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IN PICTURES: How Germany is lifting its coronavirus lockdown

Germany has been slowly reintroducing public life and easing lockdown measures put in place to stem the coronavirus spread. Here are some of the best pictures.

Published: 12 May 2020 12:55 CEST
Updated: 12 May 2020 13:57 CEST
IN PICTURES: How Germany is lifting its coronavirus lockdown
Veronika Ambach-Gattung (on the right) talks to her mother Hannelore Scheuerle in a tent in front of the Maria Königin old people's home in Rhineland Palatinate on Mother's Day on May 10th. Photo: DPA

In mid-March Germany began shutting down much of public life and from March 23rd people were urged to only leave their homes for essential reasons.

However, since April 20th, the lockdown has been gradually lifted. This week more businesses and facilities have been reopening, although contact restrictions and social distancing measures remain in place.

READ ALSO: What's the latest on coronavirus and what do I need to know?

These photos, taken by DPA, show life around Germany during this time.

In some states pubs (known as Kneipen) and restaurants are preparing to open. In Mainz, Janine Geibel-Emden, of the traditional pub or Kneipe “Zur Andau”, stands behind a glass guard at the counter on May 11th. The pub in the city centre wants to reopen in compliance with coronavirus hygiene regulations.

Ulrike Haase adjusts a mouthguard on a doll in the restaurant at 'Hotel Haase' in Laatzen, Lower Saxony on May 12th. Due to corona requirements, seats have to be left free in restaurants. The Hotel Haase wants to use dolls so the restaurant does not look empty.

Guests sit outside at tables in front of the restaurant “Salon Schmitz” in Cologne on May 11th.

Gyms are beginning to reopen in Germany. The first state to allow them to open is North Rhine-Westphalia. At this gym in Cologne, a worker disinfects a machine, while a gym-goer works out wearing a face mask in the next image. Both photos were taken on May 11th.

An employee and customer at the tattoo studio “Mommy I'm Sorry” in Stuttgart on May 11th. Tattoo studios have been allowed to open in Baden-Württemberg since May 11th under certain conditions.

Tamara and Frank sitting with their daughter Marie on the North Sea beach of Harlesiel in Lower Saxony on May 10th. Regions are planning to restart the tourist industry in the coming weeks.

Elisabeth Djata, resident at the AWO elderly people's centre in Heinsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, receives a bouquet of flowers from her grandson on May 10th. Now people in nursing homes are allowed one regular visit, under certain conditions.

A health care worker gives a thumbs up at the corona ward in the Municipal Hospital Dresden on May 11th.

Church-goers attend a service at the Heilgeistkirche in Stralsund, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on May 10th. Church services are allowed in Germany again with social distancing measures in place.

Passersby enjoy a spontaneous concert on Merianplatz in the Nordend district of Frankfurt am Main on May 10th.

People playing volleyball in Berlin on May 10th. Non-contact sports are allowed in Germany once again.

 

 

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HEALTH

Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

It’s back again: amid sinking temperatures, the incidence of Covid-19 has been slowly rising in Germany. But is this enough to merit worrying about the virus?

Published: 20 September 2023 12:05 CEST
Updated: 20 September 2023 22:22 CEST
Could there be a new wave of Covid-19 in Germany this autumn?

More people donning face masks in supermarkets, friends cancelling plans last minute due to getting sick with Covid-19. We might have seen some of those familiar reminders recently that the coronavirus is still around, but could there really be a resurgence of the virus like we experienced during the pandemic years?

According to virologists, the answer seems to be ‘maybe’: since July, the number of people newly infected with Covid-19 has been slowly rising from a very low level.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), nine people per 100,000 inhabitants became newly infected in Germany last week. A year ago, there were only around 270 reported cases.

Various Corona variants are currently on the loose in the country. According to the RKI,  the EG.5 (also called Eris) and XBB.1.16 lines were each detected in the week ending September 3rd with a share of just under 23 percent. 

The highly mutated variant BA.2.86 (Pirola), which is currently under observation by the World Health Organisation (WHO), also arrived in the country this week, according to RKI. 

High number of unreported case

The RKI epidemiologists also warned about a high number of unreported cases since hardly any testing is done. They pointed out that almost half of all registered sewage treatment plants report an increasing viral load in wastewater tests.

The number of hospital admissions has also increased slightly, but are still a far cry from the occupation rate amid the pandemic. Last week it was two per 100,000 inhabitants. In the intensive care units, only 1.2 percent of all beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Still, a good three-quarters (76.4 percent) of people in Germany have been vaccinated at least twice and thus have basic immunity, reported RKI. 

Since Monday, doctors’ offices have been vaccinating with the adapted vaccine from Biontech/Pfizer, available to anyone over 12 years old, with a vaccine for small children set to be released the following week and one for those between 5 and 11 to come out October 2nd.

But Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has so far only recommended that people over 60 and those with pre-existing conditions get vaccinated.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who should get a Covid jab this autumn in Germany?

“The pandemic is over, the virus remains,” he said. “We cannot predict the course of coming waves of corona, but it is clear that older people and people with pre-existing conditions remain at higher risk of becoming severely ill from Covid-19”

The RKI also recommended that people with a cold voluntarily wear a mask. Anyone exhibiting cough, cold, sore throat or other symptoms of a respiratory illness should voluntarily stay at home for three to five days and take regular corona self-tests. 

However, further measures such as contact restrictions are not necessary, he said.

One of many diseases

As of this autumn, Covid-19 could be one of many respiratory diseases. As with influenza, there are no longer absolute infection figures for coronavirus.

Saarbrücken pharmacist Thorsten Lehr told German broadcaster ZDF that self-protection through vaccinations, wearing a mask and getting tested when symptoms appear are prerequisites for surviving the Covid autumn well. 

Only a new, more aggressive mutation could completely turn the game around, he added.

On April 7th of this year, Germany removed the last of its over two-year long coronavirus restrictions, including mask-wearing in some public places.

READ ALSO: German doctors recommend Covid-19 self-tests amid new variant

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