Thankfully, the lockdown in Germany did not end up proving itself to be a catastrophic event. It was a cause of worry yes, but it didn’t do anything desperately terrible or terrifying. We saw how terrifying were the events first up in Italy and later, in Spain.
France was stuttering too. Luckily, Germany seemingly coped with these challenging times with greater care and proactive measures. Yet, surely, the country has seen better days in the economic realm and that’s a matter of fact. That told, little that it may have been, the forceful shutdown of the country did create its fair share of problems, as it would have for the rest of the countries at this point in time.
Nonetheless, the key story was always going to be how the Germans were going to prepare in the period wherein the lockdown would be relieved a bit?
The main concern was always going to be how would the rest of the population treat a period marked with normality, so to speak?
Yet, make no mistake.
The lockdown in Germany still persists. It has only eased out relatively. That said, the critical measures that were being followed during the days of the peak lockdown across all 16 States (or German regions) wherein the commoners were following utmost self-hygiene are also continuing in these current times.
So what’s happening is that even in these current times, many in Germany are resorting to the exact set or rules and regulations that had become common practice during the worse days of the country.
To put it minutely, the simple phenomenon- that of wearing the face masks- is continuing even to the day.
So how is this happening? The BBC, in its coverage of everyday local life in the streets of Berlin where life is once again back and thriving had the following to report:
Germans have started wearing facemasks outside the home as new rules come into force to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The use of cloth masks is now mandatory on public transport and, in most regions, within shops.
The rules vary among the 16 German states – Bavaria being the strictest, while in Berlin shoppers do not have to wear masks.
But the authorities are moving very cautiously in easing the lockdown.
Now, the BBC report told, here’s what the average or common German notes with much carefulness and absolute clarity.
The very fact that the schools are all set to be open in the country means that the safety and hygiene of the children is going to be the key critical matter, perhaps just as important now as it was back then.
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Media reports shared on DW.com and BBC happened to share:
The process of mask-wearing is now required in school corridors and when children go on breaks, but not in the classroom. Students sit in class spaced apart and there is more frequent cleaning with disinfectant.
And in a way, it’s right and just also. Why take anything lightly ever again? The period right now beckons one to tread cautiously and keep the sense of hygiene and cleanliness on the highest possible ebb of priority.
That being said, those waiting for buses and trains at depots and stations are also careful about wearing masks and are remaining cautious proving to the one simple fact that so long as one is careful about the self, the disease can never really spiral into becoming an epidemic again.
What do you think, Ms Merkel?