Virus outbreak in Germany is now 'manageable', says health minister

Berlin

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Germany is now "manageable" thanks to the measures put in place to contain the virus' spread, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Friday. 

The decision by the German government and the federal states to apply the "emergency brake" in mid-March when the virus was spreading rapidly was "successful," according to the minister. 

The measures included the prohibition of large events and the closure of schools, restaurants and shops, said a dpa reports. 

On March 22, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the states - which are responsible for enforcing the restrictions - also agreed comprehensive limits on people's movements and social contacts. 

"The infection numbers have fallen significantly, especially the relative increases from day to day," Spahn said, noting also that since April 12, more people have been recovering from the disease than becoming infected. 

Lothar Wieler, the president of the government's agency for disease control and prevention - the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) - likewise spoke of a "really good interim result," with several positive trends. 

Every new patient in Germany is now infecting less than one other person on average, according to the RKI. After this so-called reproduction number drops below one, an epidemic usually will slowly subside. 

Germany is currently at 0.7. This means that 10 coronavirus patients will only end up infecting seven other people - leading to a drop in the number of daily new infections. 

Germany's "huge success" in pushing back the virus is being "envied by the whole world," Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, told the broadcaster RBB-Inforadio. 

But he called for patience and continued discipline by German citizens, noting the importance of preventing the infection curve from heading back up. 

Wieler also warned that this week has seen the largest increase in the number of deaths to date. They now amount to 2.9 per cent of all reported cases, he said. 

The RKI has cautioned too that the projected number of cases among people over 80 years old is increasing particularly strongly, which will probably result in a "larger increase in the number of cases requiring hospitalization and intensive care." 

Overall, more than 134,400 infections and at least 3,827 deaths had been recorded in Germany by Friday morning, according to a dpa tally based on state data. 

Friday's announcements are likely to further fuel a debate in the country about when the coronavirus-related restrictions should be lifted. 

Merkel announced on Wednesday that the nationwide lockdown will be extended until at least May 3, although restrictions will be loosened to allow smaller businesses and public places to reopen. 

Schools will begin reopening from May 4, starting with pupils who are due to graduate, those who have exams in the coming year and the oldest primary school classes. 

About 2.6 million pupils will return to general education schools in the coming weeks, the Federal Statistical Office estimated on Friday.