Germany 'still at the beginning' of pandemic: Merkel

Germany 'still at the beginning' of pandemic: Merkel

Germany's aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic has been praised as one of the strongest in Europe.

But despite some businesses reopening, Chancellor Angela Merkel says that the crisis in that country is still in its early stages.

"Nobody likes to hear it, but it is the truth.

We are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning," she told parliament on Wednesday (April 23).

"We will have to live with virus for long time." Merkel is worried that Germans are relaxing their social distancing efforts after the federal and regional governments agreed to reopen some shops this week.

Germany has the fifth highest COVID-19 caseload behind the United States, Spain, Italy, and France, but has kept fatalities down after early and extensive testing.

Merkel also praised the World Health Organization in her remarks for its "crucial" work, which she called an "indispensible partner."