Germany: "We find ourselves in a dramatic position" - Merkel addresses parliament

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the current coronavirus situation as "alarming", as she announced a new partial lockdown in the country on Thursday.

"We are currently at the beginning of a cold season in a dramatic position that affects us all, without exception," the chancellor told the German Parliament.

"Federal Government will provide financial aid to the affected companies, institutions and associations, to get through these difficult times," Merkel announced, adding that she understands "the frustration and the desperation" of the industries affected. The chancellor's speech on Wednesday followed a large Berlin-wide protest where thousands of people from the art and entertainment fields marched through the streets declaring their situation an "emergency."

According to the new rules coming into force on Monday, bars, restaurants, gyms, cultural and sporting facilities will be closed. Social contacts will be limited to two households with a cap of 10 people.

Schools and kindergartens will remain open, as well as shops as long as they can accommodate only one customer per 10 square meters (32 square feet).

"During the last weeks, the new coronavirus infections numbers skyrocketed. Many health departments are reaching their limits, and due to the weight of the vast number of the infected, are not capable anymore to track the contacts in detail," Merkel said, as she highlighted the importance of the healthcare system not becoming overburdened.

The month-long partial lockdown was agreed with Germany's all 16 state leaders.

*SOUNDBITES*

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "During the last weeks, the new coronavirus infections numbers skyrocketed. Many health departments are reaching their limits, and due to the weight of the vast number of the infected, are not capable anymore to track the contacts in detail."

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "Such a dynamic will overburden our intensive care within a few weeks. This all shows, we are currently at the beginning of a cold season in a dramatic position, that affects us all, without exception."

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "Federal Government will provide financial aid to the affected companies, institutions and associations, to get through these difficult times. The Federal Ministers Scholz (Olaf Scholz, Minister of Finance) and (Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter) Altmaier will make very concrete suggestions to this end."

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "I understand the frustration and the desperation in these sectors in particular. So many hygiene concepts have been developed and the affected ones are asking themselves, 'Was it all pointless?' I reply, 'No, it wasn't', and these hygiene concepts will also be used again. But in the current exponential phase of the infection, these hygiene concepts cannot extend their agency. We can no longer trace 75 percent of the infections and where they happened. We have to get out of this situation as soon as possible."

SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "Instead of waiting until intensive care stations are full, then it would be too late, since the intensive care unit follows the infection with a respected number of days. And not only to protect our healthcare, but also to secure the whole infrastructure of our country, which also means economically and socially. We are currently at the beginning of a cold season in a dramatic position that affects us all, without exception. The situation is alarming and we shouldn't gloss ourselves over it. Appease (the citizens) with the wishful thinking or populistic trivialisation would not only be unrealistic, it would also be irresponsible."

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