Merkel: It’s Too Early To Ease Restrictive Measures To Fight Coronavirus

German chancellor Angela Merkel watches a debate during the last official meeting day of the German parliament before the Sept. 24, 2017 elections, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
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BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she’s as anxious as anyone for life to return to normal in the country.

Merkel says “we’re still living in the pandemic” and now isn’t the time to talk about an end date to restrictive measures.

Merkel says “we would be a bad government if we did not intensively, day and night, consider how we can take steps to return to ordinary life while still protecting health.”

But, she adds she would be considered ‘a bad chancellor, and we’d be a bad government,’ if she set an immediate date to end restrictions.

European officials are scheduled to hold a video conference Tuesday to discuss the crisis and Merkel said the European Union was “facing its greatest test since its founding” that has hit every nation.

“Everyone has been affected and therefore it is in everyone’s interest, and in Germany’s interest, that Europe emerges stronger from this test.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Merkel: "It’s Too Early To Ease Restrictive Measures To Fight Coronavirus …

    … but if Boris Johnson were to invite Donald Trump over to Lambeth for cucumber sandwiches or a spot of sherry, we’d have no objection."

  2. I was reading the comments on the Guardian’s FB page and the BoJo sycophants are just as dumb as Trump’s sycophants, but they have a better grasp of English.

  3. Sweet Jesus, yes!

  4. I suppose the menu would have to be adjusted to suit Trump …

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