Germany promises support to companies hit by coronavirus, urges public to stay home
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Germany promised aid to companies hit by demand collapsing as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, while its health minister urged a halt to large public events in the hope of reducing the burden on the healthcare system.
With coronavirus cases spreading rapidly, pressure is growing for a broader response in the country after Italy locked down swathes of the north to contain the raging epidemic there.
Germany had 902 confirmed cases on Sunday afternoon, far short of Italy’s tally of almost 6,000, but that included a large cluster of 392 in one municipality in western Germany. A German national has died from the disease in Egypt.
The task now was to slow the virus’ spread, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Sunday.
“Coronavirus has been in Germany since Wednesday last week. Our priority now is to slow its spread,” he said on Twitter. “The slower the virus spreads, the better the healthcare system can cope.”
After Italy and France, Germany has the largest number of cases in Europe, and concern is growing at both the economic and public health consequences of what threatens to become a global pandemic.
At talks late on Sunday, the parties in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s governing coalition also agreed to make it easier for companies to claim subsidies to support workers on reduced working hours until the end of the year.
