Germany, like many of its European neighbors, has noticed a backlog of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Official figures released Wednesday showed 1,798 new cases in the country in the past 24 hours, bringing the total since the start of the epidemic to 289,219. Germany has also recorded around 9,500 virus-related deaths, a figure that is a quarter of that of Britain or Italy.
The long-time leader, who has said she will not run for a fifth term next year, said it is right to invest the recovery budget in forward-thinking technologies and industries that will help combat the climate, replace and maintain the economy.
Before finishing her speech, Merkel addressed the audience and urged others to abide by the regulations imposed to restrict the spread of the virus.
“We are at the end of the pandemic,” Merkel told lawmakers. “We have a difficult time ahead of us in autumn and winter. “
Social estating and hygiene regulations “not only protect the elderly, not only the so-called ‘people at risk’, but our open and relaxed society as a whole,” Merkel said. “For now, we will have to show that we can continue to act patiently and reasonably, saving lives. “
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