1. Total infected: 6,012 (RKI numbers). Total dead: 13. Most deaths are from NRW (northwestern Germany).
2. There's a interesting story out of Focus this morning....talking about the Austrian ski resort Ischgl. There was a major ski period going on in February, and there's now a belief that a sick bartender is the person who jump-started the virus around the rest of Europe....who infected various ski enthusiasts. Tyrolean doctors had warned of the potential at the resort, and the authorities simply said things were 'fine' and continued on. Where did the 36-year old German bartender get the virus? Unknown.
3. There's chatter that by early next week.....20,000 Germans will be infected (Focus story this morning). It'sof nowhere near the point of overwhelming the hospital system. If you use the general number talked about on 'extreme' cases (6-percent).....then there's maybe 1,000 to 1,200 getting hospital care.
4. Bavarian chatter going on with the state authorities....perhaps adding a curfew. It's hard to imagine how effective this would be.....with most bars, clubs, and drinking establishments already shut down by 6 PM.
5. Discussions going on to halt the European Soccer championships (slated for this summer).
6. Police are admitting to be in short supply of masks.
7. My observation over hysteria and German-panic? The general news media has kept to basic facts. I do agree, via ARD and ZDF (the two public TV networks in Germany)....it's been mostly general information, and a chance for political people and doctors to talk strategy, situations, etc.
'Hamster' purchases? Well, yeah....if you walk into any grocery....toilet paper is sold out. If they restock the shelves at 7 AM....it's probably gone by 9 AM. Flour and canned goods are generally going the same way. Beer is not a problem.
The Health Minister (Spahn) is probably the one big-plus-up of the government campaign. He doesn't flub any lines or make suggestions to get people all hyped-up. If any journalists attempt to go 'panic-chat'.....Spahn puts the individual into the correct position.
Trying to compare CNN to ARD/ZDF? It's almost a joke....24-hour a day hype via CNN. I will admit that over a 24-hour period with ZDF and ARD....there's probably six hours of chat-forums or news related to the virus, but it doesn't get anywhere near the panic-level.
Most Germans, I would suggest, are in the wait-and-see mode.
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