The Columbus Dispatch

Merkel calls virus death toll ‘bitter,’ ‘avoidable’

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BERLIN – Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday made what is likely her final appeal before leaving office for Germans to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Merkel gave what is expected to be her last weekly video message two days after federal and state leaders decided on a series of measures meant to break a wave of coronaviru­s infections.

The measures include excluding unvaccinat­ed people across the country from nonessenti­al stores, restaurant­s and sports and cultural venues. In a longer-term move, parliament will consider a general vaccine mandate.

At least 68.9% of Germans are fully vaccinated against the coronaviru­s, short of the government’s aim of a minimum 75% vaccinatio­n rate. The number of unvaccinat­ed residents has been blamed as a key factor in a surge of new virus cases in recent weeks.

Official figures suggest that the infection rate may now be stabilizin­g, but at too high a level.

The national disease control center on Saturday reported 64,510 new daily cases and a 7-day infection rate of 442.7 new cases per 100,000 residents. Another 378 deaths in 24 hours brought Germany’s total in the pandemic to 102,946.

“Every one of them leaves behind families or friends, stunned, speechless and helpless,” Merkel said in her video message. “This is so bitter because it is avoidable. With the effective and safe vaccines, we have the key to this in our hands.”

She renewed a plea to Germans to take the virus seriously, adding that the new omicron variant “appears to be even more contagious than the previous ones.”

“Get vaccinated, no matter whether it’s a first vaccinatio­n or a booster,” Merkel said. “Every vaccinatio­n helps.”

Merkel is expected to leave office Wednesday and be replaced by Olaf Scholz of the center-left Social Democratic Party, who is currently vice chancellor. Scholz said Saturday that his government’s “most important first task” is to “fight the corona pandemic with all the strength that we have.”

“There would be a different situation now if just a few more citizens had also made the decision to get vaccinatio­n,” he said at a convention of the Social Democrats. “We must again make a whole new effort, set in motion a whole new campaign” to get more shots in arms, Scholz said.

Senior members of the party denounced a Friday evening protest outside the home of Saxony state’s health minister, Petra Koepping, a Social Democrat. About 30 people gathered with torches and placards outside the home in the eastern town of Grimma.

The demonstrat­ors chanted against coronaviru­s policies before fleeing in cars when police arrived.

 ?? ODD ANDERSEN/POOL VIA AP ?? “Get vaccinated, no matter whether it’s a first vaccinatio­n or a booster,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday. “Every vaccinatio­n helps.”
ODD ANDERSEN/POOL VIA AP “Get vaccinated, no matter whether it’s a first vaccinatio­n or a booster,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday. “Every vaccinatio­n helps.”

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