Five Years Ago: The First Lockdown - What Leftovers Remain?
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Five-year anniversary of initial lockdown: Assessment of lingering effects - Five-year anniversary of initial lockdown: Remnants and Reflections
In 2020, the pandemic compelled Germany to reel back daily routines beyond imagination. On March 16th and 22nd, in a bid to thwart the onslaught of the coronavirus, the federal and state governments unleashed a series of restrictive measures. Dubbed as "lockdowns", these strong-arms disrupting the public life become synonymous to the pandemic itself.
How was the lockdown ignited?
Region-wise precautionary steps were underway, with schools already shuttered when Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the state ministers united on a "blueprint for collective action" on March 16th. This roadmap was littered with closures, distance norms, and travel limitations. On March 22nd, the measures were tightened further with restaurants permitted to operate only for takeaway and delivery, save for an exception.
Why the moniker 'lockdown'?
Initially, the term 'lockdown' did not enjoy a wide usage, but it swiftly gained prominence. In its strict sense, it signifies 'curfew' or 'blockade', but it morphed into a catchphrase for the sweeping shutdown of public existence. While describing the unprecedented limitations on public life during her televised address on March 18th, Merkel appealed for citizen compliance, stating, "It's about curbing the virus's advance across Germany. Bear in mind the seriousness of the situation."
What was the modus operandi?
By early May 2020, the restrictions began to ease with the reopening of all shops, provided they adhered to mask mandates and customer caps. "We deserve a touch of bravery, but caution is essential," Merkel counselled. Reflecting on the general corona strategy, she maintained that the alternative would be to expose everyone to the virus simultaneously, thereby overwhelming the health system[3].
A bird's-eye view of the negative externalities:
The principal objective was to bolster the healthcare system and safeguard risk groups. Inadvertently, the curbs on personal liberties and the economy bore a heavy toll. The government responded by launching numerous billion-dollar bailout programs to cushion the repercussions on diverse sectors[4]. Children, constrained from attending schools and kindergartens, bore a severe burden[5]. Even the then CDU health minister, Jens Spahn, expressed regret later, "We failed to devise a strategy for protecting children and young people from the pandemic's consequences as we should have."
As per a survey conducted by the polling institute YouGov on behalf of the German Press Agency in March 2022, 56% of the respondents deemed the lockdowns acceptable, with 21% finding them completely acceptable and 35% holding a somewhat positive opinion. Inversely, 20% termed them completely unacceptable, and another 19% expressed a somewhat negative sentiment. Evidently, 50% of the respondents considered the lockdowns significantly onerous[4]. To this day, 52% of the respondents believe the restrictions were not targeted effectively[4].
Shall there be a significant reckoning?
The controversy surrounding protective measures, including vaccinations and masks, simmered with deep fissures. Despite several years elapsing since, there has been no debate on crisis management within the Bundestag. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), instrumental in bringing the pandemic under control in Germany, advocates for a reassessment, asserting, "Public health crises necessitate an after-action review so that we can learn and improve our responses"[6]. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier himself deemed a discussion essential, cautioning, "Untreated controversies merely fuel conspiracy theories and a persisting distrust."
What remains of the crisis management tools?
By Easter Monday 2023, the last nationwide safety measures were lifted. The Corona regulations were pruned from the Infection Protection Act, which saw multiple amendments during the pandemic. However, a "catch-all provision" persists, serving as a potential base for protective measures during health emergencies, as explained by the Federal Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the law continues to provide the Bundestag the power to declare a "significant epidemic"[6], similar to what they did during the Corona crisis.
What marches on?
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, approximately seven million vaccine doses still remain in the central federal warehouse. Future procurements are not under national control. Yet, there are ongoing obligations to accept deliveries from Biontech and Novavax due to involvement in an EU Commission procurement initiative. The government plans to provide the vaccines of both companies free of charge until at least 2026[7]. Additionally, documents from corona test centers need to be stored until the end of 2028 for the prosecution of fraudulent billing cases. Issues pertaining to mask deliveries at favorable rates also persist[7].
Notes:
Keywords: - Pandemic- Coronavirus- Angela Merkel- Germany- CDU- Sports field- Berlin- Children- Virus
- The European Parliament and the Council have agreed to the following amendments: scaled-down obligations related to mask deliveries and the storage of documents from coronavirus test centers until the end of 2028.
- During Germany's first lockdown in 2020, Angela Merkel appealed for citizen compliance, stating that the strict measures were necessary to curb the pandemic's advance across Germany.
- In March 2022, a survey conducted by YouGov showed that 56% of respondents deemed the lockdowns acceptable, while 50% considered them significantly onerous, indicating a mixed public sentiment about the measures.
