German Ambassador Details Her Country’s Response to Coronavirus

April 13, 2020 by Kate Michael
German Ambassador Details Her Country’s Response to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – H.E. Emily Haber, Ambassador of Germany to the U.S. claimed the German response to confronting the coronavirus epidemic on the health front was not that different from other European Union countries, but that Germany was able to better prepare because they were not the first country in Europe to experience the pandemic, and “saw and could analyze developments elsewhere.”

“We basically did what you have done — quarantining, isolating, mitigating risks through containment, and testing,” Haber told participants of a virtual meeting hosted by the Meridian International Center on Wednesday afternoon. 

Germany’s infection rate numbered over 103,000 at the time of the discussion, fourth highest in Europe after Italy, Spain, and France, but with the third-highest recovery rate of countries around the world. 

Haber credits the lower mortality rate to a “headstart,” both in terms of severely at-risk cases and in developing a concrete strategy to handle the health crisis once it reached pandemic proportions. 

“There are two aspects which make our case-specific,” she said. “[Our first cases] were young and not greatly at risk, so their symptoms were milder and the mortality rate was lower.” As the situation proceeded, and more elderly and at-risk were infected, the country had taken advantage of the time to ramp up their response without overwhelming the health care system. Even now, she says, Germany has only 40% occupation of intensive care units.

“Second, before the World Health Organization concluded [that COVID-19] could be transmitted to humans, German scientists developed a test for the genetic code of COVID-19, so we could start comprehensive testing at a very early stage.” Rigorous testing allowed Germany to prepare for peaks with a very intense network of small labs across the country that could take part in the general effort.

Perhaps not so easily handled will be the European economic response to the coronavirus crisis. Germany has vocalized hesitation, if not outright opposition, to the European Union’s proposed ‘Corona bonds,’ a new debt instrument that would combine securities from different member countries. Germany fears that debt mutualization may not be the best monetary policy for those countries with stronger economies, and rejects giving too much fiscal sovereignty to European Union institutions. 

“I find that reporting and perceptions in the U.S. are entirely focused on Corona bonds,” says Haber, who wishes more attention could be placed on existing structures, including the European Stability Mechanism, the region’s already established crisis fund. 

The European Central Bank has already taken what the Ambassador calls “huge steps forward,” and made available a €750 billion stimulus package with liquidity for financing operations throughout 2020. This package loosened roles of the stability pact and added flexibility in budgetary instruments, “some of which was unthinkable in the crisis of 2008,” according to Haber.

“[Economic recovery] will not be fraught with the conditionality of 2008. This is a different crisis and that’s why the rules of 2008 cannot comply.” 

In almost every other way, Haber says her country is now in solidarity with others in the E.U. Germany has shared medical supplies, data, and even intensive care space with neighbor nations. But she admits that wasn’t the country’s first response.

“In the early stages, we held back materials, as other countries did as well. It’s like the plane analogy, ‘First put on your own mask and then take care of your neighbor.’ But we quickly altered that first reflex and are now in support mode… As the European Union, we are a union.”

But this spirit of cooperation may be on thin ice as it relates to German/Chinese relations. 

Germany has long criticized certain Chinese business practices, but Haber says now is the time to tackle other specific concerns, including China’s lack of transparency that could have allowed the virus’s early proliferation.

“We supported China during their crisis and we expect the same respect [from China] for the crisis we are in right now,” said Haber.

A+
a-
  • Coronavirus
  • Germany
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Health

    NFL Widows Struggled to Care for Former Players With CTE. They Say a New Study Minimizes Their Pain

    BOSTON (AP) — Dozens of widows and other caregivers for former NFL players diagnosed with CTE say a published study... Read More

    BOSTON (AP) — Dozens of widows and other caregivers for former NFL players diagnosed with CTE say a published study is insulting and dismissive of their experience living with the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and other repeated head trauma common in contact sports... Read More

    June 18, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    FDA Approves Gilead's Twice-Yearly Injection for HIV Prevention

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences’ lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection for preventing HIV infection... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Gilead Sciences’ lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection for preventing HIV infection in adults and adolescents. The drug, part of a class of drugs known as capsid inhibitors, will be sold under the brand name Yeztugo. In two... Read More

    Older Adults in the US Increasingly Dying From Unintentional Falls

    NEW YORK (AP) — Older U.S. adults are increasingly dying from unintentional falls, according to a new federal report published... Read More

    NEW YORK (AP) — Older U.S. adults are increasingly dying from unintentional falls, according to a new federal report published Wednesday, with white people accounting for the vast majority of the deaths. From 2003 to 2023, death rates from falls rose more than 70% for adults... Read More

    Kraft Heinz Pulling Certain Artificial Dyes From Its US Products in 2027

    Kraft Heinz will be pulling certain artificial dyes from its U.S. products starting in 2027 and will no longer roll... Read More

    Kraft Heinz will be pulling certain artificial dyes from its U.S. products starting in 2027 and will no longer roll out new products with the dyes. The move comes nearly two months after U.S. health officials said that they would urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors in the... Read More

    June 16, 2025
    by Jesse Zucker
    Slay the Dragon, Stay in Shape!

    WASHINGTON — If your idea of working out includes slaying dragons, dancing on a glowing floor, or boxing a virtual... Read More

    WASHINGTON — If your idea of working out includes slaying dragons, dancing on a glowing floor, or boxing a virtual opponent in your living room, congratulations! You’re part of a growing fitness trend known as exergaming, where physical movement meets digital play.  While it may sound... Read More

    June 16, 2025
    by Jesse Zucker
    Summer 2025 Health Guide

    WASHINGTON — When you are young, summertime means freedom from school, days at camp and more time to play outside... Read More

    WASHINGTON — When you are young, summertime means freedom from school, days at camp and more time to play outside with friends. When you grow up it’s mostly business as usual. But you can still enjoy beach days, fresh produce, and more sunshine. Here is your... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top