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Merkel says to avoid bad virus winter all should get shots

Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls on all her countrymen to go get vaccinated quickly, to help dampen a surge in both infections and deaths, as winter approaches which could make the situation with coronavirus even worse. Merkel is concerned that the areas with the lowest vaccination rates are also suffering the largest COVID-19 surges right now. Associated Press has the original story:

The German Chancellor warned that “these are very difficult weeks ahead of us.”  

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday called on all unvaccinated Germans to get their shots as quickly as possible as the country’s coronavirus infection rate hits the latest in a string of new highs and death numbers are growing.

Commuters wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus as they arrives at the public transport station Brandenburger Tor in central Berlin, Germany, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Germany battles a fourth wave of the coronavirus with high number of infections in the recent days. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

“If we stand together, if we think about protecting ourselves and caring for others, we can save our country a lot this winter,” Merkel said in her weekly podcast.

The chancellor warned that “these are very difficult weeks ahead of us.”

Germany’s disease control center said that Germany’s infection rate climbed to 277.4 new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days, up from 263.7 the previous day.

The Robert Koch Institute reported 45,081 new infections, two days after the daily total topped 50,000 for the first time.

Another 228 COVID-19 deaths brought Germany’s total in the pandemic so far to 97,617.

A man walks into a pharmacy, that offers corona tests in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Germany plans to bring back free Covid-19 rapid tests. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

While the infection rate isn’t yet as high as in some other European countries, its relentless rise in Germany has set off alarm bells. Outgoing Chancellor Merkel plans to meet with the country’s 16 state governors to coordinate nationwide measures next week, and parliament is mulling legislation that would provide a new legal framework for restrictions over the winter.

Merkel expressed her concern about the high number of intensive care patients and rising death numbers — especially in regions with low vaccination rates.

“Think about it again,” Merkel said to those who still hadn’t got the jab. “We just need to grab it, grab it fast.”

“I am asking you: Join us, and try to convince relatives and friends as well,” she added.

The chancellor also called on those who are vaccinated already to get a booster shot against COVID-19.

The booster vaccinations are “a real chance to break the severe fall and winter wave of the pandemic,” Merkel said.

Germany has struggled to bring new momentum to its vaccination campaign lately, with a bit over two-thirds of the population fully vaccinated. It has balked so far at ordering vaccine mandates for any professional group.

A man walks into a pharmacy, that offers corona tests in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. Germany plans to bring back free Covid-19 rapid tests. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Children under the age of 12, who cannot yet get vaccinated in Germany, are among the worst hit group.

The head of the German Teachers’ Association warned Saturday that local health offices were struggling to keep control amid the many outbreaks in schools across the country.

 “The reality is that we are already on the verge of losing control in some hotspot areas,” Heinz-Peter Meidinger told weekly paper Welt am Sonntag. “We no longer know how to contain infection outbreaks in schools.”

Also on Saturday, the government started offering free rapid COVID-19 tests again. They were scrapped a month ago in an effort to persuade more people to get vaccinated.

By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER

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