Why Germany’s coronavirus strategy doesn’t appear to be working this time around

Why Germany's coronavirus strategy doesn't appear to be working this time around While Germany was lauded for its initial response to the pandemic, another lockdown raises questions over the effectiveness of its strategy second time around. Vicky McKeever CNBC

LONDON — Germany was lauded for its initial response to the coronavirus pandemic, but a four-week long return to strict public health measures has raised questions over the effectiveness of its strategy second time around.

Germany started its “lockdown light” on Monday, which is set to last for the month of November. The new restrictions include the closure of bars, restaurants, cinemas, theaters and gyms, as well as the re-introduction of physical-distancing measures. 

Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Monday that Germany “must get the situation under control to a point where the local public health offices can trace contacts again — otherwise the exponential growth will simply spiral further upwards.” 

In the first wave of the epidemic, the country built on existing local infrastructure to get ahead of the virus. Analysis published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found Germany’s intensive system of testing, contact tracing, and quarantine were all critical to its “successful control” of the outbreak. 

Dr. Hajo Zeeb, head of department for Germany’s Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, told CNBC via telephone that the country’s public health offices tracing system was now being “challenged to its limit.”  ...