The online charity auction showcased a collection of 555 license plates for regular vehicles in Abu Dhabi
Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday made what is likely her final appeal before leaving office next week for Germans to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Merkel gave what is expected to be her last weekly video message two days after federal and state leaders decided on a series of measures meant to break a wave of coronavirus infections.
The measures include excluding unvaccinated people across the country from nonessential stores, restaurants and sports and cultural venues. In a longer-term move, parliament will consider a general vaccine mandate.
At least 68.9% of Germans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, short of the government’s aim of a minimum 75% vaccination rate. The number of unvaccinated residents has been blamed as a key factor in a surge of new virus cases in recent weeks.
Official figures suggest that the infection rate may now be stabilizing, but at too high a level.
The national disease control center on Saturday reported 64,510 new daily cases and a 7-day infection rate of 442.7 new cases per 100,000 residents. Another 378 deaths in 24 hours brought Germany’s total in the pandemic to 102,946.
ALSO READ:
“Every one of them leaves behind families or friends, stunned, speechless and helpless,” Merkel said in her video message. “This is so bitter because it is avoidable. With the effective and safe vaccines, we have the key to this in our hands.”
She renewed a plea to Germans to take the virus seriously, adding that the new Omicron variant “appears to be even more contagious than the previous ones.”
“Get vaccinated, no matter whether it’s a first vaccination or a booster,” Merkel said. “Every vaccination helps.”
Merkel is expected to leave office on Wednesday and be replaced by Social Democratic Party leader Olaf Scholz, who is currently vice chancellor. Scholz said Saturday that his government’s “most important first task” is to “fight the corona pandemic with all the strength that we have.”
“There would be a different situation now if just a few more citizens had also made the decision to get vaccination,” he said at a convention of his center-left Social Democrats. “We must again make a whole new effort, set in motion a whole new campaign” to get more shots in arms, Scholz said.
Senior members of the party denounced a Friday evening protest outside the home of Saxony state’s health minister, Petra Koepping, a Social Democrat. About 30 people gathered with torches and placards outside the home in the eastern town of Grimma.
The demonstrators chanted against coronavirus policies before fleeing in cars when police arrived.
The online charity auction showcased a collection of 555 license plates for regular vehicles in Abu Dhabi
Fashion enthusiasts can check out the collection at a 2-day pop-up event
Since 2019, London has banned ads for foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt from the city’s subway trains and stations, buses and bus shelters
Fifteen per cent of teachers working with pupils aged 11-18 experienced sexual harassment from a pupil while at school, reveals poll
The campaign aims to elevate the well-being of the entire community by promoting a healthy lifestyle while also instilling a culture of giving
Why Emiratis don white kandouras? Why Arabic coffee is served in small, half-filled cups? All such questions answered at a wind-tower house gathering
Are you thinking of taking a few days off from your work and flying off to Malaysia with your friends and family?