Germany says coronavirus decisions to come as school questions linger

Berlin (dpa) – German officials promised on Thursday they were working to block the spread of the new coronavirus, but said any big decisions would have to wait a day while the federal and state governments negotiated strategy.

Political watchers had expected an hours-long session would yield a decision to shut down German schools, following similar steps in multiple other European countries as authorities try to limit the public’s exposure to the spreading virus, which can cause deadly pneumonia and has killed thousands worldwide.

But decisions about public gatherings and school functions are decided by individual states in Germany, and those gathered in Berlin on Thursday were unable to reach a nationwide consensus.

Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder said his state would take up the issue tomorrow. However, the officials also made clear that each state has to decide what is best for itself.

Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher pointed out that if schools and day care close, needed medical workers could be forced to stay home to care for their children.

But they also noted they are dealing with a rapidly changing situation.

“That which is considered appropriate is changing day by day,” said Soeder.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the other officials did urge people to avoid any unnecessary gatherings – especially those with more than 1,000 people.

Merkel also said the Bundestag is to meet on Friday to approve legislation to provide salary assistance for workers who are unable to work due to the health crisis.

Soeder said the main goal now will be to make sure hospitals have all the resources they need and that there are enough facilities for people who end up needing critical care.

The leaders also said German hospitals need to postpone all non-essential admissions and procedures, wherever medically appropriate.

“We are in a very unusual situation,” said Merkel. “Very unusual situations demand very unusual measures.”

According to the latest figures compiled by dpa, Germany’s 16 states have so far confirmed more than 2,400 infections of the new coronavirus. Six people have died in the country, and a German has died while travelling in Egypt.

The sixth person was a 78-year-old man in the western district of Heinsberg, where three of the deaths occurred.

Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine Westphalia, has the most confirmed cases, at more than 900, followed by Bavaria in the south with at least 500 and neighbouring Baden-Wuerttemberg in the south-west with more than 330.

While the German leaders grappled for an answer, the coronavirus was having real effects on the nation’s politics.

Coronavirus fears on Thursday prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to call off a hotly anticipated conference to select a new leader.

The unanimous decision by the CDU executive came on the recommendation of outgoing party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer during a phone conference. No new date was set for the meeting.

Originally due on April 25, the conference was called to appoint a new party leader after Merkel’s carefully crafted retirement plan was thrown into disarray by Kramp-Karrenbauer’s resignation last month.

As chancellor, Merkel remains German leader, but Kramp-Karrenbauer took over from her as leader of the centre-right CDU in late 2018.

The next party leader will likely succeed Merkel as the CDU’s candidate for chancellor in national elections set for 2021.

But with the coronavirus outbreak currently eclipsing day-to-day politics in Germany, Kramp-Karrenbauer said the health of German citizens had to take the “highest priority.”

Earlier in the day, Halle became the first German city to announce that it was closing all schools and pre-school facilities, initially until March 27.

Families Minister Franziska Giffey said the elderly needed to be particularly cautious.

“Particularly older people, grandparents and their families should reconsider their habits,” Giffey said.

She recommended that that those at risk avoid public transport, hugging others and events with large crowds. They should also receive support with shopping and medical care, the minister said.

On Wednesday, Merkel warned that up to 70 per cent of the population could catch the virus.

While many cases are mild or do not present symptoms, she appealed for solidarity and a common effort to halt the spread, which would buy health services time and protect those who are at risk from the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus.