“Everything is serious. I want to explain "

Merkel for the first time in 15 years made an emergency appeal to the people. The reason is coronavirus. Speech translation

I watched the appeal on the air. The text does not convey its intonation, the sound of her voice, her expression. So do not say leaders, national leaders, bureaucrats. So says an worried person, turning to the people dear and close to him.

The chancellor of one of the largest and most powerful countries in Europe turns to fellow citizens with a request to wash their hands. And this is not funny, it means that we are all in danger. In the chaos of rumors and fakes, in the muddy atmosphere of uncertainty there is the voice of a person who knows what is happening. Even in these conditions, Angel Merkel speaks of democracy. Or exactly in these? Because she knows: in a free country, the virus will be defeated by the general understanding, general efforts and careful attitude of each to each. We still read about epidemics only in history textbooks. Now we ourselves live in an epidemic. The virus knows no boundaries. The German Chancellor addresses not only the Germans - to all people.

Emergency television appeal of Chancellor Germany Angels Merkel

Dear fellow citizens,

Now the coronavirus is seriously changing life in our country. Our idea of ​​everyday life, about social life, about social interaction - all this is subjected to testing, as never before. Millions of you cannot go to work, your children do not go to schools and kindergartens, theaters, cinema and stores are closed, and, probably, the hardest thing - we all lack personal meetings, perceived in other circumstances for granted.

Of course, in such a situation, each of us is concerned, we ask ourselves the question of what will happen next. Today I turn to you in such an unusual way, because I want to tell you how I am like a chancellor, as well as my colleagues in the government are guided in this situation. This is open democracy: we make political decisions transparently and explain them. We try to explain our actions as carefully as possible and inform about them in order to make clarity. I firmly believe that we will deal with this task if all citizens really understand it as their task.

Therefore, I will allow myself to put it like this: everything is serious. And you also take it seriously.

Since the reunification of Germany, no, since the Second World War there has not been a greater challenge to our country, in which so much would depend on our joint joint actions.

I want to explain to you at what stage of development the epidemic in the country is now, to tell what the federal government and state structures are doing to protect everyone in our society and reduce economic, social and cultural damage. But I would also like to convey why we need you and what each of you can do.

About the epidemic - everything that I tell you is based on constant consultations of the federal government with experts of the Robert Koch Institute and other scientists and virus: intensive research is underway all over the world, but there are still no therapy against coronavirus, no vaccine.

While this is so, only one thing can be done, and this is the main thing in all our actions: to slow down the spread of the virus, stretch it for months and thus win the time. The time so that scientists can develop medicine and vaccine. But first of all, time in order for us to take care of the best about the sick.

Germany has a magnificent healthcare system, perhaps one of the best in the world. You can rely on it. But even our hospitals will be completely overloaded if many patients are delivered to them in the shortest possible time in which coronavirus infection is difficult.

These are not just abstract numbers of statistics, this is someone's father or grandfather, mother or grandmother, someone’s partners, these are people. We are a society in which every life is important, every person.

First of all, in this situation, I would like to contact doctors, nurses and ned brothers, all employees of our hospitals and healthcare systems as a whole. In this struggle, you fight for us at the front line. You are the first to meet with patients, you see how hard some cases of infection occur. And every day you again get to work and help people. You are doing a great thing, and I thank you for this from the bottom of my heart.

So: the task is to slow down the advance of the virus on its way through Germany. Performing this task, we must - and this is vital - focus on the following: if possible, limit public life. Of course, within reasonable limits, because the state should continue to function, of course, we will ensure the supply of the population and maintain economic activity as far as possible.

But everything that can be damaged by a person or society can be limited now to limit.

We must reduce the risk of infection of one person by another as soon as we can.

I know how serious these restrictions were now: no events, no fairs, no concerts, first of all, no classes in schools and universities, no games in kindergarten and playgrounds. I know how harshly invades our lives and our democratic self -awareness of restrictions that federal and land governments agreed on. There have never been such restrictions in the republic.

Let me assure you: a person like me, who has been freedom of movement in a difficult struggle, can find an excuse for such restrictions only in extreme necessity. In a democratic country, they can only be introduced on a very serious basis and only temporarily - but now they are necessary to save lives.

Therefore, since the beginning of the week, more rigid border control and restriction on entry from some of the most important neighboring countries have been introduced. The economy, large and small enterprises, shops, restaurants, self -employed are now very difficult. The next weeks will be even more difficult. I assure you: the federal government does everything that can to soften the economic consequences, and, above all, save jobs.

We can do everything you need to help our entrepreneurs and employers withstand this difficult test, and we will do it.

Everyone can be sure that the supply of products will always be provided. And if at some point the regiments are empty, then they will be filled again. Everyone who is going to the supermarket now would like to say: it makes sense to make stocks, it always was. But in moderation. The feverish buying of products, as if they were no longer, is meaningless and, in the end, speaks of the absence of solidarity with other people.

And let me give gratitude to those people who are too rarely thanks to me today. Those people who are sitting behind the cashier of the supermarket or filling the shelves these days do one of the hardest work to date. Thank you for staying for the sake of fellow citizens, the performance of stores literally holds on you.

Now about the most necessary: ​​all state measures will be meaningless if we do not use the most effective tool against the too fast spread of the virus: ourselves. The virus touched each of us indiscriminately, and now in the same way without analysis we must help each other. First of all, by the fact that we will take the problem seriously. Do not panic, but also for a minute to prevent the thought that nothing depends on you. Each in the account. We need our common efforts.

The epidemic showed us how much we are all vulnerable and how dependent on the careful behavior of others. But besides this, as joint actions, we can protect and support each other.

It depends on everyone. We are not doomed and should not be detached how the virus spreads. We have means against him: we must protect each other and maintain a distance. The tips of virologists are unambiguous: no more handshakes, thoroughly and often wash their hands, observe the distance to other people, at least one and a half meters, and it is best to stop contacts with very elderly people, because they are most dangerous.

I know how hard it is to comply with these requirements. Just in difficult times, we want to be closer to each other. Caring for us has always been manifested in close contact and touch. But, unfortunately, now it is more correct to adhere to the opposite. And we all must understand: now it is the distance that is a manifestation of care.

To go to someone with good intentions, an optional journey-all this can mean infection, and now you need to refuse it now. Experts reasonably say: grandchildren should not meet with grandparents now.

Those who avoid unnecessary meetings help everyone who now takes care of patients in hospitals, the number of which is only growing. So we save life. This will be difficult for many, and therefore now we should not leave anyone alone, we must take care of those who need sympathy and support. We - families and society - will find another way to support each other.

Already now many creative ways have arisen to withstand the virus and its social consequences. Already, grandchildren are writing out podcasts for grandparents so that they do not feel lonely.

We all must find a way to show a friendly gesture and understanding: Skype, telephone conversations, IMILS, maybe even start writing letters again. After all, the mail works. We hear about excellent examples of helping elderly neighbors who cannot go shopping themselves. I am sure that there will be a lot of new ones, and we, as a society, show that we do not leave anyone in trouble.

I turn to you: adhere to the rules defined in the near future. We, as a government, will always check what can be corrected, what else needs to be done. The situation is developing, and remaining in it, we must study in order to change the solution at any time and respond in other ways. And we will explain all our actions.

Therefore, I ask you: do not believe the rumors. Believe only official messages that we will also translate into many other languages.

We are democracy. We live not for coercion, but by general knowledge and solidarity. This is a historical task, and it can only be dealt with together.

I am absolutely sure that we will overcome this crisis, but how great will the victims be? How many beloved people will we lose? It largely depends on us. We can act decisively and in solidarity. We can take restrictions and support each other.

The situation is serious, her final is open.

This means that it will depend, in particular, on how disciplined each of us complies with the rules and follows it.

Even if we have never experienced anything like that, we must show how sincerely and reasonably we can behave and save lives by this. It depends on each of us without exception and, therefore, on us all.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. I thank you.

Translation from German - Galina Yatskovskaya