Transmission rate rises in Germany

Experts warn the rate must stay below the new level of 1.0 to slow down the outbreak. Meanwhile, up to 50,000 businesses in Germany could become insolvent due to the pandemic. Follow DW for the latest.

– Transmission rates in Germany have gone up from 0.9 to 1.0

– The organizer of the Tokyo Olympic Games says the event would be canceled if the pandemic ios not under control next year

– Up to 50,000 businesses in Germany could become insolvent due to COVID-19

– Australia and New Zealand have begun to ease some coronavirus lockdown restrictions

09:26 Robert Koch Institute (RKI) President Lothar Wieler has urged Germans to stay at home where possible and continue to follow the social distancing rules, despite the country’s relative “success” in dealing with the outbreak.

Germany has been recognized for its widespread testing as well as its low death rate from the novel coronavirus but the public health organization is wary of complacency as citizens begin to ease back towards normality, albeit with the enforced wearing of face masks in shops and on public transport.

Wieler said in his briefing in Berlin that the RKI “wants to defend this success” that Germany has attained so far by maintaining the distancing rules in place while reminding citizens to remain vigilant.

Last week, hundreds of people took part in demonstrations in Berlin and Stuttgart against government measures introduced to protect the country from coronavirus but the RKI has warned a complete return to normal life is a long way off, particularly as the transmission rate has gone up to 1.0. As mentioned in the 04:30 update, this figure has increased slightly in the last 24 hours, from 0.9, raising concerns that Germany’s health care system could yet become overburdened.

Wieler also said the so-called “herd immunity” approach, allowing for the virus to pass through citizens enabling them to develop antibodies, would not be adopted in Germany as it is both dangerous and naive. “For us it is inconceivable… a controlled herd immunity.”

This approach would mean having to recognize “how many human lives you would be willing to sacrifice for it.”

08:53 China has accused US politicians of “telling barefaced lies” over the coronavirus pandemic.

“They have only one objective: shirk their responsibility for their own poor epidemic prevention and control measures, and divert public attention,” said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a press briefing. The criticism from China comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s threats to seek damages from Beijing over the outbreak that first emerged in the city of Wuhan at the turn of the year.

08:36 Russia has announced a record daily rise in both the number of deaths recorded and its registered cases, the country’s coronavirus crisis response center said.

According to official figures, the number of new cases in Russia has climbed to 6,411, bringing its tally to 93,558.

The number of fatalities rose by 72, taking the country’s death toll to 867.

08:11 Nissan is expected to post a net loss of 85 billion to 95 billion yen ($793 million to $886 million) for the latest financial year largely due to the economic repercussions of COVID-19, the Japanese motor company has announced.

In February, Nissan, which is 43.4% owned by French automotive firm Renault, had forecast a net profit of 65 billion yen for the year ending March 31.

However, the vehicle manufacturer’s “performance has continued to decline, primarily impacted by
the COVID-19 pandemic,” a Nissan statement said.

07:41 German economic institute Ifo has predicted the country’s economy will contract by 6.6% overall in 2020 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.

The Munich-based think tank said Europe’s largest economy had diminished by 1.9% in the first quarter of 2020 and is expecting a 12.2% contraction in the three months that follow.

A return to the levels seen before the pandemic hit Germany is not expected before the end of 2021, the institute added.

07:20 The Spanish government is set to release its plan for a gradual “de-escalation” of its coronavirus lockdown, one of Europe’s strictest. Spaniards have been home for six weeks, after the country’s coronavirus cases and deaths shot up exponentially in March.

Lockdown easing began Monday, as for the first time, children under 14 were allowed to go outside for one hour with one parent, albeit under strict social distancing rules.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government has been developing the gradual lockdown easing plan over the past few weeks and plans to present it to the cabinet today.

Health Minister Salvador Illa said on Monday that Spain had managed to control the epidemic. He added that the country’s health system was also capable of handling a possible “second wave.”

“The goal now is to continue to hold a sustained increase in cured cases and that the new daily infections remain in the 1% range,” Illa said.

The gradual de-escalation is expected to be the same for all regions, with some exceptions that will depend on how severely an area is affected.

Starting on May 2, Spaniards will be allowed to go for walks with members of their own household and engage in outdoor sports.

07:12 China has said India’s criticism and decision to put a halt to using the testing kits it sent was both “unfair and irresponsible.”

The Indian Council of Medical Research, the agency dealing with COVID-19 in India, said on Monday it would return the kits for antibody tests procured from two Chinese firms because of a lack of accuracy.

However, the Chinese embassy said it was deeply concerned by the Council’s declaration and that Chinese authorities had validated the kits made by the two companies, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagnostics.

“It is unfair and irresponsible for certain individuals to label Chinese products as ‘faulty’ and look at issues with preemptive prejudice,” embassy spokeswoman Ji Rong said in a statement.

The Chinese firms in question had sent equipment to numerous countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America without any issues, Ji Rong added.

06:58 General lockdown measures in Austria will expire at the end of April, Health Minister Rudolf Anschober confirmed.

He said gatherings of up to 10 people will then be allowed, but with social distancing rules remaining in place, such as citizens being one meter apart under such circumstances.

Demonstrations will also be permitted under certain conditions. These more relaxed measures will apply until the end of June when they will be reviewed once more.

06:39 Lufthansa and the German government have yet to agree terms on a rescue package for the country’s flagship airline.

Contrary to previous reports suggesting a deal had been struck, company and government sources told news agency Reuters that there was still no agreement in place between the two parties.

Some media outlets had earlier disclosed that the federal government had agreed to help Lufthansa with a package worth roughly €9 billion ($9.74 billion) in return for a blocking minority and one or two supervisory board mandates.

Source: dw.com