Angela Merkel warns that there is a risk that herd immunity against the coronavirus will not be achieved
The German Chancellor assured that this could happen if more than 40, 50 and 60% of the population does not want to be vaccinated. A risk that several countries in the world will not achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus, warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel, posing the scenario that people do not want to be vaccinated either out of fear or lack of information about the vaccine.
According to Merkel, “if the people who do not want to be vaccinated represent more than 40, 50 and 60 percent of the population, then we will have to use the mask for a long time because we will not achieve herd immunity and the same if it happens in other countries." The Chancellor also praised the achievements and tenacity of the BioNTech researchers who developed the first coronavirus vaccine approved in Western countries. "We are incredibly proud to have such researchers in our country," said Merkel.
Germany, which was Europe's "good student" at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, is now experiencing a worrying situation for failing to impose drastic measures in recent months.
According to the political leaders themselves, the current situation began in October, when the regions confronted the federal government, which wanted to tighten measures against the virus.
Experts called for a three-week "lockdown" in November to keep the infection rate below 50 per 100,000.
And health authorities, supported by Merkel, wanted to minimize contact between young people and isolate people with colds.
But many federal states, eager to see their economies recover and concerned about the anti-mask movement, refused.
The courts also lifted accommodation and travel restrictions during the fall break. The chancellor, whose popularity continues to rise, said she was "dissatisfied" but could not impose anything. "This is probably the biggest political miscalculation of the year," the weekly Der Spiegel said on Saturday. Despite the closure of bars, restaurants and cultural venues, only six federal states reduced the impact since November 2.
Did the Germans relax?
Often caricatured as disciplined, the Germans this time failed to replicate the spring efforts against the virus.
This is the case at mulled wine stands, a tradition before the Christmas festivities, which draw crowds.
They also avoided the closure of restaurants and bars thanks to take out sales.
“During spring lockdown, we reduced contacts by 63%. So far we have only been able to reduce contacts by 43%, which is simply not enough, ”says virologist Christian Drosten.
The RKI estimates that the effective reduction in contacts should be 60%.
The anti-covid app also showed its limitations. Although it was downloaded by 23.5 million people, less than half of the positive users declared its contagion.
