Thursday, October 22, 2020

Germany and Covid-19: 22 Oct 2020

 1.  German Health Minister, Jens Spahn, tested positive for Covid-19.  The curious side-story is that in the day prior to the test....he'd met with most members of Merkel's cabinet.  So, there is this suggestion that others may test positive in the next couple of days.  

Spahn is the first member of the inner circle to have Covid-19.  He's a young guy....in great health....he'll probably be out ten days.  We'll probably see more of the number two guy in the Health Ministry (a virtual unknown to German society).

2.  German health authorities reported 9,379 new infections as of mid-day Wednesday.  Sets the record for 2020.

3.  If you look over data for active cases of Covid-19....roughly 74k Germans currently in some form of quarantine. 

4.  Several Bavarian communities have stood up and said 'enough' on masks.  Their chief criticism?  Bavarian state rules say that if your town has a infection rate of 50 or above....school will only be conducted if all of the kids wear a mask.  Part of this parting of ways is the idea that younger kids are not the delivery vehicle for Covid-19 (at least in the belief of locals).

This goes directly against the Premier President of Bavaria (Soder), and he's hyped up on the ban rules presently.

5.  Higher rate of older Germans getting Covid-19?  Some statistical data saying yes.

6.  Locally in my town (Wiesbaden), they reported the 28th death since day one.  83-year old German gal.  The locals point out....death surge in past two weeks....6 deaths in 13 days.  Presently, there's 255 folks on some form of quarantine out of 291k residents.  

7.  Here in Hessen, lot of chatter among sport clubs in villages and towns.  Cash flow from fests and weekend parties has dwindled over past eight months.  Lot of clubs are nearing zero on funds.  

8.  German airline Condor is deep into bankruptcy, and working with the creditors to find some path toward operations.  They'd like to find a trend for Germans in the winter period who want exotic travel.

9.  Finally, this odd fraud story.  Older gal in Bad Homburg....70 years old. She gets this call....her son is in serious Covid-19 trouble and the doctor wants to use high-cost experimental drugs which the health insurance program doesn't cover.....immediately.  Without verifying or talking to the son....she comes up with a 5-digit sum of money, and some courier appears at the door to accept it.  Well....she was faked out.  The money is gone now.  

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