and register other mobile devices using Bluetooth. It records contacts that are located more than 15 minutes in the immediate vicinity of about two meters. If one of the contacts is infected with coronavirus, the user is immediately informed and asked to go into self-isolation.
16:57 Study: High risk of coronavirus infection in refugee facilities
According to a study, collective accommodation for asylum seekers is particularly at risk of becoming hotspots for coronavirus infections. If an infection is detected in one collective accommodation, statistically 17 percent of the other residents are at risk of infection, as evidenced by the Bielefeld University study. However, in some facilities, the risk of infection has been much higher.
Publicly available data from eleven federal states, 42 reception facilities, and community accommodation for refugees has been evaluated. of the 9785 refugees, 1769 persons of the 9785 refugees in the accommodation evaluated have tested positive for coronavirus. The close proximity of people in the facilities is problematic.
16:50 Brinkhaus calls for fast opening of schools and daycare
CDU Political Group Chairman Ralph Brinkhaus has called for a rapid return to normal operation in schools, daycare, and nurseries. Their closure increases the differences between children from educationally-friendly and non-educationally-friendly families, said the CDU politician to the German editorial network.
The burden on families is also problematic. “That’s why we need to quickly return to a normal schooldays and regular care in daycare and nurseries,” Brinkhaus said. Local health authorities need to be further strengthened to ensure the health of children and caregivers.
16:46 Tübingen: Medical staff suspend study on malaria drug
The Tübingen Institute for Tropical Medicine has paused its study on the drug Chloroquine for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. As the Institute Director Peter Kremsner reported, it is expected to be suspended for up to two weeks, as reported by the SWR broadcaster. The reason: Before this, there had been reports of serious side effects of the malaria drug.
During this time, an independent safety committee should look at the first results on patient safety. Then a decision is to be made whether the study will be continued.
16:37 Funding for protective mask production expanded
The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs is expanding funding for the production of protective masks. The new directive is expected to come into force on Monday. “We are giving important investment incentives to SMEs with the funding program to build up competitive production capacities in Germany with new innovative plants and products,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier. Europe should become more independent of imports in this area.
Specifically, investments in plants for the production of high-quality protective masks are being funded by up to 50 percent.
16:35 Thuringia: How Bollstedt creates a community social distancing
Thuringian Bollstedt has ideas on how to create a community despite restrictions and social distancing in the coronavirus crisis.
16:23 France: Landmarks remain closed
Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles: The three largest tourist attractions in the Paris municipal area are still closed despite the upcoming easing of most coronavirus restrictions in France. The Eiffel Tower will probably not be accessible again before the second half of June, said Stéphane Dieu, union spokesman for the Eiffel Tower employees. Dieu said that it still needs to be coordinated how best to protect employees and visitors from infection and to comply with the social distancing rules. The lifts are expected to remain closed and the three levels of the tower are for the time being only accessible via the stairs.
The Louvre is expected to be reopened between the end of June and mid-July. The art museums too are still concerned about guaranteeing safe operation, said the trade unionist André Sacristin, who represents the workers there for the planning. It is expected that everyone must wear a face mask and 20 to 30 percent of the museums will not be accessible.
The administration in Versailles stated that there isn’t a target date for reopening.
16:17 Bremerhaven: Number of coronavirus cases in Freikirche more than doubled
More people in the vicinity of a free church community in Bremerhaven have been infected with the coronavirus than had been previously known. At least 44 members of the congregation have been tested positive, the "Nordsee-Zeitung" reported. Two of the infected people are in the hospital, both of whom did not need a ventilator. More than 100 members of the congregation are in quarantine.
The Bremerhaven crisis staff assumes that the people concerned have been infected in the divine services. One spokesman from the city of Bremerhaven said that the free church community has communicated that they have complied with all hygiene requirements.
16:08 Saxony-Anhalt regulates school operation until the summer holidays
Saxony-Anhalt's primary schools start on June 2 after the Whitsun holidays with a shared on-site and distance education model. From June 8, the schools will have the opportunity to return to a restricted operating system and permanently teaching all pupils in the schools, as the Ministry of Education in Magdeburg announced. This process will be completed in all primary schools in Saxony-Anhalt at the latest from June 15. "Even if all children can return to primary schools, this will not yet be a completely regular operation. At the same time, hygiene and infection protection measures are still of central importance," stressed the Minister of Education Marco Tullner.
All secondary schools will also start with the shared mode on June 2. Parents who have concerns about the occurrence of infection will be able to apply for distance education stated the Ministry. The pupils are to be provided with teaching materials and integrated into the pedagogical offer.
16:00 International Monetary Fund (IMF): Billions in aid for Peru
Peru is receiving funding from the IMF because of the coronavirus crisis. The IMF announced that the South American country will receive a two-year credit line of eleven billion dollars (nearly ten billion euros). IMF head Kristalina Georgieva praised Peru‘s solid economic policy. However, the "CoViD-19 shock" has pushed the country's economy into a recession. The government in Lima has responded to the pandemic with severe mitigation measures and steps to limit the socio-economic consequences, Georgieva stated. Peru sees the credit line as a "precautionary" financial aid.
15:58 Vienna Big Wheel Turns Again
A Vienna landmark - the Big Wheel in the Prater - is turning again. It had been stopped for the first time for more than 70 years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Michael Ludwig set the Big Wheel in motion by pressing a button. The Giant Wheel was built for the 50th anniversary of the succession to the throne by Emperor Franz Joseph I. and started operation on June 21, 1897. It was the tallest of its kind at the time at 64.75 meters.
Guests from Germany and other neighbouring countries can travel to Vienna again from June 15. Shops, clubs and museums have been open for several days.
15:51 Austria to reduce obligation to wear face masks in mid-June
Given the low number of coronavirus infections, Austria intends to greatly ease the obligation to wear masks in the middle of next month. On 15 June, the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection in public will be largely abolished, Federal Chancellor Sebastian briefly announced. Masks are then only to be worn in public transport, pharmacies, hospitals and, for example, in hairdressers or in the catering trade, where the minimum distance of one meter cannot be respected.
Closing time for the catering trade will then also be extended by two hours to 1 am.
15:42 Steinmeier honors neighborhood help in coronavirus times
The President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier has honored all those who had introduced initiatives and shown engagement on today’s Neighbours Day. Steinmeier thanked all those who in the past few weeks have “done great things in small ways“ on the occasion of a visit to a neighborhood action as the organizing foundation "nebenan.de" announced. He then continued that he hopes that the neighborhood commitment and solidarity will also remain after the coronavirus crisis.
15:34 Scientists criticize study on malaria drugs
Dozens of researchers around the world have expressed concern about a recently published study on the use of hydroxychloroquine as a corona medicine, which prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to suspend clinical testing with the malaria agent. The study was examined in detail by "many scientists around the world" stated an open letter. "These tests have caused concern both in terms of methodology and data collection."
The open letter has a long list of issues that are problematic from the point of view of the signatories. Among other things, the authors’ refusal to allow other scientists access to the data is criticized. Nor is there anything stated about the countries and hospitals from which the data comes. The open letter was signed by researchers from various areas, including Harvard University and Imperial College London.
15:30 World Health Organization (WHO) expects coronavirus vaccine in eleven to seventeen months
A "safe and effective" vaccine for coronavirus will be found in eleven to seventeen months, according to the WHO. A drug to treat CoViD-19 will be available before this, "which will also allow us to reduce the high mortality rate," said WHO Director of Public Health, Maria Neira, in an interview with the Catholic News Agency KNA.
Her organization will ensure a fair global distribution of the vaccine, Neira assured the agency. "Rich countries will have to pay for the vaccine. However, we will set up mechanisms and subsidies for poor countries that cannot do this to ensure that everyone has access to it“.
15:20 Approval for Remdesivir drug delayed
The authorization of Remdesivir for coronavirus on the European market is delayed. The European Medicines Authority (EMA) stated that the pharmaceutical company Gilead has not yet submitted an application for a marketing authorization EMA. However, this is expected to happen soon. A decision should be made quickly depending on the quality of the data available.
The EMA had initially expected a decision by the end of May. The EMA launched an accelerated marketing authorization procedure for Remdesivir on 30 April. The EMA stated that the first cycle had been finished on 15. May. Study results were evaluated and the drug was thoroughly evaluated with respect to its side-effects and its use.
15:18 First travel organizations extend flights suspension
The first travel organizations have extended the suspension of flights given the uncertainty about lifting the travel warning. Schausinsland-Reisen has canceled all flights until 26 June. So far, the Federal Government has left it open whether, for which countries and under what specific conditions the worldwide travel warning can be lifted from 15 June 2020, the travel organization explained. Besides, in some destinations, there are still official restrictions or a blockade on relevant flight connections. The trips would be canceled. Customers have the choice between a voucher and a refund. Previously, Alltours had already canceled all flights up to 25 June.
The Federal Government is currently preparing an end to the worldwide travel warning for tourists from 15 June for 31 Europen states if the coronavirus developments allow it. Concerns about making a decision too quickly have been raised, above all by Bavaria.
15:07 Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) adjusts the number of new infections
The Health Authorities in Germany have reported approximately 560 coronavirus infections to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) within 24 hours. Although the RKI had initially reported the number at 741, this had also contained older cases due to technical problems, as a RKI data expert explained on request.
Thus, since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, 180,458 people in Germany have been found to have been infected with Sars-CoV-2. According to RKI data, 8,450 have been found to have been infected by the virus, so the number of reported deaths within 24 hours increased by 39,164. The RKI estimates that 100 people have recovered from the infection, which is 900 more than on the previous day.
15:03 South Africa: Lufthansa plans evacuation flight for stranded Europeans
Lufthansa is planning a further evacuation flight for Germans and other Europeans stranded in South Africa, as confirmed by the responsible Lufthansa Regional Manager André Schulz to the German Press Agency. Flight LH577 is scheduled to fly to Frankfurt am Main from the tourist spot Cape Town to Frankfurt am Main on 8 June, provided the authorities give it a green light.
The Federal Foreign Office had previously launched an unprecedented evacuation campaign for Germans stranded abroad because of the coronavirus pandemic. Around 240,000 people were flown home. However, many more remained behind - including pensioners and long-term holidaymakers, who regularly winter over in Cape Town during the southern hemisphere summer. According to unofficial reports, these are several hundred Germans.
14:59 Humanitarian situation for refugees from Venezuela exacerbated
The coronavirus crisis has exacerbated the hardship for millions of refugees from Venezuela: many Venezuelans have lost their jobs and accommodation during the lock-downs and regulations stated a speaker for UNHCR refugee aid. They became poor and suffered from hunger after this. Besides, it is very difficult for those who fled to get medical help. At the same time, there is a very great danger of infection with coronavirus for these weakened people.
Latin America could be the region with the most CoViD-19 cases according to UN information. Millions of Venezuelans have left their homeland because of a massive political and economic crisis. About 4.3 million of them have fled to Latin American countries and the Caribbean according to UNHCR. About a further 800,000 live in states outside the region. The situation for those who have fled to countries south of the equator has deteriorated due to the coming winter.
14:56 Chile distributes tens of thousands of food packages
The government in Chile has distributed tens of thousands of food packages to the needy in the face of the coronavirus crisis. More than 126,000 basic food packages and hygiene products have been issued, said government spokesperson Karla Rubilar.
Soldiers brought the packages on horseback to remote farms in rural areas. Most packages have been distributed in the urban area around the capital Santiago de Chile. President Sebastián Piñera’s conservative government wants to send a total of 2.5 million packages to the population.
There have recently been continued protests in Chile. The large Santiago metropolitan area has been quarantined for weeks to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Many people are therefore unable to go to work. The social security systems in Chile are not well developed.
14:31 Deaths in April eight percent higher than the previous year's average
At least 82,246 people have died in Germany in April according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. The statisticians in Wiesbaden stated that this is eight percent or 5,942 higher than the average of the last four years.
The last time that there were more than 80,000 deaths in Germany in April was in 1977. The number of deaths according to this from the 13. to 18 calendar week – from 23. March to 3 May, is above the average of the previous four years. This indication of “extra mortality“ when considering the absolute number corresponds to the data reported by the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) for confirmed cases of coronavirus. A total of 7,038 people have died according to the information registered by the RKI for deaths from those ill with CoViD-19 for the calendar weeks 13 to 18 – 23 March to 3 May. The deviation from the average in the total number, as well as the number of CoViD-19 deaths, was the greatest in the 15. calendar week – from 6 to 12 April.
The figures do not, however, mean that all the extra cases counted in the deaths statistic died from CoViD-19. Reductions or increases in other causes of death can also affect the number of deaths. The flu epidemic as a possible effect has, however, “been over since mid-March“, according to the statisticians.
14:26 Germans show high willingness to donate in the crisis
The Germans are showing a greater willingness to donate in the coronavirus crisis: both in March and April, it was higher than in the previous year, said the Managing Director of the German Fundraising Association, Larissa Probst, to the newspapers in the German editorial network. Probst referred to a monthly survey of the GfK. According to this the willingness to donate up to 5000 euros increased by 13 percent in March and by 5 percent in April compared to the months in the last year. There was a 17 percent reduction in January. 473 million euros were privately donated in April compared to 453 million in April 2019.
14:21 Tourists are allowed to travel to Denmark
Denmark will reopen its borders, which were closed in the coronavirus crisis on 15 June for tourists from Germany, Norway, Iceland, and Scandinavia. This was announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
14:14 "Mein Schiff 3" leaves Cuxhaven
After more than a month of wait time in Cuxhaven, the cruise ship "Mein Schiff 3" leaves the port tonight. 1,900 of the approximately 2,900 TUI workers on board have now been brought to their home countries, a spokesperson of the shipping company TUI Cruises confirmed to the news service epd. The ship will now move to the German bay, where it will lie in the roads in front of Helgoland or in front of Wangerooge. In front of the East Frisian island Wangerooge already the two sister ships "Mein Schiff 4" and "Mein Schiff 6" are lying at anchor in waiting position.
The ship made headlines nationwide a few weeks ago, after the cruise ship with about 2,900 TUI employees on board was placed under quarantine due to Corona virus. Because the cruise operation is currently resting, they had previously been collected in the Mediterranean and in front of the Canary Islands by other ships of the shipping company.
13:47 Greece opens up to tourists from 29 countries
From June 15, tourists and travellers from 29 countries will be able to travel to Greece without a quarantine requirement. Health authorities will perform random checks due to coronavirus. This was reported by the Greek Ministry of Tourism. The countries are Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Albania, Australia, Northern Macedonia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as the Czech Republic and Finland.
The United Kingdom, which is the most important country tourism to Greece aside from Germany, is not included on the list of the first countries not subject to the quarantine requirement.
13:42 Federal government not planning separate law for coronavirus app
The federal government does not want to introduce a separate law for the planned app to track the contacts of people infected with coronavirus. Government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said that this was not planned. He pointed out that the app would be used on a voluntary basis and therefore does not have any direct consequences or obligations for the user.
"The app does not change the circumstances," said a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Health. Caritas had demanded a legal basis for the purpose of clarifying labor law issues, among other things.
13:31 Mortality rate in April significantly higher than the previous years' average
In Germany, more people than usual died in April. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 82,246 people died last month, which is eight percent more than the average of the four previous years. The last time Germany saw more than 80,000 deaths in April was in 1977. The connection with the coronavirus pandemic is obvious. In the calendar weeks 13 to 18 (March 23 to May 3), 7,083 people were confirmed to have died of a Covid-19 infection, according to figures from the Robert Koch Institute. The flu wave is considered to have ended since mid-March.
13:02 Germany could avoid a second infection wave
Germany could be spared from a second major wave of infection wave in the coronavirus crisis, according to two leading virologists. "We might be able to avoid a second shutdown," virologist Christian Drosten from the Charite hospital in Berlin told the magazine "Spiegel". There is now a "theoretical possibility" that the Germany will "bypass a second wave." His colleague Hendrik Streeck from the University of Bonn made a similar statement. There will presumably be occasional local outbreaks, as we recently saw in Leer or Frankfurt, Streeck told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland. "This might also happen more frequently and surprisingly in the fall - but I do not believe that we will see a second wave that downright overwhelms and overstrains us."
Streeck also thinks we have good chances of keeping the virus under control. Despite the relaxations, we have not seen an increase in infections, and the number of cases is now below 10,000. In terms of protective measures, he advises focusing on major events.
12:42 EU defends conditions for Lufthansa rescue
The EU Commission has defended its demand for conditions for the federal government's Lufthansa rescue package. It is not about creating additional obstacles, but about preventing distortion of competition," said Vice President Margrethe Vestager. She did not give details on the ongoing talks, but said: "Reaching an agreement is of high priority. We are in very close contact, but I cannot say when we will be finished." Vestager stressed that the conditions are the same for everyone. Every member state that wants to recapitalise a company that has a major influence on the market with more than 250 million euros would have to ensure that the same starting conditions continue to apply in the internal market.
12:30 Indonesians locked up in "haunted houses"
As a way of dealing with citizens' breaches of coronavirus rules, an Indonesian politician on the island of Java has come up with a particularly dissuasive measure: people who do not comply with the regulations for curbing the spread of coronavirus will be locked up in alleged haunted houses. "If there is an empty and cursed house in the village, people will be sent there and locked up in it," Kusdinar Untung Yuni Sukowati, the chairwoman of the Sragen region, told the AFP news agency on Tuesday.
Sukowati introduced the measure because people were not abiding by the 14-day quarantine requirement after coming to Sragen from blocked off areas such as the capital of Jakarta.
12:26 Watching soccer for free in Spain's nursing homes
The residents of Spain's nursing homes will be able to watch the rest of the Spanish soccer league games, which are starting up again in mid-June, free of charge. This was agreed between the media company Mediapro, which holds the broadcasting rights, and the Spanish soccer league, according to Spanish newspapers. They want to add a little variety to everyday life in nursing homes with the "emotions that soccer evokes". Due to the coronavirus crisis, strict visiting restrictions still apply, even after three months, and many older people are suffering from loneliness.
12:09 Deaths in Russia reach a new record
In Russia, more people than ever before died from coronavirus within one day, marking a new record in the outbreak of the epidemic. 232 deaths have been reported since Thursday, the authorities reported. Previously, this figure was always significantly below the 200 mark. The total number of deaths related to SARS-CoV-2 has now risen to 4374. This is comparatively low. In Germany, the number of deaths is currently 8,450, while in the USA, scientists speak of more than 100,000 deaths. There have been many media reports of allegedly tweaked statistics. The Russian authorities vehemently reject this accusation.
11:55 Hospitals: State aid is not sufficient
According to the German Hospital Association, many hospitals are experiencing financial problems due to the corona pandemic. A survey of more than 600 clinics has shown that state aid for the hospitals was insufficient. Because of the pandemic, they had postponed planned treatments and operations and had to build up intensive care capacities.
According to the Hospital Relief Act, the hospitals receive a flat rate of 560 euros per day for beds kept free. In three quarters of hospitals, these compensation payments in April were not enough to compensate for the loss of revenue, the study says. The flat rate of 50 euros for personal protective equipment is also not cost-covering for 90 percent of hospitals. The purchase prices for the materials have risen sharply and the usage of protective equipment is very high for infectious patients
11:25 EU Commission estimates a need for a financial injection of 720 billion euros for companies
According to the EU Commission, European companies will need financial and capital injections of 720 billion euros this year alone to deal with the corona crisis. Vice President Margrethe Vestager announced the sum. If curfews have to continue longer or a second pandemic wave should occur, the amount could be even higher.
A new solvency instrument at the European Investment Bank should help meet the needs in countries that themselves have little financial leeway, said Vestager. With the help of an EU guarantee, the European Investment Bank is supposed to provide direct financing or invest in equity funds to secure private investments.
11:09 President asks for discipline
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appeals to the population to remain vigilant despite the relaxation of the corona restrictions. He asked that people abide by the hygiene rules, Steinmeier told journalists in Berlin. "Of course, a distance of one and a half meters and a face mask are annoying, I know that too, however as we have come this far and have together managed to flatten the infection curve, we should not be undisciplined now, but rather should start the loosening of restrictions step by step," emphasized the Federal President. We should be careful not to get into a damaging competition now and abandon the reason that we have shown. The country has managed a lot in the last few weeks.
10:47 Number of car accidents return to normal levels
According to R + V Insurance, the Germans did not use their cars only briefly during the curfew. "We only had two-thirds of the usual damage reports - but only for two weeks," says Rico Kretschmer, Claims Manager at R + V.
In May the number of accidents had almost returned to normal levels. Many commuters have switched to the car for fear of being infected by bus and train and are doing more than before. " If a lot of holidaymakers do not travel by air and go on vacation in Germany by car, this could mean that we get even more damage in the course of the easing the restrictions than before Corona."
10:39 Renault eliminates 15 000 jobs worldwide
French automaker Renault plans to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide in the next three years, almost 4,600 of them in France. This will save two billion euros, the company said. Renault spoke of difficulties the group was facing and generally about one of the major crises in the auto industry on the way to an urgent "ecological transition".
Renault will work to accelerate this transformation. Global production capacity is expected to decrease from four million vehicles in 2019 to 3.3 million by 2024. The capacity expansion projects planned in Morocco and Romania will be suspended. Additionally, an "adjustment" of production in Russia is being considered. The activities with cars with combustion engines in China will be terminated.
10:36 Italian economy experiences a major decline
The Italian economy slumped even more in the first quarter than previously known. The statistics office Istat announced that the economic output (GDP) in the first three months of the year was 5.3 percent lower than in the fourth quarter of 2019. In the first estimate, a slightly smaller decrease of 4.7 percent was determined. The Italian economy was hit particularly hard by the Corona crisis. Experts fear that the decline in growth in the second quarter will be much more severe because the measures to contain the corona pandemic have especially affected this sector.
10:04 DIHK Survey: 72% of healthcare businesses expect losses
The healthcare industry fears losses due to the corona crisis. According to a survey by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), 72 percent of companies expect a decline in turnover this year - due to postponed operations and disrupted supply chains. Only six percent will benefit from the increased demand for important products such as protective equipment, respirators and diagnostic tests and expect higher turnover.
"The coronavirus has also infected many companies in our healthcare industry economically,"said Deputy DIHK General Manager Achim Dercks. "It is becoming increasingly clear that this pandemic is affecting companies more than originally thought."
10:02 South Korea re-introduces school attendance restrictions
After a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases, South Korea has reintroduced restrictions on school attendance. According to the government order, the elementary and middle schools in and around the particularly affected capital Seoul are only allowed to admit one third of the children every day - the other students will attend online learning classes. The same applies to kindergartens.
South Korea was the second most affected country after China at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the outbreak was brought under control through strict distancing rules, extensive testing and the follow-up of contacts - the number of new infections decreased significantly.
09:58 French economy shrinks less than feared
The French economy did not shrink as much in the first quarter of the year as initially feared. According to the new calculation of the national statistics office, the gross domestic product shrank by 5.3 percent from the previous quarter of January to March. The first estimate had shown a decline of 5.8 percent. However, the downturn is still the biggest since the spring of 1968, when student riots and general strikes paralyzed the country.
09:28 Head of Bremen government supports a nationwide test strategy
Mayor of Bremen Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) hopes for a nationwide uniform test strategy in the Corona pandemic. “This would be a necessary counterweight to the decentralized decision-making powers of the states on conditions for easing the lockdown regulations,” the Senate President told Bremer’s “Weser Kurier”. The infection figures will be reliable only through a common strategy.
From the onset of the pandemic, Bovenschulte has advocated for uniform nationwide regulations to protect the population.
09:26 U.S. Republicans in Pennsylvania kept a Corona case secret
Members of the U.S. Democratic Party in the Pennsylvania state legislative body called for several Republicans to resign as they had hidden a Coronavirus case of one of their members. “They warned each other, but they did not inform us,” said the visibly angry Democratic MP Brian Sims. The Republican MP Andrew Lewis refused to make a positive Coronavirus test public for a week.
Lewis announced that he had been positively tested on May 20 and had been in quarantine since then. As he had still participated in parliamentary sessions until May 14th, his party leadership advised three Republican MPs to voluntarily self-isolation. The Democrats were not informed, although they had been in contact with the MPs in several sessions.
08:00 Here's what happened last night
- CoViD-19 numbers for Germany: Robert Koch Institute reports 741 new cases of CoViD-19 (180,458 total) and 39 new deaths (8,450 total) due to the virus
- Christian Drosten: Germany can pass through without a second wave
- Every fourth self-employed expected to go out of business
- Berlin allows demonstrations without participation limit from Saturday
- WDR survey: Most Germans consider Corona restrictions to be adequate