We are now in Europe, where China was six weeks ago. The infection rates of Covid-19 are running up exponentially, and measures are in place, limiting travel and winding down public life. But it will take at least two weeks to see the effect. Even rich countries are experiencing capacity problems in intensive care units, and research on treatment and prevention is running high. There was the news that the US Government offered an exclusivity contract to German company CureVac in Tübingen to supply a vaccine to protect Americans, in case their mRNA method is successful in developing one quickly. Some even say, there was an offer of 1 bn USD on the table to take over the company. Curvac itself in a call announced that the medical condition of the CEO, who is now represented by a deputy has nothing to do with the visit to the White House, and they can not confirm any offer coming from the US. This is actually a very interesting call, of you have an hour to spare. By the way, why does it remain me of the German language training advert of Berlitz ((click here to watch)? Well, fair enough: it's "America first" and the "pursue of happiness" is in their constitution - their happiness obviously. We all were a bit disappointed when apparently the current US President was tested negative on Covid-19. The idea that he gets downed with a virus from China, which has a Mexican sounding name (Corona), would have been hilarious. But not the time for making jokes on the disease. It's too severe for that. And of course, we hope all (including our American friends) get will over it quickly. And over the next one also.
In Germany, public life is down severely. It will depend on whether people stick to the rules in the next whether we will get a curfew. Bavaria and some cities already announced this. I experience people here as calm, careful and helping each other out. Also, all the cancellations now are taken with the utmost goodwill by companies. I had to do a lot of travel cancellations and only experienced friendly and generous solutions. Yes, there are sometimes some empty supermarket shelves and personal tragedies, which social media and equally bad publications like the "Bild" jump on. Generally, such a crisis make it easier to distinguish "the good, the bad, and the evil". But most are good. Of course, when people lose their loved ones, and hospitals now procure iPads to make the hours of dying less lonely, we all shiver.
I also see some catalytic effect for things where a breakthrough was necessary anyway. For example, the acceptance of video conferencing instead of physical meetings, home office reducing commuting volume, integration of distance learning in education (and learning how to do it effectively), electronic payment instead of cash handling, automation and robotics, vaccine developments using modern mRNA methods (finally the “Ethics committee” is shutting up), and lastly also just better manners between people and improved personal hygiene. You see less bad behaving teenagers, nobody spits in the floor, and I was anyway really fed up by all this hugging and kissing as a greeting even of people I don’t know much. I looked at the 10 rules of Hygiene from the German Government website. And honestly, if people did not learn this as a child already, then it’s really time to learn it now. The new rule of 1.5 meters distance between each other, is for me personally less of social distancing, as it falls short of my lifetime requirement for everybody who comes closer than 3 meters has to obtain a visa. Still, this will transform the way we live in quite some way, and I think for the better. Till then, don’t forget it’s springtime. Easter is coming. A new year is lifting out of the winter. And we still have toilet paper. There is a lot to be happy about.
Spring time starting in times of shut down.