As Angela Merkel enters her final year in office, the German chancellor faces one of her most difficult challenges amid the rise of coronavirus infections. Germany was rightfully praised for how it managed the pandemic early on, recording a steep drop in infections after the initial outbreak in March. However, for the past two months, infections have been increasing again – much to the concern of Merkel and political leaders across the country who were keen to ease restrictions on businesses and citizens.
During an internal party meeting on Monday, Merkel told fellow Christian Democrats that Germany could have 19,200 new coronavirus cases a day by Christmas if her government and the 16 state governments failed to address local outbreaks and called for more discipline among citizens. With coronavirus appearing to be initially under control, many Germans seemed less and less motivated to wear protective masks and follow hygiene recommendations. But Merkel’s message was clear: this needs to change.
Reintroducing restrictions after lifting most of them during the summer always seemed like a political nightmare for Germany’s state governments, but that is exactly what Merkel and the state leaders have decided to do.
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