Merkel taps into German soul, history in address on fighting Coronavirus

Chancellor Angela Merkel in a rare nationally televised address today urged all German citizens to help fight the spread of the coronavirus by sticking to rules aimed at reducing direct social contact and avoiding as many new infections as possible.

"It is serious. Take it seriously," Merkel said. "Since German reunification, actually, since World War Two, there has never been a challenge for our country in which acting in solidarity was so very crucial."

Merkel appealed to citizens to abide by the unprecedented rules restricting public life, agreed with the 16 federal states earlier this week, adding: "As the government, we will always re-examine what can be corrected, but also what may still be necessary."

Her government has advised the country's 16 regions to shut schools and daycare facilities until the end of the Easter holiday. Shops, except for grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies banks and other essential businesses have been shut.

Earlier on 18 Marcch, the first German town imposed a curfew to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials said, though the nearly 7,000 citizens of Mitterteich in southern Bavaria are still allowed to buy groceries, go to work and visit the doctor.

The curfew will last until April 2, said authorities in the district of Tirschenreuth, close to the Czech border.

In her speech, Merkel said she was well aware that the restrictions on the freedom of movement were hard to accept for many Germans, especially after having witnessed Communist rule in the East and the wall that divided the country.

But she insisted every citizen had to do her and his part to contain the spread of the disease and that this also applied to the government.
"We can and will use whatever it takes to help our...